Detection method and detection device for connecting line

Abstract

The invention discloses a detection method and a detection device for a connecting line. The detection method of the connecting line comprises the following steps: carrying out preliminary short circuit detection based on at least any two wires; if the preliminary short circuit detection meets a preset condition, impedance between the port of one wire and the port of the other wire is detected; and determining whether the two wires are short-circuited or not and the short-circuit positions of the two wires according to the detected impedances. Whether the two wires are short-circuited or not is determined by detecting the impedance, the accuracy of short-circuit detection of the wires in the connecting wire can be improved, the short-circuit position of the wires in the connecting wire can be detected, and the detection efficiency can be improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of connector testing technology, and in particular to a method and apparatus for testing connectors. Background Technology

[0002] Connecting cables electrically connect two electronic devices to provide power or transmit signals. Since connecting cables contain many wires, a problem with any one of them can affect the cable's normal operation. Therefore, testing connecting cables is crucial during their development and repair stages.

[0003] However, the accuracy of short circuit detection in related technologies is low, and they cannot detect the location of short circuits in the conductors of the connecting wires. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention provides several embodiments of a method and apparatus for detecting connecting wires, with at least one embodiment addressing the technical problems of low accuracy in short-circuit detection and inability to detect short-circuit locations in related technologies.

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for detecting a connecting wire is provided, wherein the connecting wire includes a first interface, a second interface, and a plurality of wires connected between the first interface and the second interface; the method for detecting the connecting wire includes:

[0006] Preliminary short-circuit detection is performed based on at least any two of the aforementioned wires;

[0007] If the preliminary short-circuit detection meets the preset conditions, then the impedance between the port of one of the wires and the port of the other wire is detected;

[0008] The short circuit status of the two conductors is determined based on the detected impedances, and the location of the short circuit is determined based on the impedances detected.

[0009] Optionally, determining whether the two conductors are short-circuited and the location of the short circuit based on the detected multiple impedances includes:

[0010] If at least one of the impedances is within the corresponding first range, then the two conductors are determined to be short-circuited, and the short-circuit location is determined to be the two ports with the lowest impedance among the two conductors.

[0011] Optionally, determining whether the two conductors are short-circuited based on the detected multiple impedances includes:

[0012] If all the impedances are within the corresponding second range, then it is determined that the two wires are not short-circuited.

[0013] Optionally, the preliminary short-circuit detection based on at least any two of the conductors includes:

[0014] A first test signal is input to any port of the first wire to detect whether there is voltage on the second wire of the two wires;

[0015] If there is voltage on the second conductor, then the preliminary short-circuit detection of the conductor is determined to meet the preset conditions.

[0016] Optionally, before inputting the first test signal to any port of the first conductor, the method further includes: if the first test signal is input to the first port of the first conductor, then the second port is connected to a common point; if the first test signal is input to the second port of the first conductor, then the first port is connected to a common point.

[0017] The step of detecting whether there is voltage on the second of the two conductors includes: detecting the voltage between the two ports of the second conductor and the common point; if there is voltage between any port of the second conductor and the common point, then it is determined that there is voltage on the second conductor.

[0018] Optionally, the method for detecting the connecting wire further includes:

[0019] Perform a straight-through test on any conductor. If the result of the straight-through test is that there is no voltage between the second port and the first port of the conductor, then perform a half-continuity test on the conductor.

[0020] Optionally, when a first test signal is input to any port of the first conductor, the first conductor is subjected to the pass-through test.

[0021] Optionally, the half-continuity test on any one of the conductors includes: inputting a second test signal to any port of the conductor and detecting the impedance between the port and the ground wire among the plurality of conductors;

[0022] If the impedance between the port of the conductor and the ground wire is within the third range, the semi-continuity detection is determined to be passed; if the impedance between the port of the conductor and the ground wire is within the fourth range, the semi-continuity detection is determined to be failed, and the conductor is open-circuited.

