JPH1032046A - Connector and connector coupling checking method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ensure the operation of a computer system and detect connector coupling faiure. SOLUTION: An insertion side connector 10, in which contact pins 1, 2 at both ends in the length direction of a connecter are made shorter than contact pins 3, 4 other than those at the both ends in the length direction, is mounted on a printed circuit board, only contact jacks 5 at both ends in the length direction of a receiving side connector 20 mounted on another printed circuit board are connected, and a series circuit is formed by interposing the contact jack between the contact pins at both ends in the length direction when the connector is linked, and when the series circuit became electrically non-continuity state, an interruption signal of a CPU 40 is made effective. When the linkage of the connector is loosened and the interruption signal is made effective, since the linkage of pins other than the both ends in the length direction is ensured, the interruption of the CPU is normally processed, the malfunction of a computer and data crush are prevented, and connector linkage failure can be detected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a connector and a connector connection check circuit, and more particularly to a connector in which a plurality of contact pins arranged along a longitudinal direction of a plug-in connector are brought into contact with a plurality of contact jacks of a receiving-side connector. The present invention also relates to a connector connection check circuit for preventing a contact failure between the contact pins and the contact jacks.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a conventional connector connection check circuit (Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-84280), in which a plug-in connector 10 is attached to a printed wiring board 1 and contacts both ends of the connector 10 in the longitudinal direction. Pins 10a, 1
0b is diverted for connector connection detection. The other plurality of contact pins 10c sandwiched between the detection contact pins 10a and 10b are connected to an electric circuit (not shown) by the original signal contact pins of the printed wiring board 1. Reference numeral 20 denotes a printed wiring board to be combined with the printed wiring board 1. The receptacle-side connector 30 attached to the printed wiring board 20 is connected to the insertion-side connector 1 of the printed wiring board 1.
0, and the detection contact jacks 30a, 30b and the signal contact jack 30c contact the detection contact pins 10a, 10b and the signal contact pin 10c of the printed wiring board 1, respectively.

The signal ground SG shown on the printed wiring board 1.20 is shared with the ground GND, and the detection contact jacks 30a. 30b are both connected to the ground GND. On the other hand, the insertion-side connector 10 on the printed wiring board 1 fitted into the receptacle-side connector 30
Contact pins 10a. 10b is a pull-up resistor 10
Since it is connected to the Vcc power supply 10j via d, when the connector is not fitted (when the receptacle connector 30 is not fitted into the plug-in connector 10), it is kept at the high potential level. The contact pins for detection 10a, 10
The potential level of b is a low potential level input and gate 10e.
, And its output side is a notification output line 10i, which is connected to a notification device ALM (not shown) and an electronic circuit. On the other hand, the output side of the AND gate 10e is connected to the input side of the inverter 10f for display, the output side of the inverter 10f is connected to the cathode side of the light emitting diode 10h via a series resistor 10g, and the anode side of the light emitting diode 10h is connected to the anode side. The Vcc voltage is applied.

The circuit operation of such a connector connection confirming circuit is such that the receptacle connector 30 is fitted into the plug-in connector 10, the detection contact pins 10a and the detection contact jacks 30a come into contact, and the detection contact pins 10b When the detection contact jack 30b and the detection contact jack 30b are in contact with each other, the detection contact pins 10a and 10b are both at a low potential level, the AND gate 10e is operated, and the output side of the AND gate 10e is at a high potential level, and the connection pieces are connected. Is notified to the notification device ALM through the notification output line 10i, and the light emitting diode 10h is turned on. In addition, the connection of the connector is insufficient, and the detection contact pin 10a and the detection contact jack 3
If any of the contact 0a or the contact between the detection contact pin 10b and the detection contact jack 30b is defective, the detection contact pin 10a or 10b, which is a contact failure, becomes a high potential level, the AND gate 10e becomes inactive, and the AND gate 10e becomes inactive. The output goes to the low potential level and is not notified through the notification output line 10i, and the light emitting diode 10h is not turned on.

[0005]

The first problem is that, in the prior art, when the connector connection is loosened due to vibration or the like, when the connector connection failure is detected,
Signal contact pins other than the detection contact pins are not guaranteed to make contact with the contact jacks.

The reason is that the contact pin diverted for detection and the signal contact pin not diverted have the same length, so that when the contact pin for detection and the contact jack are in poor contact, the adjacent contact pin is detected. This is because contact pins that are not diverted for use are also likely to have poor contact.

[0007] The second problem is that the operation of the computer and the data after the connection failure is detected in the connector used in the computer and the like and the data are not guaranteed due to the first problem. is there.

