WO2012091998A2

WO2012091998A2 - Serial transmission system and slave unit used therein

Info

Publication number: WO2012091998A2
Application number: PCT/US2011/065967
Authority: WO
Inventors: Takuro Miya
Original assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Co
Current assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Co
Priority date: 2010-12-28
Filing date: 2011-12-20
Publication date: 2012-07-05
Anticipated expiration: 2013-06-28
Also published as: JP2012141736A; WO2012091998A3

Abstract

A task of the present invention is to provide a serial transmission system that can achieve a reduction in cable wiring. A serial transmission system for data (1) is comprising : slave ICs storing a plurality of operation instruction means; a master IC (21) needed for controlling at least a first slave IC and a second slave IC of the slave ICs; determination means (40) for determining whether information exported/sent from the master IC is addressed to itself, disposed within the first slave IC and the second slave IC or in proximity thereto; a main bus wiring (10) that is connected to the master IC, and that serially transmits information to the first slave IC and second slave IC; a first passive type branching means (51) for serially transmitting information from the main bus wiring to the first slave IC for operating a first electronic component; and a second passive type branching means (52) needed for serially transmitting information from the main bus wiring to the second slave IC for operating a second electronic component. Here, passive type branching means refers to branching the main bus wiring by using a branch connector or branch substrate, and does not refer to branching means which independently transmits data signals.

Description

SERIAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEM AND SLAVE UNIT USED THEREIN

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a serial transmission system, and more particularly to a serial transmission system and a slave unit used therein, the serial transmission system being provided with a plurality of branching means on main bus wiring that transmits information serially on a copier device(equipment) or printer device (equipment)or the like.

Background

Conventional Art

Conventionally, in copiers and the like, devices such as sensor units and driver units are each connected to a control circuit unit in parallel. As a result, an overall size of cabling was increased and it was necessary to use substrates of a large size, which also led to poor space usage and wiring efficiency.

Also, transmission systems that transmit data signals serially have been proposed, to improve the space and wiring efficiency.

In Patent Document 1 , a serial transmission system is described as a "a serial bus system having a serial bus for serial transmission of data signals, comprising: a control circuit unit as a master station for sequential serial output of a plurality of the data signals; and series units in which of a plurality of units, which are slave stations to which elements such as motors and sensors are connected, is connected in sequential series via the serial bus, a first unit of these series units being connected to the control circuit unit via the main serial bus; wherein the control circuit unit outputs the data signals with an address part corresponding to a target unit, and each unit judges from the address part of the received data signal whether the data signal is addressed to the unit itself, performs an operation to take in the data signal when judging that the data signal is addressed to itself, and transmits the data signalunchanged to a subsequent unit when judging that the data signal is not addressed to itself. PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

Patent Documents

Patent Document 1 : Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. HI 1-272607

Summary

There have been attempts made in the past to change from parallel transmission to serial transmission in order to reduce internal wiring in printers, and the like. However, the reduction in achieved was small. Specifically, the serial transmission system described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. HI 1-272607 has the following problems.

1) Besides a control IC, it is necessary to install connectors for sensors and motors, branch connectors for bus wiring, and bus wiring on a single substrate within a device, so it was necessary to make the area of the substrate large. 2) Due to the size of the substrate, positions for installation within the casing were limited. 3) The wiring from this substrate to the various electronic components such as sensors, motors, and so on was long, so the effect of reduction of wiring was small.

Therefore, it is a task of the present invention to provide a serial transmission system that can solve the above problems.

(1) A first aspect of the present invention is a serial transmission system 1, comprising:

slave ICs storing a plurality of operation instruction means; a master IC 21 needed for controlling at least a first slave IC and a second slave IC of the slave ICs; determination means 40 for determining whether information exported/sent from the master IC is addressed to itself, disposed within the first slave IC and the second slave IC or in proximity thereto; a main bus wiring 10 that is connected to the master IC, and that serially transmits information to the first slave IC and second slave IC; a first passive type branching means 51 for serially transmitting information from the main bus wiring to the first slave IC for operating a first electronic component; and a second passive type branching means 52 needed for serially transmitting information from the main bus wiring to the second slave IC for operating a second electronic component. Here, passive type branching means refers to branching the main bus wiring by using a branch connector or branch substrate, and does not refer to branching means which independently transmits data signals.