[0023] According to another aspect of the present invention, a detection device for a connecting wire is provided for performing the detection method for a connecting wire as described above, the detection device for the connecting wire comprising:

[0024] At least two detection channels are provided, with each detection channel corresponding to one of the wires. Each detection channel includes a power module, a voltage acquisition module, a current acquisition module, and a switch module. The power module, the current acquisition module, and the corresponding ports of the wires are connected in series. A first terminal of the voltage acquisition module is connected to the corresponding port, and a second terminal of the voltage acquisition module is electrically connected to the other wires via the switch module. The switch module controls the conduction state between the second terminal of the voltage acquisition module and the other wires.

[0025] The controller controls the state of the switching module to perform preliminary short-circuit detection on the two wires; if the preliminary short-circuit detection meets preset conditions, the impedance between the port of one wire and the port of the other wire is detected; based on the detected impedances, the controller determines whether the two wires are short-circuited and the location of the short circuit.

[0026] Optionally, the testing device for the connecting wire further includes an aging test system, which is connected to the controller and is used to perform an aging test on the connecting wire.

[0027] The technical solution of this invention employs a connection detection method comprising: performing preliminary short-circuit detection based on at least any two conductors; if the preliminary short-circuit detection meets preset conditions, detecting the impedance between the port of one conductor and the port of another conductor; and determining whether the two conductors are short-circuited and the location of the short circuit based on the detected impedances. When the preliminary short-circuit detection meets preset conditions, the impedance is detected to confirm whether the two conductors are short-circuited, and the short-circuit location is determined when a short circuit occurs. This detection method not only improves the accuracy of detecting short circuits between two conductors but also determines the specific location of the short circuit when a short circuit occurs.

[0028] It should be understood that the description in this section is not intended to identify key or essential features of the embodiments of the present invention, nor is it intended to limit the scope of the invention. Other features of the invention will become readily apparent from the following description. Attached Figure Description

[0029] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0030] Figure 1 A flowchart illustrating a method for detecting a connecting line provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a connecting line provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the principle of detecting the impedance between the ports of two wires, provided as an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 4 A schematic diagram illustrating the principle of detecting the impedance between the ports of two wires, as provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 5 A schematic diagram illustrating the principle of detecting the impedance between the ports of two wires, as provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of a circuit structure for a through-through test provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of a circuit structure for a semi-continuity test provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a monitoring device for a connecting line provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 9 This is a flowchart of another method for detecting connecting lines provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0039] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present invention, the technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort should fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0040] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this invention are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate so that the embodiments of the invention described herein can be implemented in orders other than those illustrated or described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion; for example, a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that comprises a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units not explicitly listed or inherent to such processes, methods, products, or apparatus.

[0041] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of a method for detecting a connecting line provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a connecting line provided in an embodiment of the present invention, with reference to... Figure 1 and Figure 2 The connecting cable can be an internal power strip cable for a mobile phone, an LVDS power strip cable, a flexible power strip cable, a Type-C data cable, a USB data cable, an HDMI data cable, a VGA data cable, an RJ45 data cable, a charging data cable, an internal car connection cable, or a car charging cable, etc. This embodiment uses... Figure 2 Taking the Type-C data cable shown as an example, the multiple wires in the Type-C cable include VBUS, CC, VCONN, DP, DN, and GND (ground). The connection cable includes a first interface 12, a second interface 13, and multiple wires 11 connecting the first interface 12 and the second interface 13. The connection cable detection method includes:

[0042] Step S110: Perform preliminary short-circuit detection based on at least any two wires;

[0043] Specifically, the connecting wire contains multiple conductors, meaning the number of conductors in the connecting wire is greater than or equal to two. One end of each conductor is connected to the first interface 12, and the other end is connected to the second interface 13. The first interface 12 and the second interface 13 are the structures for connecting the connecting wire to other devices. By connecting the first interface 12 or the second interface 13 to the relevant interfaces on other devices, the connecting wire can be connected to those devices.

