WO2000077649A1

WO2000077649A1 - Method for marking a hardware variant of an electrical or electronic hardware unit

Info

Publication number: WO2000077649A1
Application number: PCT/CH2000/000135
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stefan Baiker; Andreas Haenggi
Original assignee: Ascom Ag
Priority date: 1999-06-15
Filing date: 2000-03-09
Publication date: 2000-12-21
Also published as: EP1194857A1; JP2003502621A

Abstract

In several components variants (1.1, 1.2, 1.3) of an electronic subassembly having a different function block (14.1, 14.2, 14.3) depending on the components variant (1.1, 1.2, 1.3), the current components variant (1.1, 1.2, 1.3) is identified by measuring the resistance value of a resistor (6.1, 6.2, 6.3) mounted in said components variant (1.1, 1.2, 1.3). The necessary measuring and test devices are integrated into an external test apparatus that can be attached to a components variant (1.1, 1.2, 1.3) by means of a plug connector (4). The test apparatus can thus test functioning of a function block and determine whether or not it corresponds to the components variant that was determined based on the measurement of the resistance value of said resistor (6.1, 6.2, 6.3).

Description

Method for identifying a hardware variant of an electrical or electronic hardware unit

Technical field

The invention relates to a method for identifying one of at least two different hardware variants of an electrical or electronic hardware unit. Furthermore, the invention relates to a hardware variant of an electrical or electronic hardware unit, a set of such hardware variants, a method for determining a marked hardware variant and a device for carrying out this determination method. State of the art

With advancing globalization, many products that were previously only developed for a single, mostly geographically limited market are now sold worldwide. In many countries, however, different standards and regulations apply, for example with regard to energy supply networks or telecommunications networks (e.g. with regard to supply voltages, signal levels, signal frequencies, etc.). For this reason, it is often not possible to manufacture and sell a product in one version around the world. In addition, e.g. There are short innovation cycles in electronics and many products are subject to changes, even if only small ones. A single electrical or electronic hardware unit (e.g. an electronic assembly for a communication device, a test device itself or an entire computer system) often has a number of different, possible hardware variants next to each other. It is therefore important to differentiate the different hardware variants and to be able to identify the existing hardware variant.

One way of identifying different assembly variants of an electronic assembly, for example, is by appropriate labeling. This is done either directly on the assembly itself or the assembly is provided with a label or a sticker, on which the desired information is applied. However, it is not possible or only possible to a limited extent to collect this information electronically and to process it further. In addition, this type of information provision means an additional work step, which makes production more complex and expensive.

It is also known to attach plugged or permanently soldered short-circuit connections (bridges) or switches to the module in such a way that the information can be coded (for example, binary). The means for such encodings, however, take up a lot of space on the assembly, which has a very negative impact on today's compact design. In addition, many connector positions must be occupied if possible should be to retrieve the information from outside the relevant assembly, for example from a test device or from another assembly used together with the relevant assembly in a device or system. The consequences are more manufacturing effort, an undesirable enlargement of the assemblies and corresponding additional costs.

Furthermore, it is also known to write the required information into specific cells of a programmable memory that is already present on the hardware unit or in a programmable memory that is mounted thereon or specifically for this purpose. But even in this case, the necessary preprogramming creates an additional work step and thus both more effort and higher production costs. In addition, valuable memory space is consumed, which is therefore no longer available for performing the functions of the hardware unit.

Presentation of the invention

The object of the invention is to provide a method of the type mentioned at the outset which avoids the problems existing in the prior art and in particular offers a simple and inexpensive possibility for identifying different hardware variants of an electrical or electronic hardware unit.

The solution to the problem is defined by the features of claim 1. According to the invention, an electrical or electronic component is fitted to identify a hardware variant of the electrical or electronic hardware unit in a specially provided place on or in the hardware unit. Each different variant is equipped with a different component, each of which has very specific, measurable, electrical properties. After identification, a hardware variant can be distinguished and identified from other, different hardware variants on the basis of a measurement of an electrical property of the assembled component. By using standardized, electronic components, the assembly process, ie the identification of the hardware variant, can be integrated into the normal manufacturing process. Corresponding components are also small and inexpensive. Likewise, the information applied to the module in this way can be acquired in a simple manner by measuring an electrical property and then processed further as desired. Although, in principle, components can also be used to identify a hardware variant which serve to perform an additional function of the hardware unit and which have a different value depending on the variant, components are preferably used which are equipped solely for the purpose of variant identification.