As a result of this construction, it is possible to achieve a reduction in cable wiring in particular.

(2) In another aspect of the serial transmission system according to the present invention, each slave IC 31 of the slave ICs is comprised on a mutually differing substrate not on the same substrate in the serial transmission system constructed as described in (1) above. According to this construction, it is possible to avoid a use of large substrates which restrict a selection of installation location, in particular in devices such as copiers and the like.

(3) In another aspect of the serial transmission system according to the present invention, the slave ICs are arranged on substrates having substantially the same form, and a slave unit including the slave IC 31 and the substrate has a modular construction, in the serial transmission system constructed as described in (2) above. Here modular construction refers to a construction of components wherein by combining a plurality of components, a specific function is achieved. According to this construction, in particular it is possible to reduce the number of types of substrates used.

(4) In another aspect of the serial transmission system according to the present invention, at least one of the predetermined branching means 50 is a branch connector 60, in the system constructed as described in any one of (1) through (3) above. According to this construction, in particular it is possible to easily branch the bus wiring.

(5) In another aspect of the serial transmission system according to the present invention, at least one of the determination means 40 is a dip switch 41 disposed in proximity to the slave IC, in the serial transmission system constructed as described in any one of (1) through (4) above. According to this construction, in particular it is possible to use determination means that have been used in the past.

(6) Another aspect of the present invention is a slave unit 30 provided between a branching means and an electronic component in a serial transmission system for data, the slave unit including: a first substrate 32 that is a substrate on which is mounted a slave IC 31 for storing a plurality of operation instructions, and determination means 40 for determining whether information exported/sent from the master IC is addressed to itself, the determination means 40 being disposed in the slave IC or in proximity to the slave IC, the first substrate 32 being connected to a branching bus wiring 15 on the branching means side and a first connector 35; a relay-connector 34 connected to the first substrate on the side opposite the first connector; and a second substrate 33 that is a substrate connected to the first substrate via the rely connector on one edge, and that is connected via the branching bus wiring and a second connector 36 of the electronic component side on another edge. According to this construction, it is possible in particular to provide a slave unit with a modular construction and that carries out complex operation instructions.

Each of the inventions described in (1) through (6) above has their own individual effect, and in addition, the overall effect of the present series of inventions is that it is possible to reduce the weight and size of information serial transmission systems used in copier and printer device(apparatus), and the like, so it is possible to achieve a reduction in the weight of the apparatus, a reduction in the external dimensions of the apparatus, and a reduction in the number of types of substrates used.

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a wiring diagram illustrating an overall construction of cable wiring in a serial transmission system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a wiring diagram illustrating the construction of a part of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a branching portion of bus wiring used in a branch connector that is applied to the system circuit illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view when sectioned at the line X-X (FIG. 2) illustrating the bus wiring in a state installed in contacts of a branch connector that is adapted to be used in the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of a whole construction of a first slave unit from among main units used in the system in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 6(a) is a side view and FIG. 6(b) is a perspective view of a whole construction of the first slave unit in FIG. 5 with a connector body and cover transparent; FIG. 7 is an external perspective view of a whole construction of a second slave unit;

FIG. 8(a) is a side view and FIG. 8(b) is a perspective view of the whole construction of the second slave unit in FIG. 7 with a connector body and cover transparent;

FIG. 9 (a,b-l,b-2,b-3,c) is an external perspective view of a whole construction illustrating an example of a construction of a slave unit according to the present invention;

FIG. 10 illustrates an example of an operation pattern that is possible as a result of operation instruction signals transmitted by a serial transmission system according to the present invention; FIG. 10(a) illustrates a simple operation pattern, and FIG. 10(b) illustrates a complex operation pattern; and

FIG. 1 1 is a flow chart showing an operation of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an overall construction diagram of system cable-wiring 1 of a device that adopts a transmission system according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partial construction view extracted from a part of an overall construction diagram.