[0044] A short circuit between any two wires in a connecting line will affect its operation. Therefore, in this step, a preliminary short-circuit detection is first performed on at least two wires. When performing a preliminary short-circuit detection based on any two wires, it can be understood as selecting any two wires in the connecting line and performing a preliminary short-circuit detection. When performing a preliminary short-circuit detection based on any three or more wires, it can be understood as iterating through the selected multiple wires and performing preliminary short-circuit detection on each pair of pairs. The preliminary short-circuit detection can be understood as performing a preliminary test on two wires. If the preliminary test does not meet the preset conditions, it indicates that there is no short circuit between the two wires. If the result of the preliminary short-circuit detection meets the preset conditions, it indicates that a short circuit may have occurred between the two wires, requiring further confirmation.

[0045] Step S120: If the preliminary short circuit detection meets the preset conditions, then detect the impedance between the port of one wire and the port of another wire.

[0046] Specifically, as described above, when the preliminary short-circuit detection meets the preset conditions, a short circuit does not necessarily occur between the two wires; further confirmation is required. The further confirmation step is to first detect the impedance between the port of one wire and the port of the other wire. Here, the aforementioned one wire and the other wire are the two wires whose preliminary short-circuit detection meets the preset conditions. The impedance between the ports of one wire and the other wire includes the impedance between the first port of one wire and the first port of the other wire, the impedance between the first port of one wire and the second port of the other wire, the impedance between the second port of one wire and the first port of the other wire, and the impedance between the second port of one wire and the second port of the other wire. In other words, for two wires whose preliminary short-circuit detection meets the preset conditions, at least four impedances must be detected.

[0047] Of course, if there are three-headed or four-headed wires, the same method of sequential combination testing between ports will be performed, which will not be elaborated here.

[0048] Step S130: Determine whether the two wires are short-circuited and the location of the short circuit based on the detected multiple impedances.

[0049] Specifically, for two conductors that meet the preset conditions for preliminary short-circuit detection, a total of four impedances are detected. The presence or absence of a short circuit between the two conductors is determined based on these four impedances. If a short circuit is confirmed, the location of the short circuit can be further determined based on the four detected impedances. The specific methods for determining whether a short circuit exists and its location will be explained later. In this embodiment, by detecting the impedance between the ports of the two conductors to determine whether a short circuit exists, and by determining the location of the short circuit when one exists, not only can an accurate judgment be made regarding whether a short circuit exists between the two conductors, but the location of the short circuit can also be further determined, achieving more accurate detection of the connecting wires.

[0050] The technical solution of this embodiment employs a connection detection method that includes: performing preliminary short-circuit detection based on at least any two wires; if the preliminary short-circuit detection meets preset conditions, detecting the impedance between the port of one wire and the port of another wire; determining whether the two wires are short-circuited and the location of the short circuit based on the detected impedances. When the preliminary short-circuit detection meets preset conditions, the impedance is detected to confirm whether the two wires are short-circuited, and the short-circuit location is determined when a short circuit occurs. The detection method of this embodiment not only improves the accuracy of detecting short circuits between two wires but also determines the specific location of the short circuit when a short circuit occurs.

[0051] Optionally, Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the principle of detecting the impedance between the ports of two wires, provided in an embodiment of the present invention. (Refer to...) Figure 3When it is necessary to detect the impedance between two ports, it can be directly acquired using the impedance acquisition module 71, which is connected between the two ports where the impedance to be acquired is to be measured. The first conductor 11-1 has a first port A1 and a second port A2; the second conductor 11-2 has a first port B1 and a second port B2. When it is necessary to acquire the impedance between the first port A1 of the first conductor 11-1 and the first port B1 of the second conductor 11-2, the impedance acquisition module 71 is connected between the first port A1 of the first conductor 11-1 and the first port B1 of the second conductor 11-2. When it is necessary to acquire the impedance between the second port A2 of the first conductor 11-1 and the first port B1 of the second conductor 11-2, the impedance acquisition module 71 is connected between the second port A2 of the first conductor 11-1 and the first port B1 of the second conductor 11-2, and so on. Of course, in some embodiments, the impedance acquisition module 71 can also be connected to each port of both conductors, and the impedance acquisition module 71 can acquire the impedance between the corresponding ports as needed. Impedance acquisition module 71 is, for example, an impedance analyzer or a dedicated impedance chip.

