JPH07260524A - Instrumentation card - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To form a measuring instrument in a pocket size so as to be always portable. CONSTITUTION:A personal computer side connector 11 to be connected to a personal computer is fitted to one end of an instrumentation card 10, and an interface side connector 12 to which a signal measuring device is connected is fitted to the other end side of the card 10 through a cable 12a. This instrumentation card 10 is carried about in a pocket along with the cable 12a and the interface side connector 12.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a measurement card for measuring various signals output from electronic equipment and supplying the measurement results to a signal analysis device.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a measuring instrument for measuring various signals output from electronic equipment, a multi-protocol analyzer for analyzing signals on a communication line or a logic for analyzing signals on a bus of a CPU (central processing unit) There are analyzers and the like, and these measuring instruments are roughly classified into a stand-alone type and an extension board type. For example, a stand-alone type multi-protocol analyzer is a portable measuring instrument in which an input unit, a display unit, an operation unit, and a measurement control unit are integrally formed. When this multi-protocol analyzer captures a signal from a communication line and analyzes the signal, the user connects a probe of the input unit to the communication line and then issues a predetermined instruction from the operation unit using a keyboard or the like. The control unit analyzes the signal input from the input unit according to an instruction from the operation unit, and displays the analysis result on the screen of the display unit as a time chart or hexadecimal numbers. The expansion board type multi-protocol analyzer includes an expansion unit, an input unit connectable to the expansion unit, and a portable personal computer. The expansion unit is connected to the input section via a cable, and is also connected to a personal computer via the cable. Some expansion boards dedicated to measurement are inserted into the slots of the expansion unit. Further, the size of the slot of the expansion unit is unified so that it can be attached to the expansion slot of the personal computer for installation. When measuring the signal of the communication line, the expansion unit measures the signal input from the input unit, the personal computer analyzes it based on the measurement result, and displays it on the screen of the display.

[0002]

However, the above-mentioned conventional stand-alone type and expansion board type measuring instruments are small and convenient to carry, but even though they are small, they are large in size and heavy in weight. Since there is also Kg,
The inconvenience is that you cannot always carry it around. Therefore, for example, even if a sudden failure occurs on the communication line, if the measuring instrument is not on the side when the failure occurs, the signal cannot be measured immediately on the spot, and the sudden failure may not be analyzed. is there. Also, when making a stand-alone type or expansion board type measuring instrument smaller, the former type can be considerably downsized, but since the display unit and operation unit also become smaller as the size decreases, the display unit Not only is the analysis result displayed on the screen difficult to see, but the switches operated by the operation unit are also small, making it difficult to operate. On the other hand, in the latter type, since the size of the slot of the expansion board is standardized, there is a drawback that the slot portion cannot be further downsized.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a measuring card that can be always carried in a pocket by making it smaller than a stand-alone type or expansion board type measuring instrument. It is an object.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the measurement card according to claim 1 is electrically inserted between an electronic device and a signal analysis device having a card reading means, One or more predetermined signals output from the electronic device are measured, and the measurement result is supplied to the signal analysis device.

A measuring card according to a second aspect is provided with a measuring circuit for measuring the signal output from the electronic device and a memory for storing the measurement result inside the card body.
An arbitrary side edge of the card body is provided with an analyzer side input / output terminal which is inserted into the card insertion slot of the signal analyzer and connected to the signal analyzer. An electronic device side input / output terminal connected to the electronic device via a cable is provided at the end portion.

[0006]

According to the above construction, the card body is provided with only the minimum necessary function as a measuring instrument for fetching a signal to be measured, trigger control, etc., so that the size can be reduced. Therefore, since the measurement card can be carried in a pocket or the like at all times, it is possible to immediately deal with a defect or unexpected failure in the communication line and the like, and it is possible to reliably pursue the defective portion and the cause of the failure. Moreover, since the measurement control of the measurement card is performed by the signal analysis device, the measurement content can be easily changed by rewriting the program of the signal analysis device. Also, because the measurement card is very small, even in a place where there is not enough space to put the measuring instrument,
Can be used.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic circuit configuration of a measurement card according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, the measurement card 10 includes a personal computer side connector 11 (analysis device side input / output terminal), an interface side connector 12 (electronic device side input / output terminal), an input / output switching circuit 13, and a clock signal generation circuit 14. , Serial communication control circuit 15, driver / receiver circuit 16, measured signal processing circuit 17, simulated signal generation circuit 18, measured signal memory 19 (memory), and measurement control circuit 20.
(Measurement circuit) and power supply circuit 21.
Further, these circuits are formed into an IC chip by a gate array or the like so that they can be housed inside the card body.
The personal computer side connector 11 is, for example, PCMCIA (Pers
onal Computer Memory Cord International Associatio
n: industry group that standardizes IC memory cards) 20
It is also possible to connect to a slot for an IC memory card (slot for card insertion) on the personal computer side, which also complies with the standard of PCMCIA20. When the connector is inserted into the slot, the signal (command) input from the personal computer side is transmitted to the input / output switching circuit 13, and the measured signal stored in the measured signal memory 17 is transferred to the personal computer side. Be transmitted to.