The reason is that there is a possibility that a signal line contacted via a contact pin adjacent to the contact pin for detection may have a contact failure, so that the target computer system malfunctions,
This is because data may be destroyed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to detect a connection failure of a connector such as a loose connection of a connector while ensuring the contact of a signal contact pin other than a detection contact pin with a contact jack.
An object of the present invention is to prevent a malfunction of a computer system caused by a poor contact between a signal contact pin and a jack and a destruction of data.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a plurality of contact pins provided in a row on a first connector correspond to a plurality of contact jacks provided on a second connector. In the connector to be inserted and coupled, when the first and second connectors are completely coupled, the insertion length of both ends of the arranged row of the plurality of contact pins with the contact jack is set to a value other than both ends. However, it is characterized in that it is shorter than the insertion length with the contact jack, and that both ends of the arranged row of the plurality of contact pins may be shorter than those other than both ends, and among the plurality of contact jacks May be shorter than those other than both ends.

[0011] The connector connection check method of the present invention uses the above-described connector, and determines the insertion length of both ends of the arranged row of the plurality of contact pins (or contact jacks) of the first (or second) connector. By connecting the shortened ones, the non-conducting state between the plurality of contact jacks (or contact pins) of the second (or first) connector, the insertion length of which is reduced at both ends of the arranged row, is determined. And detecting the incomplete connection of the first and second connectors.

[Operation] The insertion length of the contact pins and jacks at both ends of the arranged row is made shorter than the insertion lengths of those other than both ends of the row. For this reason, if the contact pins and jacks with short insertion lengths at both ends of the row are in contact with each other when the connectors are connected, the contact pins and jacks other than at both ends of the row are always in contact. Further, even if the contact pins and jacks at both ends of the row are in poor contact, the range of poor contact (the length of insufficient insertion between the first connector and the second connector until complete connection) is reduced. Pins other than both ends of the row are always in contact with each other within the difference between the insertion length of the jack and the length of the other than the ends of the row.

[0013] The first and second connectors are mounted on separate printed wiring boards used in a computer, and for example, a plurality of contact pins of the first connector having a shorter insertion length at both ends of a row are used. And a series circuit formed by connecting the first and second connectors by shortening the insertion lengths at both ends of a row of the plurality of contact jacks of the second connector via the connected contact pins. When the computer becomes non-conductive, a circuit that enables an interrupt signal to the CPU of the computer is formed, so that the connection of the connector becomes loose due to vibration or the like during transportation or operation of the computer, and contact between both ends of the row If the pins and jacks have poor contact, the interrupt signal to the CPU becomes valid and the CPU performs interrupt processing. And because the jack is in contact,
Insufficient connector connection can be communicated to the operator without malfunction and data destruction.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a plug-in connector 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The connector 10 is provided with contact pins arranged in a row in the longitudinal direction, and the contact pins 1 and 2 at both ends of the longitudinal row are longer than the contact pins 3 and 4 arranged between them. Is shortened.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a state in which the insertion-side connector 10 and the receptacle-side connector 20 are completely connected.
Contact pins 1 and 2 at both ends in the longitudinal direction
Contact pin 3 if it is in contact with contact jack 5
And the pin 4 is in contact with the contact jack 5.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a state where the connection between the insertion-side connector 10 and the receptacle-side connector 20 is insufficient, and the contact pins 1 or 2 at both ends in the longitudinal direction have a poor contact. If the range of poor contact (the length of insufficient insertion of the connector 10 into the connector 20 until complete connection) is within the difference between the lengths of the contact pins 1 and the adjacent contact pins 3 and 4 at both ends in the longitudinal direction, they are adjacent. The contact pins 3 and 4 are in contact with the contact jack.

FIG. 4 shows that the connectors 10 and 20 are mounted on separate printed circuit boards (not shown), and only the contact pins 1 and 2 at both ends in the longitudinal direction are connected to form a series circuit. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a circuit that enables an interrupt signal to the CPU 40 when the conductive state is established.

The contact pins 2 are connected to the ground (ground potential) of the printed wiring board. On the printed wiring board side on which the receptacle side connector 20 is mounted, the contact jacks 5 at both ends in the longitudinal direction are connected to each other. The contact pin 1 is connected to the power supply Vcc of the printed wiring board via the resistor 50, and forms a series circuit between the ground and the power supply via the contact pins 1, 2 and the contact jack. Further, the contact pin 1 is connected to the CPU 40 via the buffer 35, and the buffer 35
A signal to 0 is an interrupt signal. When the insertion-side connector 10 and the receptacle-side connector 20 are completely connected, that is, when the contact pins 1 and 2 are in contact with the contact jack 5 of the receptacle-side connector, the contact pin 1 is grounded and thus has a logic. The level becomes “0” and the CPU 4
The interrupt signal from the buffer 30 to 0 is invalid.
Therefore, the CPU does not perform the interrupt processing.