[0052] Optionally, Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the principle of detecting the impedance between the ports of two wires, as provided in another embodiment of the present invention. (Refer to...) Figure 4When it is necessary to detect the impedance between two ports, a signal can be input to one of the ports through the power module, and then the current and voltage between the two ports can be detected to obtain impedance information; in some implementations, the resistance can also be equivalent to impedance. More specifically, if the preliminary short circuit detection between the first wire 11-1 and the second wire 11-2 meets the preset conditions, when the impedance between the first port A1 of the first wire 11-1 and the first port B1 of the second wire 11-2 is detected, the first switch K1 is controlled to be turned on, wherein the first switch K1 is connected between the first voltage acquisition module 231 and the first port B1 of the second wire 11-2, and outputs a signal (voltage) to the first port A1 of the first wire 11-1 through the first power module 211. At this time, the first voltage acquisition module 231 detects the voltage between the first port A1 of the first wire 11-1 and the first port B1 of the second wire 11-2; the first current acquisition module 221 acquires the current flowing through the first port A1 of the first wire 11-1 and the first port B1 of the second wire 11-2. From the voltage and current, the resistance between the first port A1 of the first wire 11-1 and the first port B1 of the second wire 11-2 can be obtained, thus acquiring impedance information. Similarly, by closing the second switch K2, which is connected between the first voltage acquisition module 231 and the second port B2 of the second wire 11-2, and by outputting a signal to the first port A1 of the first wire 11-1 through the first power module 211, the impedance information between the first port A1 of the first wire 11-1 and the second port B2 of the second wire 11-2 can be detected. By closing the third switch K3, which is connected between the second voltage acquisition module 232 and the first port B1 of the second wire 11-2, and outputting a signal to the second port A2 of the first wire 11-1 via the second power module 212, the impedance information between the second port A2 of the first wire 11-1 and the first port B1 of the second wire 11-2 can be detected. Similarly, by closing the fourth switch K4, which is connected between the second voltage acquisition module 232 and the second port B2 of the second wire 11-2, and outputting a signal to the second port A2 of the first wire 11-1 via the second power module 212, the impedance information between the second port A2 of the first wire 11-1 and the second port B2 of the second wire 11-2 can be detected. A second current acquisition module 222 is correspondingly installed at the second port. The output signals of both the first power module 211 and the second power module 212 are voltage signals.

[0053] Alternatively, in some implementations, such as Figure 4As shown, each port of the conductor can be equipped with a power module, a current acquisition module, and a voltage acquisition module. In some embodiments, two ports of the same conductor can share the power module, current acquisition module, and voltage acquisition module, and the specific connection method is not limited, as long as the corresponding voltage and current can be acquired.

[0054] Alternatively, in some implementations, such as Figure 5 As shown, Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the principle of detecting the impedance between the ports of two conductors according to another embodiment of the present invention. When detecting impedance, a range control module can also be set to adjust the range of the detected impedance, thereby improving the impedance detection accuracy. The range control module is, for example, a variable resistor. Exemplarily, a first range control module 241 is provided at the first port A1 of the first conductor 11-1, and a second range control module 242 is provided at the second port A2 of the first conductor 11-2.

[0055] Optionally, determining whether the two wires are short-circuited, and the location of the short circuit, based on multiple detected impedances, includes:

[0056] If at least one impedance is within the corresponding first range, then the two conductors are determined to be short-circuited, and the short-circuit location is determined to be the two ports with the smallest impedance among the two conductors.

[0057] Specifically, when there is no short circuit between two ports of different conductors, the impedance between the two ports is relatively high. Conversely, if the two ports are short-circuited, the corresponding impedance is relatively low. Therefore, when there is a low impedance between two ports, a short circuit can be identified. The first range can be configured according to different situations. For example, if the impedance is high when the two ports are not short-circuited, but may be below 10 kiloohms when short-circuited, the first range can be 0-10 kiloohms. Of course, in other embodiments, the first range can also be other values. The first range can be configured by a controller. In some embodiments, the four detected impedances can be sorted, either from largest to smallest or smallest to largest. The impedance between the two short-circuited ports is the lowest; therefore, the two ports with the lowest impedance can be identified as the short circuit locations between the two conductors.

