JP2015195487A - Electronic apparatus, connection confirmation device and connection confirmation method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently confirm a cable connection between devices.SOLUTION: A test signal transmission section 5 of a device 1 transmits a test signal to a device 2 using a specific core of a cable 10, and a turn-back section 6 of the device 2 redirects the test signal using a core that is different for each device and for each port. A connection destination determination section 7 of the device 1 then determines whether the cable 10 is correctly connected on the basis of the core by which the test signal is redirected, and displays a determination result. A switching section 8 switches the connection of the cable between a device internal circuit 1a and the test signal transmission section 5/the connection destination determination section 7. A switching section 9 switches the connection of the cable between a device internal circuit 2a and the turn-back section 6.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic device, a connection confirmation device, and a connection confirmation method.

  Conventionally, when a plurality of cables are used to connect between devices having multiple ports or between devices, cables having tags representing the device names of connection sources and connection destinations or device names and port names have been used at both ends. . FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of connection between devices using a cable with a tag.

As shown in FIG. 9, when connecting the port ₁ and the device ₂ of the port ₁ of the device ₁ in the cable, the tag device ₁ side of the cable is described apparatus ₁ and port ₁ as the connection source, the connection destination As device ₂ and port ₁ . Further, the tag of the device ₂ of the cable is described apparatus ₂ and port ₁ as a connection source device ₁ and the port ₁ is described as a connection destination.

  An operator connects a cable to the apparatus based on the tag information. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of cable connection based on tag information. In FIG. 10, the cable name, the connection source and connection destination device names, and the port number are described as tag information.

  In the tag 90, “UTP5” is the cable name, the connection source device name and the port number are “electronic medical record standby system (RX300)” and “2”, and the connection destination device name and the port number are “electronic medical record operation system”. (RX300) "and" 2 ". Based on the information of the tag 90, the worker connects the cable to the port 91 whose device name is “electronic medical record standby system (RX300)” and whose port number is “2”.

  Then, after connecting the devices with a cable and turning on the power of the devices, the connection information is exchanged between the devices, and the erroneous connection is detected by comparing with the correct value of the connection information held in advance. .

  In addition, as a technique for detecting an erroneous connection of a cable after the device is turned on, an inspection signal transmission circuit that transmits an inspection signal, an inspection signal reception circuit that receives an inspection signal, and an inspection signal reception circuit that does not receive the inspection signal There is a cable misconnection inspection circuit equipped with an alarm circuit that operates in the same manner.

  Also, as a technology to detect incorrect cable connection, it is detected whether the power is turned on, and if the power is not turned on, the signal from the connector is switched, and the switched signal is taken out to be the other party to be connected There is an erroneous connection detection device to compare.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-33070 JP-A-6-96812

  However, the method of attaching a tag to a cable has a problem in that it is not possible to efficiently check the connection of the cable port connecting the devices. That is, in the method of attaching a tag to a cable, it is necessary to create a tag describing the connection source and the connection destination in advance and attach the tag to the cable. Especially when there are a large number of cables, a lot of time is required for preparation. Necessary.

  As shown in FIG. 11, when a large number of cables are connected, it is difficult to check the connection of the cables based on the tag information by tracing the cables. In particular, when the cable passes through the floor, the ceiling, or the like, it is difficult to check the connection by tracing the cable.

  An object of one aspect of the present invention is to provide an electronic device, a connection confirmation device, and a connection confirmation method that can efficiently confirm the connection of a port of a cable that connects devices.

  In one aspect, an electronic device disclosed in the present application is connected to another device by a cable having a plurality of cores. The electronic device connects the m-th port from the m-th port (m is an integer not less than 1 and not more than the number of ports of the electronic device) through the n-th port (n is an integer not less than 1 and not more than the number of cable cores). It has a transmission part which transmits the signal to identify to said other apparatus. The electronic device is the other device that has received the signal at the n-th core of the p-th port (p is an integer not less than 1 and not more than the number of ports of other devices, and m = p or m ≠ p). A receiver that receives a signal returned to the signal via the s-th core of the p-th port (s is an integer different from n by 1 or more and the number of cable cores or less);

  According to one embodiment, it is possible to efficiently check the connection of the port of the cable that connects the devices.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a connection test system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a connection test system when a test function is provided in an external device. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a LAN cable connection test system. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion surrounded by a broken line in FIG. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion surrounded by an alternate long and short dash line in FIG. FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating an example in which a jumper is used in the switching unit. FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating an example in which a 5-pole electromagnetic relay is used for the switching unit. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion surrounded by a two-dot chain line in FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a process flow of the connection test system according to the embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of connection between devices using a cable with a tag. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of cable connection based on tag information. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a number of cable connection examples.