The electrical properties of a component can usually be represented simply in the form of a characteristic curve, the characteristic curve being represented either by means of an electrical variable as a function of another electrical variable or by means of an electrical variable as a function of time. In the case of a resistor, a characteristic curve is e.g. the current flowing through the resistor as a function of the voltage applied to the resistor and therefore a straight line through the origin in the current / voltage diagram. The current / voltage characteristic of a diode, on the other hand, has two more or less linear areas that are connected by a kink in the breakdown voltage. It is different with a capacitor (or with an RC element = series connection of a capacitor and a resistor). Here, a characteristic curve can be represented, for example, as a voltage on the capacitor as a function of time with a constant voltage applied to the RC element.

Each component that is used to identify a hardware variant according to the invention can be assigned to a specific component group. A component group is defined as a group of components whose characteristics are all approximately the same in terms of quality, but differ in at least one characteristic value. The current / voltage characteristics of the components of the "resistance" component group, for example, are all straight lines, but depending on the resistance value of the resistance, they differ in their steepness. With the component group The difference between "diodes" is where the break, that is, the breakdown voltage, and the inclination of the two linear sections.

By determining a characteristic value of the characteristic curve (for example resistance value of a resistor or breakdown voltage of a diode) by means of a measurement, an existing hardware variant of a hardware unit can be distinguished from another hardware variant and, with the aid of a previously performed and known assignment of the value of the characteristic curve property to a possible hardware variant, also identify.

It would be conceivable for different hardware variants of a hardware unit to be equipped with components from different component groups. For example, resistors and diodes could be mixed. Depending on the voltage at the electrodes, diodes also have a certain resistance, on the basis of which the assemblies can be identified. However, the different hardware variants are preferably equipped with different components from the same component group. This makes it easier, since only components of a single component group have to be in stock, not only the production but also the measurement of the characteristic value of the characteristic, since the qualitative shape of the characteristic is known in advance.

A preferred embodiment of the invention consists in using individual components which are simple, inexpensive and available with many different values. For example, components in which the values of the characteristic characteristic used are predefined standard values. Such series of standards exist not only for resistors, capacitors or inductors, but also for many other component groups. Corresponding components are therefore simple, inexpensive and available in all variations. Of course, instead of a single component, several interconnected components of the same or different component groups can also be used. A resistor of a certain size is known to be problem-free by connecting several in series or in parallel Resistors of a different size can be replaced, whereby the values can be selected so that the total resistance value remains the same.

Although digital components are also suitable for variant identification according to the invention, discrete components such as e.g. Resistors, capacitors, coils, diodes and similar components are used.

Sometimes there are several differentiation criteria for an electrical or electronic hardware unit: different country versions, different manufacturers, different generations or even different revision levels. Consequently, several components can also be provided, each of which is used to identify the hardware variant with respect to one of these criteria. It is irrelevant whether the components used are all from the same component group or not.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is to use resistors as electronic components. The current / voltage characteristic of a resistor is known to be a straight line through the origin. The characteristic value of the characteristic curve is the slope of the characteristic line, ie the resistance value, which can be measured in a simple manner by simply determining another point on the characteristic curve. Resistors also exist in many variations and are among the cheapest components.

Instead of using a separate component for each of several differentiation criteria as described above, a single component with several, different characteristic properties can also be used. For example, a diode (roughly speaking) has a two-part current / voltage characteristic, the stop band and the pass band. On the one hand, the slope of the characteristic in one or even both areas and, on the other hand, the transition point between the two areas could be selected as characteristic properties. A module can thus be identified by skillfully selecting the diode with regard to two or more different distinguishing features. The marking according to the invention of different variants can be applied to all conceivable electrical or electronic hardware units if several hardware variants exist next to each other from this hardware unit, which must be distinguishable from one another. Examples of this are individual modules as well as entire devices or even larger systems. However, the application of the invention is preferably carried out in an electronic assembly, of which there are several different assembly variants.