As can be seen from these drawings, a main bus wiring 10 and a branching bus wiring 15 that include a plurality of cables are used to connect various electronic components such as motors and the like to a control circuit unit that includes a master IC 21.

In other words, in the main bus wiring 10 that has a master unit (master station) 20 that includes the master IC as a starting point terminal, various slave units (in other words, slave stations) 30,30-1,30-2 such as driver units, sensor units, and so on, are connected in series via branch means 50, and so on. In addition, various electronic components such as motors 102 and solenoids 103 and so on are connected to these units via branching bus wiring.

Here, the master IC 21 is an IC disposed in the master unit 20 as a control circuit unit, having the role of outputting and transmitting information to each slave unit 30 which includes a slave IC 31. The information transmitted from the master IC is configured as an data signal that includes an address part.

Also, the slave IC 31 is an IC disposed in a slave unit 30, having as one of its functions a function of inputting and receiving the information from the master IC 21, under the control of the master unit 20.

In other words, the slave IC 31 is constructed so that determination means provided within the slave IC or determination means 40 provided adjacent to the slave IC determine from an address part of the received information , that is data signal, whether the information is addressed to the slave IC itself or not, and when it is determined that it is addressed to itself it carries out an operation of receiving all of the data signal, and when it is determined that the data signal is not addressed to itself, it does not carry out the operation of receiving all of the data signal.

Also, the slave IC 31 that is suitable for use in the present invention stores a plurality of operation instructions that correspond to a plurality of data signals. In this case, when the address part of the information corresponds to the address of the slave IC, the slave IC selects a single corresponding operation instruction.

If this type of slave IC 31 is used, then at least some of the slave ICs 31 of the slave ICs used as the slave units 30 disposed within the same device can have the same specification, and in this case substrates whereon these slave ICs are mounted can have approximately the same form specification. By doing so it is possible to standardize the substrates, and it is possible to provide the various units provided in the transmission system, such as driver units, sensor units, and so on, with a modular construction.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a branch portion for the case that the branch connector 60 is used as a branching means used in the present invention. This branch connector includes a branch connector body 62, a branch connector cover 61, and contacts 63 having a vertical contact part that is connected to the bus wiring (cabling).

The contacts 63 disposed in the branch connector body 62 are generally arranged in a plurality of staggered rows. The branch connectors 60 are used within the device to obtain branch wiring 15 from the main bus 10 wiring to each unit.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating the branch connector in an installed state that is used in the present invention.

Parts for contact 64 with the wiring (cabling) are formed at the two ends of the contacts 63, and a part for engaging with the branch connector body 62 is formed in a middle. Insertion holes are formed in the branch connector body 62, and the contacts 63 are inserted into the insertion holes. The connector covers 61 are fitted to two sides of the branch connector body, and as a result the main bus wiring 10 and the branching bus wiring 15 are pressed against wiring (cabling) receiving portions and are pressed against the contacts. At this time, a part of the contact part of the contacts fits into a groove formed in an inner surface of the cover.

Also, as another example of branch connector, a "connection device for electrical connections having a pair of connectors having approximately the same construction that includes a plurality of contacts and a housing on which the contacts are fitted" as described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2001-35554 may be used.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 illustrate the construction of a first slave unit 30-1. The first slave unit has the simple action described below. The unit (in other words, a first slave station) 30-1 includes a first substrate 32, a dip switch 41, a slave IC 31, an electrolytic capacitor 38, and so on. In this unit, the dip switch 41 is disposed near the slave IC on the same substrate (the first substrate 32). Here, the dip switch 41 determines whether or not the information received by the slave IC 31 is addressed to itself from the address part of the information(data signal), as the determination means 40. Then, based on this determination, when an appropriate operation instruction is selected from among the plurality of operation instructions stored in the slave IC 31 (for example, a case of simple operation shown in FIG. 10(a)), the slave unit has the function of controlling an electronic component such as for example a sensor (including a photosensor) 108, a clutch, a solenoid 103, a motor (DC motor 102), and so on.