The interface-side connector 12 is connected to an interface adapter for taking out a measured signal from an electronic device such as a data terminal equipment (DTE) to be measured, and also the input / output switching circuit 1 via a cable 12a.
It is connected with 3. The signal output from the data terminal device is input to the input / output switching circuit 13 via the interface adapter or the interface-side connector 12, and the simulation signal output from the input / output switching circuit 13 is the cable 12a. , Is transmitted to the data terminal device via the interface side connector 12 and the interface adapter.

The input / output switching circuit 13 outputs the signal (command) input from the personal computer side connector 11 to the driver / receiver circuit 16 and also stores the measured signal stored in the measured signal memory 19 input from the driver / receiver circuit 16. The measurement signal is output to the personal computer side connector 11. Also,
The input / output switching circuit 13 has a selection circuit including an electronic switch or the like controlled by the measurement control circuit 20, and when a measured signal is input from the interface side connector 12, the input signal side terminal 13a is selected and the interface is selected. When outputting the simulated signal to the side connector 12, the output signal side terminal 13b is selected. The selection circuit prevents the simulation from being adversely affected by, for example, returning the output simulated signal.

The clock generation circuit 14 includes a measurement control circuit 2
0 or a clock signal serving as a reference for operation is supplied to the serial communication control circuit 15. The serial communication control circuit 15 controls serial communication based on the clock signal input from the clock generation circuit 14. For example, a start bit that is the beginning of data or a stop bit that is the end of data is added to the measured signal output to a personal computer, or the start bit or stop bit of the signal input from the personal computer is detected. Perform processing to In addition, the driver / receiver circuit 1
A serial signal (command) is input from 6 and converted into, for example, an 8-bit parallel signal and output to the driver / receiver circuit 16, and the parallel measured signal read from the measured signal memory 19 is input. The signal is converted into a serial signal and output to the driver / receiver circuit 16. Further, the serial measured signal input from the interface side connector 12 is converted into a parallel measured signal and output to the driver / receiver circuit 16, and the simulated signal generated by the simulated signal generating circuit 18 is converted into a serial signal. Convert to.

The driver / receiver circuit 16 inputs the measured signal read from the measured signal memory 19 while inputting from the personal computer through the personal computer side connector 11 and the input / output switching circuit 13.
3. Output to the personal computer via the personal computer side connector 11. Also, the interface side connector 1
The measured signal input from 2 is output to the measurement control circuit 20, and the simulated signal generated by the simulated signal generation circuit 18 is converted into a serial signal by the serial communication control circuit 15 and output to the interface side connector 12. The measured signal processing circuit 17 is controlled by the measurement control circuit 20.
From the signal input from the driver / receiver circuit 16, for example, the 1000th data "ABC" is detected, the data of this "ABC" is extracted (character string match detection processing), and unnecessary data is selected. Then, the processing (filter control processing) is performed. Simulated signal generation circuit 18
Generates a simulation signal at a predetermined position of a predetermined signal in the simulation mode, for example, and outputs the generated simulation signal to the driver / receiver circuit 16. For example, the data “BB” is the 500th from the position of the predetermined signal.
B "is generated.

The measured signal memory 19 sequentially stores a measured signal of, for example, 2 bytes, which is input from a measurement target device (not shown). The measured signal to be stored is designated by the personal computer. The measurement control circuit 20 receives an instruction from the personal computer, and based on the clock signal input from the clock signal generation circuit 14, the measured signal input from the interface-side connector 12 via the input / output switching circuit 13 and the driver / receiver circuit 16. Trigger control is performed on the signal and the communication speed of the input measured signal is measured. Also,
The measurement control circuit 20 also controls the measured signal processing circuit 17 in accordance with an instruction from the personal computer to detect, for example, a previously designated character string “ABC” or perform control to discard unnecessary data.