An inventive hardware variant of an electrical or electronic

Hardware unit is equipped with an electrical or electronic component, the characteristic of which has a certain characteristic value. Using one

By measuring this value, the hardware variant of the hardware unit can be determined.

An electrical or electronic hardware unit often has a complete set of different hardware variants, and the assignment of "characteristic value of the characteristic curve of the component fitted" to a specific "hardware variant" is known. The different hardware variants differ at least in this characteristic value of the characteristic curve of the component. Usually, the hardware variants also differ in the values of other components or components or even entire function blocks, which are required to carry out the variant-specific function of the module. However, this is not always the case.

Components which have two electrical connections are preferably used for marking. Both symmetrical (ie the component has no polarity) and asymmetrical (ie the component has a polarity) components are suitable. The hardware unit is equipped by establishing an electrically conductive connection (for example by means of a solder or plug connection) between the connections of the component and the corresponding contact points on the electrical or electronic hardware unit. Both contact points are either test points themselves or they are electrically conductive with one connected. Another possibility is to connect both contact points in an electrically conductive manner with a plug contact, so that the component can also be accessed from the outside. Most of the time, however, one of the two contact points is electrically conductively connected to a ground point of the module, which can also be a test point at the same time. Usually, the earth points of the module are also connected in an electrically conductive manner to one or more plug contacts.

The value of the characteristic curve is now measured either between the two connections of the component, between the test points or plug contacts that are electrically conductively connected to them, or between any ground point of the hardware unit, which can also be a test point or a plug contact, and the test point or the Plug contact with which the other connection of the component is connected. How the measurement is carried out in detail depends on the component fitted. With a resistor, for example, a standardized voltage of known magnitude is applied and the flowing current is measured. The measurement of the breakdown voltage or the slope (s) of the characteristic curve of a diode is more complex, but it is well known and common. There are also measurement methods for the capacitance of a capacitor or the inductance of a coil as well as for most other electrical or electronic components.

With some components such as capacitors or coils, direct measurement of certain characteristic properties is often difficult if not impossible. By means of parallel and / or series connections of two or more components, however, the determination of a point on the characteristic curve is usually possible without further ado. With an RC element (series connection of a capacitor with a resistor), for example, the time constant can be determined relatively easily, and if the resistance value of the resistor is known, the capacitance of the capacitor can also be calculated. Where the components that are provided in series or parallel connection to the corresponding component, whether directly on the hardware unit, whether in the measuring device or in between as an independent circuit, is irrelevant. It is important that the components are so electrically connected with each other so that the desired sizes can be measured.

A device for identifying a hardware variant of the hardware unit consists of the hardware unit and of an electrical or electronic component fitted on or in the hardware unit. The hardware unit is populated with the component either immediately during the manufacture of the hardware unit itself or, if the definitive hardware variant is only determined later, at another time. Furthermore, a measuring device is provided, which is designed in such a way that a characteristic value of the characteristic curve of the assembled component can be measured. For this purpose, the electrodes of the measuring device are electrically conductively connected to the connections of the component.

The measuring device is either located directly on the hardware unit itself or it forms a separate device or is integrated in a separate device. If it is integrated on or in the hardware unit itself, the electrical connections are usually provided directly in the hardware unit and are also created in the manufacturing process. In the case of external devices, however, the electrical connections to the hardware unit or to the component must first be made by means of cables or similar devices. An elegant option is to plug the hardware unit directly into another device that contains the measuring device and makes the necessary electrical connections via plug contacts as soon as it is plugged in.

The populated electrical or electronic component is preferably used exclusively to determine the hardware variant of the electrical or electronic hardware unit and has no other purpose.