FIG. 10 illustrates the rotation properties of a motor, the vertical axis is the rotation speed N (rpm), and the horizontal axis is the elapsed time (sec). In this case, FIG. 10(a) illustrates an example of "simple operation" wherein in a first half a rotation speed increases in a constant start up, and in a second half the operation is a constant rotation speed. On the other hand, FIG. 10(b) illustrates an example of "complex operation" wherein in a first half a rotation speed increases in a constant start up, and in a second half the rotation speed is suddenly reduced.

FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 illustrate the construction of a second slave unit 30-2. The second slave unit has the complex action as described above. The second slave unit (in other words, second slave station) includes the construction of the first slave unit 30-1 to which is added a substrate (a second substrate 33) whereon driver ICs 37 for stepper motors, for example, are mounted, via a relay connector 34. The determination means 40 (for example, the dip switch 41) provided on the first substrate 32 in the first stage determine whether information is addressed to the second slave unit, the same as for the first slave unit, then based on the determination, the second slave unit selects the appropriate operation instruction from among the plurality of operation instructions (FIG. 10) stored in the slave IC 31. The selected operation instruction corresponds to the complex operation, in other words, the operation instruction is not a simple operation instruction of turning ON or OFF, but carries out an operation as illustrated in FIG. 10(b), and in order to increase an accuracy of the operation a program corresponding to the complex operation is written into the driver IC 37 mounted on the second substrate in the second stage. As a result of this type of construction, the second slave unit 30-2 has the function of controlling an electronic component such as a stepper motor 105, an AC servo motor, or the like.

The second slave unit 30-2 has a modular construction, and this point is explained below. FIG. 9 illustrates several combinations that include the first substrate, the relay connector, the second substrate, and so on, according to the present invention. In each slave unit 30, the slave IC wherein a plurality of operation instructions is stored is disposed on the first substrate 32 having approximately the same form (dimensions). To execute a simple operation only (for example, ON or OFF), the board construction of the slave unit (the first slave unit 30- 1) is constructed from the first substrate 32 only, as illustrated in FIG. 9(a). On the other hand, to execute a complex operation, the board construction of the slave unit (the second slave unit 30-2) is constructed from, for example, the first substrate and the second substrate, as illustrated in FIG. 9(b- 1) , Fig.9(b-2) and Fig 9(b-3). In this case, the construction of the first substrate 32 in the first stage is approximately the same as in FIG. 9(a). In FIGS. 9(b-l) through 9(b-3), approximately the same relay connector is used, and a different second substrate 33 is used corresponding to their respective operation. The driver IC and other electronic components mounted on the second substrate are selected and used in accordance with the operation of each electronic component. In addition, when necessary, a third new substrate 33' may be added via another relay connector to construct a separate slave unit (a third slave unit 30-3), in order to execute the necessary operation instruction, as illustrated in FIG. 9(c).

The operations of the system illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are illustrated in the flowchart of FIG. 1 1. These operations may be described as follows.

The master unit having master IC receives a plurality of data signals from a central processing unit (CPU) as information (Step SI in FIG. 1 1).

The master unit transmits first information as an "address part + operation signal part" data signal to the plurality of slave units that are serially connected (Step S2 in FIG. 1 1).

Each slave unit determines whether the address-part of the information received by the slave unit itself is the same as an address of itself (Step S3).