  Embodiments of an electronic device, a connection confirmation device, and a connection confirmation method disclosed in the present application will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that this embodiment does not limit the disclosed technology.

  First, the configuration of the connection test system according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a connection test system according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the connection test system 100 is a system for testing a cable connection between the device 1 and the device 2. The device 1 and the device 2 have a plurality of ports 1c and 2c, respectively. The port 1c of the device 1 and the port 2c of the device 2 are connected by a multicore cable 10.

  For convenience of explanation, FIG. 1 shows a case where the device 1 and the device 2 have four ports 1c and 2c, respectively, but the device 1 and the device 2 may have any number of ports 1c and 2c, respectively.

  In FIG. 1, the four ports 1 c and 2 c of the device 1 and the device 2 are all connected by the cable 10 between the device 1 and the device 2, but some ports 1 c of the device 1 are other than the device 2. It may be connected to a port of the device. Similarly, some ports 2 c of the device 2 may be connected to ports of devices other than the device 1.

  In FIG. 1, ports in the same order from the top are connected between the device 1 and the device 2, but ports in a different order from the top are connected between the device 1 and the device 2. May be.

  The device 1 includes a device internal circuit 1a, a test unit 1b, and four ports 1c. The device internal circuit 1a is a circuit that realizes a function provided by the device 1. For example, if the device is an information processing device, the device internal circuit 1a is a circuit that realizes an information processing function. The test unit 1 b is a circuit that performs a connection test of the cable 10, and includes a test signal transmission unit 5, a connection destination determination unit 7, and a switching unit 8.

  The test signal transmission unit 5 transmits the test signal to the device 2 using a specific core of the cable 10. The test signal may be a weak constant current, and may be a sine wave, a pulse, a digital signal, or the like.

  The connection destination determination unit 7 receives a test signal folded back to another core of the cable 10 by the device 2, determines whether or not the connection destination is correct, and displays the determination result. The switching unit 8 connects the cable 10 to the test signal transmission unit 5 and the connection destination determination unit 7 during a connection test, and connects the cable 10 to the device internal circuit 1a during operation.

  The device 2 includes a device internal circuit 2a, a test unit 2b, and four ports 2c. The device internal circuit 2a is a circuit that realizes a function provided by the device 2, for example, a circuit that realizes a communication function if the device is a communication device. The test unit 2 b is a circuit that performs a connection test of the cable 10, and includes a folding unit 6 and a switching unit 9.

  The folding unit 6 folds the test signal transmitted from the device 1 using a specific core of the cable 10 to the device 1 with a different core for each device and for each port. The return unit 6 returns the test signal to the device 1 with a different core for each device and each port, so that the connection destination determination unit 7 can determine whether or not the connection destination of the cable 10 is correct. In addition, since the device 2 only returns the test signal, the connection test can be performed without turning on the power of the device 2.

  The switching unit 9 connects the cable 10 to the folding unit 6 during a connection test, and connects the cable 10 to the device internal circuit 2a during operation.

  In FIG. 1, the test function provided by the test signal transmission unit 5, the folding unit 6, and the connection destination determination unit 7 may be provided in a device outside each device. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a connection test system when a test function is provided in an external device. Here, for convenience of explanation, functional units that play the same functions as the respective units shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the connection test system 200 includes a device 3, a device 4, a connection source test device 3d, and a connection destination test device 4d. The device 3 includes a device internal circuit 1a, a test unit 3b, and four ports 1c. Unlike the test unit 1b illustrated in FIG. 1, the test unit 3b includes only the switching unit 8.

  The device 4 includes a device internal circuit 2a, a test unit 4b, and four ports 2c. Unlike the test unit 1b illustrated in FIG. 1, the test unit 4b includes only the switching unit 9. The connection source test apparatus 3d includes a test signal transmission unit 5 and a connection destination determination unit 7, and is connected to the switching unit 8. The connection destination test apparatus 4 d has a folding unit 6 and is connected to the switching unit 9.

  In this way, by connecting the connection source test apparatus 3d and the connection destination test apparatus 4d to the apparatus 3 and the apparatus 4, respectively, the apparatus itself to which the cable 10 is connected only needs to include a switching unit, thereby reducing the cost of the apparatus. can do. In addition, the operator can check the cable connection without turning on the power of the device 3 and the device 4.