What happens after the hardware unit has been identified, for example a variant of an electronic assembly, is entirely up to you. For example, the measured values can be passed on to devices on the assembly or to external devices for further processing, or they can be used directly to control a program. Here are a few examples: The value of the component is measured with a measuring device on the assembly. The information about the identity, here, for example, the country variant, of the assembly is passed on to a microprocessor on the assembly, which stores a certain value in a particular memory cell of a memory also present on the assembly on the basis of the version determined. The memory cell in turn influences the course of a control program in such a way that, for example, texts that are shown on a display on the module appear in the national language corresponding to the corresponding country variant. Or, depending on the country variant, the control program influences the formation of the election impulses, which have different pulse lengths depending on the country.

The module can also be used in an external device. Instead of a measuring device and a display unit on the module itself, these components can also be integrated in this device and electrically connected to the corresponding circuit parts on the module via plug connections. The processing of the information about the country variant is carried out analogously to the previous example.

In another example, the module to be identified is connected to a test device via a cable. There are two generations of this module type, for example, which differ only in that a certain tone generator generates a tone with a first or a second frequency. The connections of the component are each connected to a pin of the connector used. Now the test device first measures the value of the component via the cable and plug and identifies the module, for example, as the second generation of the module, which must therefore generate a tone with the second frequency. When testing the module by the test device, it can then be determined whether the tone generator really generates the tone with the second frequency and thus works correctly. From the following detailed description and the entirety of the claims, further advantageous embodiments and combinations of features of the invention result.

Brief description of the drawings

The drawings used to explain the exemplary embodiment show:

1 an assembly variant of an electronic assembly equipped with a component, a measuring device and a plug,

2 an assembly variant of an electronic assembly equipped with a component and a plug and an external measuring device,

3 shows an assembly variant of an electronic assembly equipped with two components and a plug and an external measuring device,

4 shows a set of assembly variants of an electronic assembly,

Fig. 5 is a diagram of a current / voltage characteristic of a resistor.

In principle, the same parts are provided with the same reference symbols in the figures.

Ways of Carrying Out the Invention

The invention is explained in detail below with the aid of a few exemplary embodiments.

Figure 1 shows a variant of an electronic assembly (1). The assembly variant (1) has a large number of contact points (2.1 - 2.20), which can be used for assembly with the required components and with each other are partially electrically connected by means of conductor tracks (3.1 - 3.10). A plug connector (4) is mounted on the assembly variant (1), the plug contacts (4.1 - 4.6) of which are connected to the assembly variant (1) via several contact points (2.1 - 2.6). A measuring device (5) is fitted over two other contact points (2.7, 2.9) and a resistor (6) on the assembly variant (1) is fitted over two further contact points (2.13, 2.14). The components which are present on the assembly variant (1) for carrying out the specific function are not shown. These could include, for example, a power supply, signal generators, memories and other electrical or electronic components. In order to exchange signals with external devices, further connector contacts (4.1 - 4.3) of the connector strip (4) could be used.

As an explanation, it is assumed that the module serves as a tone generator in a telephone exchange. It is used in switchboards around the world. However, many countries have different regulations regarding the frequencies of the individual tones. However, in order not to produce a separate tone generator for each country, this assembly produces its own assembly variant (1) for each country. An assembly variant can either be constructed in such a way that it can generate all (worldwide) necessary tones and a resistor (6) is provided, with the help of which the different country variants can be identified, distinguished from one another and the part of the tone generator corresponding to the country variant can be activated, or the assembly variant is constructed in such a way that a tone generator is implemented on it, which can only generate the tones corresponding to a single country variant and thus certain circuit parts differ from variant to variant. In this case too, the resistor (6) is used to determine the country variant. The assembly of the assembly variant (1) with the resistor (6) is preferably integrated in the normal manufacturing process. Likewise, the equipment with the measuring device (5).

To determine the configuration variant (1), the measuring device (5) applies a voltage of known magnitude to the contact points (2.13, 2.14) of the resistor via contact points (2.7, 2.9) and conductor tracks (3.4, 3.6, 3.1, 3.3, 3.7, 3.8) ( 6) and then measures the current flowing through the resistor (6) between the contact points (2.7, 2.9). The current country variant of the module can now be identified on the basis of the current.