When the information is not addressed to the unit itself, the slave unit does not respond in any way to the information. In other words, that slave unit ignores the information (Step S4), so it transmits the information to a slave unit (slave station) at a next stage (S4'). The slave unit (slave station) of the next stage repeats the operation of Step S3.

When judging in Step S3 that the information is addressed to unit itself, the slave unit (target slave station) takes in the information (S5). In this way, an electronic component is started up (S6).

After the first information process is complete, the master unit transmits a second data signal to a second stage of the plurality of slave units of the continuously connected slave ICs (Step S7).Each slave unit (slave station) determines whether the address of each data signal received is the same as an address of the unit itself (Step S8).

If the operation signal is not addressed to the unit itself, the slave unit does not respond to the signal. In other words, the slave unit ignores the signal (S9), and transmits the signal to the slave unit of the next stage (Step S9'). The slave unit (slave station) at the next stage repeats the operation of Step S8. As another selection, the slave unit transmits to the master unit information concerning malfunction status (Step S 10).

At Step S 1 1 , when it is determined that the data signal is addressed to the unit itself, the specified slave unit receives the data signal (Step S I 1). In this way, an electronic component is started up (Step S 12).

After completion of all information processes, the slave units receive other new information as data signal from the CPU (Step S I). Thereafter, steps S2 through S 13 are repeated in the same way.

In addition to the description above, the system of the present disclosure may be further described as follows.

Sensor units (slave station A) and driver units (slave station B) are connected to a control unit (controller / master station) having the master IC by clock signals, data signals, and so on. Sensor data held by each sensor unit is shifted to synchronize with the clock signal supplied from the control unit and transmitted to the control unit having the master IC. Data for use by a driver outputted from the control unit having the master IC is shifted to synchronize with the clock and supplied to the driver unit.

For transmission, the control unit functions as an active operating unit, and sensor units (slave station A) and driver units (slave station B) function as passive operating units. By making the control unit that includes the master IC control the communications, the circuits of the sensor units and driver units that contain the slave ICs can be reduced in size, and thus the overall size of the system can be reduced.

Giving each sensor unit (slave station A) and driver unit (slave station B) an address makes it possible to communicate information to the desired slave unit (slave station) alone, and thus enables the responsiveness of communication to be improved.

Also when addresses are given, the number of units (slave stations) connected in series can be freely changed, making it possible to provide a system with excellent expandability.

By executing continuous reception or transmission, and only judging matching information to be correct, reliability of communication can be improved.

According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce a size of the device and the device can be lightened.

In the present invention, by storing the functions of a plurality of operation instructions in the slave ICs and also setting addresses for the slave ICs, the master station can communicate with the desired unit alone, and a responsiveness of the communication can thus be improved, and in addition, the standardization of substrates of the slave ICs makes it possible to add further substrates in a simple way via the relay connectors, and thus to combine freely substrate sensor ICs and driver ICs.

Further, the present disclosure can be expected to give the following

additional benefits:

1. The total amount of wire harness can be reduced.

2. The area of each substrate used can be reduced.

3. The number of control ICs (I/O) can be reduced.

4. The reliability of communication can be improved due to the error checking function.

5. Stepper motors can be controlled.

List of reference numbers:

1 Cable wiring

10 main Bus wiring

15 Branching bus wiring

20 Master unit (control board)

21 Master IC

22 Master IC connecting connector

30 Slave unit 30-1 First slave unit

30-2 Second slave unit

30-3 Third slave unit

31 Slave IC

32 First substrate

33 Second substrate

33' Third substrate

34 Relay connector

35 First connector

36 Second connector

37 Motor driving IC

38 Electrolytic capacitor

40 Determination means

41 Dip switch

50 Branching means

51 First branching means

52 Second branching means

60 Branch connector

61 Branch connector cover

62 Branching connector body

63 Contact

64 Contact unit

101 Stepper motor

102 DC motor

103 Solenoid

108 Sensor

Following are exemplary embodiments of a serial transmission system and slave unit used therein according to aspects of the present invention.