  Next, a LAN cable connection test system will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a LAN cable connection test system. Here, for convenience of explanation, functional units that play the same functions as the respective units shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the LAN cable connection test system 300, the apparatus 1 and the apparatus 2 are connected by four 8-core LAN cables 10a. The four 8-core LAN cables 10a are represented by LAN cable _{1 to} LAN cable ₄ . The four ports of the device are represented by P _{1 to} P ₄ , and the switching units 8 and 9 are illustrated as switches.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion surrounded by a broken line in FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the 8-core LAN cable is connected to the ports P ₁ and P ₂ by the connector 11. Port P ₁ of the apparatus 1 transmits a test signal in the core of the LAN cable ₁ "1" to the port P ₁ of the device 2, port P ₁ of the device 2, the test signal at the core of the LAN cable ₁ "2" Return to port P _{1 of} device 1.

On the other hand, the port P _{2 of the} device 1 transmits a test signal to the port P _{2 of the} device 2 via the core “1” of the LAN cable ₂ , and the port P _{2 of} the device ₂ is tested using the core “3” of the LAN cable _2. The signal is sent back to port P _{2 of} device 1.

That is, each port of the apparatus 2 returns a test signal using a different core for each port. Further, the core for returning the test signal is different for each apparatus. In this way, when the connection destination device 2 returns a test signal using a different core for each device and for each port, the connection source device 1 determines the connection destination of the cable from the number of the core where the test signal is detected. Can be identified. For example, in FIG. 4, the device 1, by receiving the test signal at the 2-core LAN cable _1, the LAN cable ₁ is found to be connected to the port P ₁ of the device 2.

In addition, although FIG. 4 demonstrated the case where the test signal was returned using one core, the apparatus 2 may return the test signal using a plurality of cores. Therefore, in the case of an 8-core cable, since one core is used for transmitting the test signal, the connection source device can identify 2 ⁷ −1 = 127 ports using the remaining seven cores. it can.

  FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion surrounded by an alternate long and short dash line in FIG. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the switching unit 9 of the device 2 is realized by a DIP-SW (Dual In-line Package Switch), a jumper, an electromagnetic relay, or the like. When the power of the apparatus 2 is OFF, A and B are connected and a connection test is performed. On the other hand, when the power of the device 2 is ON, A and C are connected, and the LAN cable is connected to the internal circuit of the device. Further, the folding unit 6 is realized by setting the connection destination of B to the core “2”.

  FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating an example in which a jumper is used for the switching unit 9. As shown in FIG. 6A (1), when the power of the device 2 is OFF, A and B are connected to all the pins of the connector 11, and the pin corresponding to the core “1” and the pin corresponding to the core “2” are connected. Is jumper connected. On the other hand, when the power of the device 2 is ON, A and C are connected to all the pins of the connector 11. FIG. 6A (2) shows an example of a jumper (short plug).

  FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating an example in which a 5-pole electromagnetic relay is used for the switching unit 9. In a state where the power of the device 2 is not turned on, no voltage is applied to the VCC, and as shown in FIG. 6B, A and B are connected to all the pins of the connector 11, and the device 2 enters the connection test mode. On the other hand, when the power of the device 2 is turned on, the relay works to connect A and C at all the pins of the connector 11, and the device 2 automatically enters the operation mode.

  FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion surrounded by a two-dot chain line in FIG. In FIG. 7, the switching unit 8 is realized by an electromagnetic relay or the like. When the apparatus 1 is powered off, A and B are connected and a connection test is performed. On the other hand, when the power of the device 1 is ON, A and C are connected, and the device internal circuit and the LAN cable are connected.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the test signal transmission unit 5 is configured such that VCC is connected to the GND via the variable resistor 51, and a predetermined voltage is supplied from the variable resistor 51 to B of the switching unit 8. A voltage signal is transmitted to the pin corresponding to the core “1”. The voltage signal transmitted to the device 2 by the core “1” is returned using the core “2” and input to the connection destination determination unit 7.

  The connection destination determination unit 7 includes resistors 71 and 74, an LED 72 that lights up in GREEN, an LED 75 that lights up in RED, and transistors 73 and 76. The gates of the transistors 73 and 76 are connected to B of the switching unit 8 corresponding to the core “2”.

  One end of the LED 72 is connected to VCC via a resistor 71, and the other end is connected to the collector of the transistor 73. The emitter of the transistor 73 is connected to GND. One end of the LED 75 is connected to VCC through a resistor 74 and is connected to the collector of the transistor 76, and the other end is connected to GND. The emitter of the transistor 76 is connected to GND.

  The voltage signal returned using the core “2” turns on the transistor 73, turns on the LED 72 to GREEN, and turns off the LED 75 by turning on the transistor 76. Therefore, when the LAN cable is correctly connected, the operator can confirm that the LAN cable is correctly connected by turning on the green LED 72.

  On the other hand, when the test signal is not returned using the core “2”, the transistors 73 and 76 are not conducted, so the LED 72 is turned off and the LED 75 is lit RED. Therefore, when the LAN cable is not correctly connected, the LED 75 is lit RED so that the operator can confirm that the LAN cable is not correctly connected.

