U.S. patent application number 12/412373 was filed with the patent office on 2010-07-01 for system for testing connections of two connectors.
This patent application is currently assigned to HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Kim-Yeung Sip.
Application Number | 20100164523 12/412373 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42271183 |
Filed Date | 2010-07-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100164523 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sip; Kim-Yeung |
July 1, 2010 |
SYSTEM FOR TESTING CONNECTIONS OF TWO CONNECTORS
Abstract
A system for testing connections of two connectors, each of
which includes a pair of verification pins and a number of signal
pins, includes a verification testing module, a controlling module,
a signal testing module, and a reporting module. The verification
testing module is configured for detecting whether each pair of
verification pins are electrically connected. The controlling
module is configured for allowing communication between each pair
of signal pins if the pair of verification pins is detected to be
electrically connected. The signal testing module is configured for
testing whether each pair of signal pins are electrically
connected. The reporting module is configured for reporting the
results of the verification testing module and the signal testing
module.
Inventors: |
Sip; Kim-Yeung; (Shenzhen
City, CN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PCE INDUSTRY, INC.;ATT. Steven Reiss
288 SOUTH MAYO AVENUE
CITY OF INDUSTRY
CA
91789
US
|
Assignee: |
HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO.,
LTD.
Tu-Cheng
TW
|
Family ID: |
42271183 |
Appl. No.: |
12/412373 |
Filed: |
March 27, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
324/756.03 ;
324/754.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01R 31/68 20200101 |
Class at
Publication: |
324/756 |
International
Class: |
G01R 31/02 20060101
G01R031/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 26, 2008 |
CN |
200810306565.7 |
Claims
1. A system for testing connections of two connectors, each
connector comprising a verification pin and a plurality of signal
pins, the system comprising: a verification testing module
configured for detecting whether the verification pin of one
connector is electrically connected to the verification pin of the
other connector; a controlling module configured for allowing
testing of the signal pins if the pair of verification pins are
detected electrically connected to each other; a signal testing
module comprising: a first control unit configured to sequentially
pull each of the signal pins of one connector down to ground; a
second control unit configured to electrically pull a signal pin of
the other connector corresponding to the signal pin which is pulled
down to ground up to a high voltage level; and a detecting unit
configured for detecting the voltage level of the signal pins which
is pulled down; and a reporting module configured for reporting the
results of the verification testing module and the detecting
unit.
2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the verification
testing module comprises: a grounding unit configured for
connecting the verification pin of one connector to ground; a
pull-up unit configured for pulling the verification pin of the
other connector up to a high voltage; and a processing unit
configured for measuring the voltage of the verification pin pulled
up by the pull-up unit.
3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pull-up unit
comprises a pull-up resistor.
4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controlling module
comprises a plurality of first control switches and a plurality of
second control switches, each first control switch comprising a
first control terminal, a first signal terminal, and a first output
terminal, the first control terminals being connected to the
verification testing module, the first signal terminals being
connected to the corresponding signal pins of one connector, each
first output terminals forming two branches, one branch being
connected to the signal testing module, and another branch forming
a first port of the corresponding signal pin of the connector; each
second control switch comprising a second control terminal, a
second signal terminal, and a second output terminal, the second
control terminals being connected to the verification testing
module, the second signal terminals being connected to the
corresponding signal pins of the other connector, each second
output terminal forming two branches, one branch being connected to
the signal testing module, and another branch forming a second port
of the corresponding signal pin of the other connector.
5. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first control unit
comprises a plurality of first switches and a first control chip,
the first control chip being connected to the first switches and to
the electrical ground via a pull-down resistor.
6. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first control chip
comprises a plurality of control pins, each first switch comprising
a third control terminal, a third signal terminal, and a pull-down
terminal, the third control terminals being connected to the
corresponding control pins of the first control chip, the third
signal terminals being connected to corresponding first output
terminals, the pull-down terminals being connected to the pull-down
resistor.
7. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second control
unit comprises a plurality of second switches and a second control
chip, the second control chip being connected to the second
switches and connected to a high voltage level terminal via a
second pull-up resistor.
8. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second control
chip comprises a plurality of control pins, each second switch
comprising a fourth control terminal, a fourth signal terminal, and
a pull-up terminal, the fourth control terminals being connected to
the corresponding control pins of the second control chip, the
fourth signal terminals being connected to the corresponding second
output terminals, the pull-up terminals being connected to the
second pull-up resistor.
9. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal testing
module further comprises a recording unit, the recording unit being
configured for recording the results of the verification testing
module and the detecting unit.
10. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the signal testing
module further comprises a storage unit, the storage unit being
configured for storing the records of the recording unit.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The disclosure relates to testing of electronic systems, and
particularly, to a system for testing connectors.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] In electronic systems, connectors allow data flow across
devices or across a device and its peripherals. A typical connector
includes a number of verification pins and a number of signal pins.
The verification pins are configured for verifying whether two
connectors are a matching pair. During initialization of the
electronic systems, testing of the connections between devices or
between the device and the peripheral is performed. Current systems
for testing connectors only detect whether each pair of
verification pins of each of the two connected connectors are
electrically connected. If the verification pins are deemed to be
electrically connected, the testing of the two connectors is
considered as passed. However, it is not uncommon that other pins
of the two matching connectors may not be electrically connected,
even when electrical connection of each pair of verification pins
has been detected. Thus the current testing process would not
guarantee the flow of the data across the connection.
[0005] Therefore, it is desirable to provide a system for testing
connections of two connectors, which can overcome the limitations
described above.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is functional block diagram of a system for testing
connections of two connectors, according to an exemplary
embodiment.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the system of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0008] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a system 100 for fully testing
connections of two connectors 4, 5, according to an exemplary
embodiment, is disclosed. Each of the two connectors 4, 5 includes
two verification pins 6 and a number of signal pins 7. In this
embodiment, the connector 4 is a male connector and the connector 5
is a female connector. Accordingly, the pins 6, 7 of the connector
4 are male pins and the pins 6, 7 of the connector 5 are female
pins. It can be understood that the roles of the connectors 4, 5 is
not limited to this embodiment but can be interchanged in other
alternative embodiments. Also, the number of the verification pins
6 is not limited to this embodiment, but depends on the type of the
connectors 4, 5. For example, in other alternative embodiments,
each of the connectors 4, 5 may only include only one verification
pin 6.
[0009] The verification pins 6 are configured for identifying
whether the two connectors 4, 5 are a matching pair. In theory, if
the two connectors 4, 5 are a matching pair, when the two
connectors 4, 5 are coupled together, the verification pins 6
correspondingly form electrical connections and data and/or
electrical signals can be transmitted between the connectors 4, 5.
The signal pins 7 are configured for transmitting data/signals
between the connectors 4, 5. In theory, if the two connectors 4, 5
are a matching pair and coupled together, the signal pins 7 of the
connector 4 and the signal pins 7 of the connector 5 will be
electrically connected to each other correspondingly. In reality,
it is not uncommon for the connector 4 and the connector 5 to be
coupled, yet corresponding verification pins 6 and signal pins 7
might be electrically disconnected from each other correspondingly
due to, for example, oxidation. Therefore, each pin must be tested
for electrical connectivity.
[0010] The system 100 includes a verification testing module 10, a
controlling module 20, a signal testing module 30, and a reporting
module 40.
[0011] The verification testing module 10 is configured for testing
whether the verification pins 6 of the connector 4 are electrically
coupled to the corresponding verification pins 6 of the connector
5. In this embodiment, the verification testing module 10 includes
a grounding unit 11, a pull-up unit 12, and a processing unit 13.
The grounding unit 11 is configured for connecting the verification
pins 6 of the connector 5 to ground. The pull-up unit 12 is
configured for pulling the voltage of the verification pins 6 of
the connector 4 to "1" (high voltage). However, this pulling is
intentionally weak enough that if the verification pin 6 of the
connector 4 is electrically coupled to the verification pin 6 of
the connector 5, the voltage of the verification pin 6 of the
connector 4 will go to "0" (low voltage level). Therefore, whether
each pair of the verification pins 6 of the connector 4 is
electrically connected to the verification pins 6 of the connector
5 can be determined by measuring the voltage level of the
verification pins 6 of the connector 4. The processing unit 13 is
configured for measuring the voltage level of the verification pins
6 of the connector 4 and outputting the results. In this
embodiment, the results may be "00", "01", "10", and "11". Only
result "00" indicates the two pairs of verification pins 6 of the
connectors 4 are electrically connected to the corresponding
verification pins 6 of the connector 5. In this embodiment, the
pull-up unit 12 includes a first pull-up resistor R. Typically, the
pull-up resistor R has high resistance.
[0012] The controlling module 20 is configured for enabling
communications between the signal pins 7 of the connector 4 and the
corresponding pins 7 of the connector 5, if the verification pins 6
of the connectors 4, 5 have been detected to be electrically
coupled to each other, to allow testing of the signal pins 7. In
detail, the controlling module 20 includes a number of first
control switches 21 and a number of second control switches 22.