Further, the measurement control circuit 20, when instructed by the personal computer, inputs the measured signal output from the measurement target device via the measured signal processing circuit 17 and sequentially into the measured signal memory 19. The measured signal (data) written and stored in the measured signal memory 19 is output to the personal computer. The power supply circuit 21 is, for example, a 3V battery, and supplies a backup power supply for the measured signal memory 19 from the battery when it is not connected to the personal computer or the measurement target device, or the personal computer or the measurement target device. When it is connected to, the power is supplied from the personal computer or the measurement target device, and the received power is supplied to each of the above circuits.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the entire measuring system including this measuring card. In the figure, a notebook personal computer 30 (signal analysis device) is provided with a card reading means, and the personal computer 30 has a display unit 31, a keyboard 32, and one IC card throttle 33 (card. Slot for insertion) and. Also, this IC card throttle 33 is
The personal computer 30 is based on the above-mentioned PCMCIA standard, and has one floppy disk drive (not shown) attached thereto. Measurement card 10
A personal computer side connector 11 conforming to the PCMCIA 20 standard is attached to one edge side of the card, and a connector 12 is attached to the other edge side of the card via a cable 12a. Further, the cable 12a cannot be removed because each signal line in the cable is directly connected to the internal circuit of the measurement card 10 by soldering or the like. Therefore, when carrying the measurement card, not only the measurement card 10 but also the cable 12a and the connector 12 are carried together. In the IC card 20,
An EEPROM or the like stores a dedicated program for performing measurement control and analysis of a signal to be measured. When the IC card 20 is inserted into the IC card throttle 33, the IC is stored in the main memory of the personal computer 30.
A program dedicated to measurement of the card 20 is read, and measurement control is performed by the personal computer 30.

The interface adapter 40 is, for example, R
The interface adapter of the S-232C, and the interface adapter has a connector terminal (female side) for connecting the interface side connector 12 (male side) and two connector terminals of, for example, 25 pins for connecting a device to be measured. 40a, 40b (female side) is attached,
On the top of the adapter, L that displays the status of the communication line
An ED 41 is provided. When the measurement card 10 is used, the measurement card 10 is connected to the interface side connector 12 through the cable 12a and the interface adapter 40, and the interface terminal 40a of the interface adapter 40 has a data line terminal device (DCE).
And a data terminal device is connected to the connector terminal 40b. Then, the measured signal between these devices is stored in the measurement card 10, the personal computer side connector 11 of the measurement card 10 is inserted into the IC card throttle 33 of the personal computer 30, and then the measured signal of the measurement card 10 is measured. To analyze. Of course, the measured signal can be analyzed even when the personal computer 30, the measurement card 10, and the interface adapter 40 are connected.

Next, the operation of this measurement card will be described. FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the processing for setting the measurement conditions by this measurement card, FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the storage processing of the measurement signal by the measurement card, and FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the analysis processing of the measurement signal by the measurement card. is there. First, in the case of initial setting of the measurement conditions, as shown in FIG. 2, the personal computer side connector 11 of the measurement card 10 is inserted and connected to the IC card throttle 33 of the personal computer 30. The measurement card 10 initializes the registers of the measured signal processing circuit 17 and the like and the measured signal memory 19 (step S10), and sets all registers and memory values to "0". In this setting state, measurement conditions are set from the personal computer 30. This measurement condition is set by the keyboard 32 while looking at the display 31 of the personal computer 30. For example, if the measured signal to be measured is “ABC” which is the 1000th from the predetermined signal, this measurement condition is set.

This measurement condition is the personal computer side connector 1
1, input / output switching circuit 13, driver / receiver circuit 16
Is input to the measurement control circuit 20 via. When the measurement control circuit 20 receives an instruction to set the above measurement conditions from the personal computer 30 (step S11), the measurement signal processing circuit 17, the simulated signal generation circuit 18, and the measurement signal memory 19 set the measurement conditions. Yes (step S1
2). Then, after the setting of the measurement conditions is completed, the contents of the set measurement conditions are again stored in the personal computer 30 via the driver / receiver circuit 16, the input / output switching circuit 13, and the personal computer side connector 11.
It is output to 0 (step S13) to request reconfirmation. Then, in the measurement control circuit 20, if the measurement condition is changed (YES in step S14), the process returns to step S11 to repeat the same process, and if the measurement condition is not changed (NO in step S14), this process is executed. finish.

Next, when measuring and monitoring the signal of the communication line to be measured, the interface adapter 40
By connecting the data terminal device to the connector terminal 40a and connecting the data terminal device to the connector terminal 40b, the communication line can be monitored in advance. Next, when a failure occurs, the measurement card 10 is taken out from the pocket, and the interface side connector 12 of the card is connected to the interface adapter 40. Figure 1
Then, the measurement control circuit 20 reads the measurement condition stored in the measured signal memory 19 (step S20). Next, the measurement control circuit 20 outputs the measurement conditions to the measured signal processing circuit 17 and switches the input / output switching circuit 13 to the input signal 13a side to prepare for the measurement processing (step S21).