  Although FIG. 7 shows the case where two LEDs 72 and 75 are used, only one of the LEDs may be used.

  Next, a processing flow of the connection test system 100 according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a process flow of the connection test system 100 according to the embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, the test signal transmitter 5 of the device 1 transmits a test signal to the device 2 using a specific core of the cable 10 (step S1).

  And the apparatus 2 returns a test signal using a different core for every apparatus and every port (step S2). Then, the connection destination determination unit 7 of the device 1 receives the returned test signal (step S3) and displays the connection destination determination result (step S4).

  As described above, in the embodiment, the test signal transmission unit 5 of the device 1 transmits a test signal to the device 2 using a specific core of the cable 10, and the device 2 uses a different core for each device and each port. Return the test signal. Then, the connection destination determination unit 7 of the device 1 determines whether the cable 10 is correctly connected based on the core to which the test signal is returned, and displays the determination result. Therefore, the operator can efficiently perform the cable connection test.

  In the embodiment, since the device 2 only returns the test signal, the cable connection test can be performed without turning on the power of the device 2. Furthermore, by using the connection source test apparatus 3d and the connection destination test apparatus 4d, the operator can perform a cable connection test without turning on the power of the apparatus 1 and the apparatus 2. Therefore, even a worker who does not know the activation method and operation method of the device 1 and the device 2 can confirm the cable connection.

  Further, in the embodiment, since the cable tag is not used, it is not necessary to prepare for the cable connection in advance, and the working time can be shortened. In the embodiment, since it is not necessary to check the connection destination by tracing the cable, it is possible to check the connection destination without depending on the distance or route between the apparatuses.

  In this embodiment, the case of using an 8-core LAN cable has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention is also applicable to the case of using a LAN cable or another cable having a different number of cores. The same can be applied.

1, 2, 3, 4 Device 1a, 2a Device internal circuit 1b, 2b, 3b, 4b Test unit 1c, 2c Port 3d Connection source test device 4d Connection destination test device 5 Test signal transmission unit 6 Return unit 7 Connection destination determination unit 8, 9 switching unit 10 cable 10a LAN cable 11 connector 51 variable resistance 71, 74 resistance 72, 75 LED
73,76 transistor 90 tag 91 port 100,200,300 connection test system

Claims (6)

In electronic devices connected to other devices with cables having multiple cores,
A signal for identifying the m-th port from the m-th port (m is an integer not less than 1 and not more than the number of ports of the electronic device) through the n-th port (n is an integer not less than 1 and not more than the number of cores of the cable). A transmitter for transmitting to the other device;
The other device that has received the signal at the nth core of the pth port (p is an integer not less than 1 and not more than the number of ports of the other device, and m = p or m ≠ p) An electronic apparatus comprising: a receiving unit that receives a signal returned to the signal via an s core (s is an integer different from n by 1 or more and the number of cable cores or less). It further comprises a determination unit that determines whether or not the receiving unit has received the returned signal at the s-th core of the m-th port, and determines whether or not the cable connection is correct. The electronic device according to claim 1.   The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the s is different for each device and each port.   The receiving unit returns the signal to the signal via the s-core and t-core of the p-th port (t is an integer different from n and s, where t is 1 or more and less than the number of cable cores). The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the received electronic signal is received. In the connection confirmation device for confirming the connection of the cable having a plurality of cores connecting the first device and the second device,
The m-th port from the m-th port (m is an integer not less than 1 and not more than the number of ports of the first device) to the n-th (n is an integer not less than 1 and not more than the number of cable cores) of the first device A transmitter for transmitting a signal for identifying the second device to the second device;
The second device having received the signal at the nth core of the pth port (p is an integer equal to or greater than 1 and equal to or less than the number of ports of the second device, and m = p or m ≠ p). A connection confirmation device comprising: a receiving unit that receives a signal returned to the signal via an s core (s is an integer different from n by 1 or more and the number of cable cores or less). In the connection confirmation method of the cable having a plurality of cores connecting the first device and the second device,
The first device is connected to the m-th port (m is an integer equal to or greater than 1 and equal to or less than the number of ports of the first device) through the n-th (n is an integer equal to or greater than 1 and equal to or less than the number of cable cores). Sending a signal identifying the port to the second device;
The second device receives the signal at the nth core of the pth port (p is an integer equal to or greater than 1 and less than or equal to the number of ports of the second device, and m = p or m ≠ p). A connection confirmation method comprising: transmitting a signal to the first device via the s-th core of the p-th port (s is an integer not smaller than 1 and not larger than the number of cable cores and different from n).

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