Next, the connection between the insertion-side connector 10 and the receptacle-side connector 20 is loosened, and the contact between the contact pin 1 and the contact jack 5 of the receptacle-side connector 20 or the contact pin 2 and the contact jack 5 between the receptacle-side connector 20 is reduced. When the contact with the buffer becomes defective, the contact pin 1 is disconnected from the ground, and the input of the buffer 35 becomes a logical level "1" by the power supply Vcc connected to the resistor 50, and the CPU 4
An interrupt signal indicating that the connection of the connector from the buffer 35 to 0 is incomplete is valid. The CPU 40 starts interrupt processing. At this time, since the pins other than the pins 1 and 2 at both ends in the longitudinal direction are guaranteed to be in contact with each other, interrupt processing can be performed without malfunction and data destruction, and the operator is informed that the connector connection is poor. Can tell.

As means for notifying the operator that the connector connection is defective, a screen display of a computer system console, a notification by adding a buzzer circuit to generate a buzzer sound, and the like can be given.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

In the first embodiment, the contact pins 1 and 2 at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the plug-in connector 10 are shortened. It is apparent that the effect of the present invention can be obtained by making the contact jacks 6 and 9 at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the side connector 20 shorter than the contact jacks between them.

The contact pins and the contact jacks at both ends in the longitudinal direction may be shorter than the contact pins and the contact jacks therebetween. In other words, the insertion length of the contact connector and the contact jack (the length of the portion where the contact connector and the contact jack are in contact) when the insertion-side connector and the receptacle-side connector are completely connected to each other is longer than those at both ends in the longitudinal direction. The present invention can be applied by shortening the length between them.

The present invention is also applicable to a connector in which contact pins and contact jacks are arranged in a plurality of rows. In this case, the contact pins at both ends of a plurality of rows may be selected one by one and the corresponding contact jacks may be selected one by one to reduce the length and use it for connector connection check.

The connector connection check circuit of the present invention inputs a signal for detecting a connector connection failure (for example, a signal transmitted from the contact pin 1 in FIG. 4) to a register,
The PU reads the register at regular intervals to determine the quality of the connector connection. If the connection is defective, the PU can notify the operator of the failure.

[0027]

The first effect is that when a connector connection failure is detected when the connector connection is loosened due to vibration or the like, the contact jacks of the contact pins other than those for checking the connector connection at both ends of the row are still in contact. Contact is guaranteed.

The reason is that, when the connection of the connector is gradually loosened, the contact pins other than those for checking the connector connection are inserted into the contact jack when the contact pins for checking the connector connection become poorly connected to the contact jacks. This is because the longer length always keeps contact.

The second effect is that the connector according to the present invention is used in a computer system and interrupt processing is performed when the connector connection check method according to the present invention determines that connector connection is incomplete because of the first effect. If executed, malfunction of the computer system and destruction of data can be prevented.

The reason is that the signal of the computer system is transmitted by the contact pins and the contact jacks other than those for checking the connector connection. Therefore, when the connection of the connector is gradually loosened, the contact pins and the contact jacks other than the connector connection check are not used. This is because it is expected that an appropriate action of the operator can be taken by entering the interrupt processing before the computer malfunctions and transmitting the connection failure to the operator.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an insertion-side connector used in a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention at the time of complete connection.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention at the time of incomplete connection.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a circuit for performing a connection check of the connector of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a front view of the connector according to the second embodiment of the present invention at the time of incomplete connection.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram for performing a conventional connector connection confirmation check method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1-4, 8 contact pin 5-7, 9 contact jack 10 insertion side connector 20 receptacle side connector 35 buffer 40 CPU 50 resistance

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A connector in which a plurality of contact pins provided in a row in a first connector are respectively inserted and coupled to a plurality of contact jacks provided in a second connector, respectively. When the first and second connectors are completely connected, the insertion length of both ends of the arranged row of the plurality of contact pins with the contact jack is the insertion length of the contact pins other than both ends with the contact jack. A connector characterized by being shorter than that. 2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of contact pins are shorter at both ends of the arranged row than at other ends. 3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of contact jacks have shorter ends at both ends of the arranged row than at other ends. 4. A plurality of contact pins (or contact jacks) of a first (or second) connector having a reduced insertion length at both ends of an arranged row are connected to each other,
The non-conduction state between the plurality of contact jacks (or contact pins) of the second (or first) connector, the insertion length of which is reduced at both ends of the arranged row, is detected to detect the first and second contact jacks. 4. The connector connection check method using a connector according to claim 1, wherein the incomplete connection of the second connector is determined.