Each first control switch 21 includes a first control terminal 21a,
a first signal terminal 21b, and a first output terminal 21c. The
first control terminals 21a are connected to the verification
testing module 10. The first signal terminals 21b are connected to
inputs of the connector 4. Each first output terminals 21c forms
two branches. One branch is connected to the signal testing module
30, and another branch forms a first port 21d of the corresponding
signal pin 7 of the connector 4. Each second control switch 22
includes a second control terminal 22a, a second signal terminal
22b, and a second output terminal 22c. The second control terminals
22a are connected to the verification testing module 10. The second
signal terminals 22b are connected to the inputs of the connector
5. Each second output terminal 22c forms two branches. One branch
is connected to the signal testing module 30, and another branch
forms a second port 22d of the corresponding signal pin 7 of the
connector 5. As such, if the connectors 4, 5 have been electrically
connected to each other, and both the first control terminal 21a
and the second control terminal 22a are "1", the first signal
terminal 21b and the first output terminal 21c are connected to
each other, and the second signal terminal 22b and the second
output terminal 22c are connected to each other.
[0013] The signal testing module 30 is connected to the controlling
module 20 and is configured for detecting the voltage level of the
signal pins 7 sequentially when the connectors 4, 5 are connected
to each other and communications therebetween are allowed (i.e.,
testing of the signal pins 7 is allowed). The signal testing module
30 includes a first control unit 31, a second control unit 32, and
a detecting unit 33.
[0014] The first control unit 31 includes a number of first
switches 310 and a first control chip 312. The first control chip
312 is connected to the first switches 310 and to the electrical
ground via a pull-down resistor R1. In detail, the first control
chip 312 includes a number of control pins. Each first switch 310
includes a third control terminal 310a, a third signal terminal
310b, and a pull-down terminal 310c. The third control terminals
310a are connected to the corresponding control pins of the first
control chip 312. The third signal terminals 310b are connected to
corresponding first output terminals 21c. The pull-down terminals
310c are connected to the pull-down resistor R1. When a third
control terminal 310a gets "1", the corresponding third signal
terminal 310b and the pull-down terminal 310c are connected to
electrically ground the corresponding signal pin 7. When a third
control terminal gets "0", the corresponding third signal terminal
310b and the pull-down terminal 310c are electrically
disconnected.
[0015] The second control unit 32 includes a number of second
switches 320 and a second control chip 322. The second control chip
322 is connected to the second switches 320 and connected to a
power source 321 via a second pull-up resistor R2. In detail, the
second control chip 322 includes a number of control pins. Each
second switch 320 includes a fourth control terminal 320a, a fourth
signal terminal 320b, and a pull-up terminal 320c. The fourth
control terminals 320a are connected to the corresponding control
pins of the second control chip 322. The fourth signal terminals
320b are connected to the corresponding second output terminals
22c. The pull-up terminals 320c are connected to the second pull-up
resistor R2. When a fourth control terminal 320a gets "1", the
corresponding fourth signal terminal 320b and the pull-up terminal
320c are connected to pull the corresponding signal pin 7 of the
connector 5 to "1". When a fourth control terminals 320a gets "0",
the corresponding fourth signal terminal 320b and the pull-up
terminal 320c are disconnected.
[0016] The first control chip 312 and the second control chip 322
are programmable chips, both having a sequence control circuit. The
sequence control circuit is configured for controlling the control
pins to output "1" in sequence to a corresponding third control
terminal 310a and fourth control terminal 320a.
[0017] The detecting unit 33 interconnects the first switches 310
and the pull-down resistor R1 and is configured for detecting
whether each pair of signal pins 7 are electrical connected. In
principle, when communications of all pairs of signal pins 7 are
enabled (i.e., all first signal terminals 21b are connected to the
corresponding first output terminal 21c and all second signal
terminals 22b are connected to the corresponding second output
terminal 22c) and a pair of signal pins 7 is under testing (i.e.,
the corresponding third signal terminals 310b are connected to the
corresponding pull-down terminal 21c and the fourth signal
terminals 320b are connected to the corresponding pull-up terminal
320c), if the pair of signal pins 7 are electrically connected, the
detecting unit 33 would yields "1". Otherwise, connection of the
pair of signal pins 7 is broken.
[0018] The signal testing module 30 further includes a recording
unit 330 and a storage unit 331. The recording unit 330 is
configured for recording the result of the processing unit 13 and
detecting unit 33. The storage unit 331 is configured for storing
the records of the recording unit 330.
[0019] The reporting module 40 is configured for reading records of
testing from the storage unit 331 and outputting the records to
users.
[0020] While the disclosure has been described by way of example
and in terms of preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that
the disclosure is not limited thereto. To the contrary, it is
intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements
(as would be apparent to those skilled in the art). Therefore, the
scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
similar arrangements.
* * * * *