The measurement control circuit 20 includes an interface side connector 12, an input / output switching circuit 13, a driver / driver.
Among the signals to be measured input via the receiver circuit 16, those selected by the signal to be measured processing circuit 17 are sequentially written in the signal to be measured memory 19 to perform the measurement processing (step S22). For example, if the 1000th “AAA” signal is extracted from a predetermined signal and stored,
"AAA" for each th is sequentially written. Then, this processing is continued until it is stored in the predetermined storage capacity of the measured signal memory 19 (step S23).

Next, when the measured signal stored in the measured signal memory 19 is read out to the personal computer 30 for analysis, the measurement control circuit 20 receives a command to start analysis of the measured signal from the personal computer 30. (Step S30), the measured signals are sequentially read from the measured signal memory 19 and output to the driver / receiver circuit 16, and the serial communication control circuit 15 performs the serial communication processing. Then, the measured signal is output to the personal computer 30 via the personal computer side connector 11 (step S31), and this output processing is continued until all the measured signals stored in the measured signal memory 19 are read out. (Step S3
2). What has been described so far is the processing for the monitor, but in addition to this, there is a simulation processing.
This is a process of outputting a predetermined signal from the measurement card 10 and monitoring the result. The difference from the process at the time of monitoring is that this measurement card is an interface adapter to a device such as a data line terminal device. And the measurement control circuit 20 is connected to the simulated signal generation circuit 18
Is to output a simulated signal to the measurement target device.

According to the structure of this embodiment, since the measuring card can be carried in a pocket or the like at all times, it is possible to immediately deal with a malfunction or an unexpected failure in a communication line and the like.
You can surely pursue the defective part and the cause of the failure. Further, since the measurement control of the measurement card is performed by the personal computer, the measurement content can be easily changed by rewriting the program of the personal computer.

Modified Example Next, a modified example of the above embodiment will be described. This modification is different from the above embodiment in that the cable connected to the measurement card and the interface-side connector can be removed. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a modification of the above embodiment. In the figure, a connector 50b (male side connector) on one end side of the measurement card 50 is inserted into a connector 51b (female side connector) and connected to an interface side connector 51d via a cable 51c. According to such a configuration, the connector 50b of the measurement card 50
Since the connector 51b and the connector 51b can be separated from each other, they can be put in a pocket without disturbing. Further, even when it is put in the pocket, stress is not so much applied to the connection portion between the connector and the cable, so that troubles due to disconnection of the signal line in the cable can be prevented.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above with reference to the drawings. However, the specific structure is not limited to this embodiment, and there are design changes and the like within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention. Also included in the present invention. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the example in which the number of devices connected to the interface adapter is two has been described, but the number of devices is not limited to this and may be any number. The interface adapter is not limited to RS-232C as in the embodiment, but RS-422, RS-4.
85, X. 20, X. 21, U.S.C. Various interfaces such as 35 and TTL may be used. Also, the measurement card is not limited to the multi-protocol analyzer as in the embodiment,
It can also be applied to logic analyzers, oscilloscopes, and data loggers. Furthermore, although the power supply circuit has a battery inside, if the power supply is received from the personal computer or the measurement target device, the battery may be omitted. In the above-described embodiment, the measurement card having the memory is described. However, when the measurement card is connected, the personal computer has the memory, so the measurement card does not need to have the memory.

[0024]

As described above, according to the configuration of the present invention, the measuring instrument can be carried in a pocket or the like at all times, so that it is possible to promptly cope with troubles or unexpected failures in communication lines and the like. In pursuit of defective parts,
You can surely pursue the cause of the failure. Moreover, since the measurement control to the measurement card is performed by the program of the signal analysis device, if the program of this signal analysis device is rewritten,
You can easily change the measurement details. Also, since the measurement card is small, even in a narrow place where there is no space to place the measuring instrument,
Can be used.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic circuit configuration of a measurement card according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an entire measurement system including the measurement card.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process of setting measurement conditions by the measurement card.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a storage process of a signal under measurement by the measurement card.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an analysis process of a signal under measurement by the measurement card.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the measurement card.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 measurement card 11 personal computer side connector (analysis device side input / output terminal) 12 interface side connector (electronic device side input / output terminal) 12a cable 19 memory for measured signal (memory) 20 measurement control circuit (measurement circuit) 33 for IC card Slot (slot for inserting card)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A single or a plurality of predetermined signals output from the electronic device, which are inserted between the electronic device and a signal analysis device including a card reading means, and the measurement result is used as the signal. A measurement card characterized by being supplied to an analysis device. 2. A card body is provided with a measurement circuit for measuring the signal output from the electronic device and a memory for storing the measurement result, and an arbitrary edge portion of the card body is provided. , An analyzer input / output terminal that is inserted into a card insertion slot of the signal analyzer and is connected to the signal analyzer is provided, while an arbitrary other edge portion is provided with the electronic device via a cable. The measurement card according to claim 1, further comprising an electronic device side input / output terminal connected to the electronic device.