The further processing of this information is not determined by the invention. In the present example, the value of the measured current could e.g. be written into a specific memory cell of a memory on the configuration variant (1). Before a tone is generated, this memory cell is then queried and the tone can be generated at the frequency prescribed for the corresponding country variant.

FIG. 2 shows the same assembly variant (1) of the electronic assembly as in FIG. 1. A resistor (6) and a connector strip (4) are also mounted. Instead of a measuring device (5) integrated on the assembly variant (1), an external measuring device (7) is provided, which is connected to the corresponding plug contacts (4.4., 4.6) via electrical connections (8.1, 8.2) and a plug (9). the connector strip (4) is connected.

In principle, the assembly variant (1) is determined in the same way as in FIG. 1. Only in this case the measurement is carried out by the external measuring device (7), which uses the electrical connections (8.1, 8.2), the plug contacts (4.4, 4.6) the connector strip and the conductor tracks (3.1, 3.3, 3.7, 3.8) are electrically connected to the resistor (6).

It is free how the information about the identity of the assembly (1) is further processed. It can be returned by the measuring device to the module (1), stored in a memory on or outside the module, passed on to a microprocessor on or outside the module or processed in some other way.

FIG. 3 again shows the same assembly variant (1) as in FIGS. 1 and 2. In addition to the first resistor (4) between the contact points (2.13, 2.14) there is a further resistor (10) between the contact points (2.15, 2.16) and instead of the two-pole

Measuring device (7) a three-pole measuring device (1 1) is provided. The is connected Measuring device (1 1) via electrical connections (12.1, 12.2, 12.3) and a plug (13) with the plug contacts (4.4, 4.5, 4.6) of the connector strip (4).

The resistor (6) has the same function as described in Figure 2. It is used to identify the country variant of the assembly. Since there are often different change statuses (e.g. corrections of errors) of a certain version of an electronic assembly next to each other, the resistor (10) is used to determine the change status. With the measuring device (1 1), therefore, in addition to measuring the resistance (6), the resistance value of the resistance (10) must also be determined. For this purpose, it has an additional entrance. The measuring device (1 1) is thus via the electrical connections (12.1, 12.2, 12.3), the connector (13), the connector contacts (4.4, 4.5, 4.6) of the connector strip (4) and the conductor tracks (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 3.10) connected to the two resistors. The measurement of the resistances (6, 10) as well as the further processing of the information about the country variant and the change status takes place as described.

In some cases, it is advisable to use a resistor (4, 10) instead of a resistor (4, 10) with a fixed value, the resistance value of which can be set manually or automatically (sliding resistance, potentiometer). For example, when the module is repaired with a change in the change status, the resistor (4, 10) is not replaced, but can simply be set to the new value manually or automatically.

FIG. 4 shows several, different assembly variants (1.1, 1.2, 1.3) of an electronic assembly. Each of the assembly variants (1.1, 1.2, 1.3) is equipped with a resistor (6.1, 6.2, 6.3), a connector strip (4) and a function block (14.1, 14.2, 14.3). Other circuit parts, both those which are identical in all of the assembly variants (1.1, 1.2, 1.3) and those which are different, are present, but not shown. For the sake of clarity, contact points, test points, conductor tracks etc. are also not shown. The resistors (6.1, 6.2, 6.3) all have different resistance values so that they can be distinguished from one another can. The function block (14.1, 14.2, 14.3) of each configuration variant (1.1, 1.2, 1.3) is, for example, a tone generator and supplies at one of its outputs a tone signal of a certain frequency and amplitude corresponding to the configuration variant (1.1, 1.2, 1.3). The combination frequency / amplitude is different for all three assembly variants (1.1, 1.2, 1.3). The following assignment applies between the resistance values of the resistors (6.1, 6.2, 6.3) and the frequency / amplitude combinations of the function blocks (14.1, 14.2, 14.3) or the configuration variants (1.1, 1.2, 1.3): The first resistor (6.1) is assigned to the first assembly variant (1.1), whose function block (14.1) generates a tone with a first frequency / amplitude combination. The second resistor (6.2) is assigned to the second assembly variant (1.2), whose function block (14.2) generates a tone with a second frequency / amplitude combination. And the third resistor (6.3) is assigned to the third assembly variant (1.3), whose function block (14.3) generates a tone with a third frequency / amplitude combination.