Embodiment 1 is a serial transmission system for data comprising: slave ICs storing a plurality of operation instructions; a master IC needed for controlling at least a first slave IC and a second slave IC of the slave ICs ; a determination means for determining whether data exported/sent from the master IC is addressed to itself disposed in the slave IC or in proximity to the slave IC; a main bus wiring that is connected to the master IC, and that serially transmits the data to the first slave IC and second slave IC; a first passive type branching means for serially transmitting data for operating a first electronic component from the main bus wiring to the first slave IC; and a second passive type branching means for serially transmitting data for operating a second electronic component from the main bus wiring to the second slave IC.

Embodiment 2 is the serial transmission system according to embodiment 1, wherein each slave IC of the slave ICs is arranged on a mutually differing substrate not on the same substrate.

Embodiment 3 is the serial transmission system according to embodiment 2, wherein the each slave ICs is arranged on substrates having substantially the same form, and a slave unit comprising the slave IC and the substrate has a modular construction.

Embodiment 4 is the serial transmission system according to any of embodiments 1 to 3, wherein at least one of the predetermined branching means is a branch connector.

Embodiment 5 is the serial transmission system transmission system according to any of embodiments 1 to 4, wherein at least one of the determination means is a dip switch disposed in proximity to the slave IC.

Embodiment 6 is a slave unit provided between a branching means and an electronic component in a serial transmission system for data, a slave unit thereof comprising: a first substrate that is a substrate comprising a slave IC for storing a plurality of operation instructions, and a determination means for determining whether data exported/sent from the master IC is addressed to itself disposed in the slave IC or in proximity to the slave IC, being connected by a branch bus wiring on the branching means side and a first connector; a relay-connector connected to the first substrate on a side opposite the first connector; and a second substrate that is a substrate connected to the first substrate via the relay connector on one edge, and that is connected via the branching bus wiring and a second connector of the electronic component side on another edge.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein for purposes of description of the preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a wide variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations calculated to achieve the same purposes may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the present invention. Those with skill in the mechanical, electro-mechanical, and electrical arts will readily appreciate that the present invention may be implemented in a very vide variety of embodiments. This application is intended to cover any adoptions or variations of the preferred embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1 . A serial transmission system for data comprising:

slave ICs storing a plurality of operation instructions;

a master IC needed for controlling at least a first slave IC and a second slave IC of the slave ICs ;

a determination means for determining whether data exported/sent from the master IC is addressed to itself disposed in the slave IC or in proximity to the slave IC;

a main bus wiring that is connected to the master IC, and that serially transmits the data to the first slave IC and second slave IC;

a first passive type branching means for serially transmitting data for operating a first electronic component from the main bus wiring to the first slave IC; and

a second passive type branching means for serially transmitting data for operating a second electronic component from the main bus wiring to the second slave IC.

2. The serial transmission system according to claim 1, wherein each slave IC of the slave

ICs is arranged on a mutually differing substrate not on the same substrate.

3. The serial transmission system according to claim 2, wherein the each slave ICs is arranged on substrates having substantially the same form, and a slave unit comprising the slave IC and the substrate has a modular construction.

4. The serial transmission system according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one of the predetermined branching means is a branch connector.

5. The serial transmission system transmission system according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least one of the determination means is a dip switch disposed in proximity to the slave IC.

6. A slave unit provided between a branching means and an electronic component in a serial transmission system for data, a slave unit thereof comprising:

a first substrate that is a substrate comprising a slave IC for storing a plurality of operation instructions, and a determination means for determining whether data exported/sent from the master IC is addressed to itself disposed in the slave IC or in proximity to the slave IC, being connected by a branch bus wiring on the branching means side and a first connector;

a relay-connector connected to the first substrate on a side opposite the first connector; and a second substrate that is a substrate connected to the first substrate via the relay connector on one edge, and that is connected via the branching bus wiring and a second connector of the electronic component side on another edge.