After the production of an assembly variant (1.1, 1.2, 1.3), a functional test usually follows. For this purpose, for example, an external test device is connected to the connector strip (4) of an assembly variant (1.1, 1.2, 1.3). On the basis of a measurement of the resistance value of the resistance (6.1, 6.2, 6.3) by the test device (as described in FIG. 2 or 3), this can determine, for example, which configuration variant (1.1, 1.2, 1.3) is present and whether the function block (14.1, 14.2 , 14.3) generates the sound with the correct frequency / amplitude combination and displays, saves or otherwise processes the test result accordingly.

The current / voltage characteristic of a resistor is shown in FIG. As is known, this is a straight line through the origin with a slope which is dependent on the resistance value of the resistor. In the case of a resistance, the determination of the characteristic curve is particularly simple. One only has to determine a single point on the characteristic curve, which together with the known second point (the origin) completely defines the straight line. A voltage of known magnitude is preferably applied to the two terminals of the resistor for measuring the resistance. By measuring the current flowing through the resistor, the second point of the straight line and thus its slope (= resistance value of the resistor) is known.

In summary, it can be stated that the assembly of a module with a resistor, the resistance value of which corresponds to the present assembly variant, offers a simple and inexpensive way of identifying the assembly variant of this assembly by means of a measurement of the resistance value.

Claims

claims

1. A method for identifying one of at least two different hardware variants of an electrical or electronic hardware unit, characterized in that the hardware variant to be marked is provided with at least one corresponding electrical or electronic component in a space provided for this purpose, different hardware variants each having a different one Components are provided so that the hardware variant can be identified on the basis of a measurement of an electrical property of the component and can be distinguished from other, different hardware variants

2 The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrical property of the component is a characteristic value of a characteristic of the component, the characteristic being an electrical quantity as a function of another electrical quantity or a temporal quantity

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each hardware variant is provided with a component of a specific component group, the characteristics of all components of this component group being qualitatively the same, but differing in at least one characteristic value.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the hardware variant for identification with respect to several differentiation criteria is provided with a plurality of electrical or electronic components, one component being used to identify different hardware variants with respect to one differentiation criterion

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a resistor is used as the component, that the characteristic characteristic of the resistor is a straight line in the current / voltage diagram and that the characteristic value is the slope of the straight line.

6. The method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the hardware variant for identification with regard to several differentiation criteria is provided with an electrical or electronic component, the characteristic curve of the component having several characteristic values and one characteristic value each for identification of different hardware variants each serves a differentiating criterion.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the hardware unit is an electronic assembly and the different hardware variants are different assembly variants of the electronic assembly.

8. Hardware variant of an electrical or electronic hardware unit, characterized in that the hardware variant is provided with an electrical or electronic component, a characteristic value of a characteristic curve of the component being used to determine the hardware variant.

9. Set of hardware variants of an electrical or electronic hardware unit according to claim 8, characterized in that the hardware variants differ at least in an electrical property of the electrical or electronic component.

10. A method for determining a hardware variant of an electrical or electronic hardware unit, characterized by the method according to claim 1, characterized in that a measurement of an electrical Property of the component is carried out between a first connection of the component connected to a ground point, any contact point, a test point or a plug contact of the hardware unit and a second connection of the component connected to any contact point, a test point or a plug contact of the hardware unit.

1 1. Device for performing the method according to claim 10, characterized in that an electrical or electronic component on the hardware variant of the electrical or electronic hardware unit and a measuring device are provided, wherein the measuring device is electrically connected to the component and the measuring device is designed so that an electrical property of the component can be measured.

12. The device according to claim 1 1, characterized in that the measuring device is integrated in an external device which is electrically connected to the hardware variant.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 1 or 12, characterized in that the component is used exclusively for determining the hardware variant of the electrical or electronic hardware unit.