[0058] Of course, if at least two impedances are within the first range, the two ports with the lowest impedances have the highest priority for short-circuiting between the two conductors, meaning they are most likely to short-circuit. The probability of short-circuiting between other ports is lower.

[0059] Optionally, the short circuit type can be determined based on the specific magnitude of the impedance. In the case of a direct short circuit between two ports, the two ports may be electrically connected by metal, with a low impedance, such as less than 10 milliohms or less than 100 ohms, indicating that the short circuit is likely due to the metal connection. However, if the impedance, while within the first range, is still relatively high, such as above 100 ohms, the short circuit between the two ports may be a virtual short circuit, meaning there may be foreign objects, moisture, or water ingress, causing the two ports to be electrically connected through a dielectric with a higher impedance. In other words, the connection detection method of this embodiment can further confirm the short circuit type based on the impedance.

[0060] Optionally, determining whether two wires are short-circuited based on multiple detected impedances includes: if all impedances are within the corresponding second range, then it is determined that the two wires are not short-circuited.

[0061] Specifically, if the minimum value of the second range is greater than the maximum value of the first range, such as if all impedances are greater than 10 kilohms, it indicates that the impedance between the ports of the two conductors is relatively large, and it can be considered that there is an open circuit between the two ports, that is, there is no short circuit.

[0062] Optionally, in some implementations, the controller can automatically determine whether there is a short circuit and the location of the short circuit, and control a structure such as a display to show whether the two wires are short-circuited. If there is a short circuit, the controller will display the location of the short circuit and the type of short circuit.

[0063] Optionally, preliminary short-circuit detection based on any two conductors includes:

[0064] Input a first test signal to any port of the first conductor 11-1 to detect whether there is voltage on the second conductor 11-2 of the two conductors; if there is voltage on the second conductor 11-2, it is determined that the preliminary short circuit detection of the conductor meets the preset conditions.

[0065] Specifically, preliminary short-circuit detection is used to quickly determine whether two wires may be short-circuited. If the preset conditions are not met, there is no short circuit between the two wires. However, if the preset conditions are met, a short circuit may exist. The specific steps of preliminary short-circuit detection are as follows: A first test signal is input to both ports of the first wire 11-1 using a power module. More specifically, a first test signal can be input to port A1 of the first wire 11-1 using a first power module 211, and a first test signal can be input to port A2 of the first wire 11-1 using a second power module 212. The presence of an electrical signal, i.e., voltage, is detected on the second wire. When a first test signal is input to the first wire 11-1 from either port A1 or port A2, and voltage is detected on the second wire 11-2, it indicates that the first test signal may have been transmitted to the second wire 11-2, meaning there may be a short circuit between the first wire 11-1 and the second wire 11-2. If a first test signal is input from any port of the first wire 11-1, and no voltage is detected on the second wire 11-2, it indicates that there is no short circuit between the two wires. The first test signal is, for example, a voltage signal output by the first power module 211 or the second power module 212.

[0066] It should be noted that when the first test signal is applied to the first wire 11-1, the second wire 11-2 may itself carry a charge. Therefore, the detection of voltage on the second wire 11-2 indicates a possible short circuit between the two wires, but not necessarily a short circuit; however, if no charge is detected on the second wire 11-2, it indicates that the possibility of a short circuit between the two wires is relatively small. For example... Figure 2 As shown, the Type-C data line contains two microcontroller units (MCUs). The gate of the MOSFET M1 on the VBUS line is connected to the first MCU1. The Type-C data line CC line houses the second MCU2. During testing, the second MCU2 may require power, therefore, there may be charge on the CC line due to the power supply of the second MCU2. The second MCU2 can be a communication authentication chip, an isolation optocoupler chip, etc.

[0067] In some implementations, a first test signal may be input to the first port A1 of the first conductor 11-1. If a voltage is detected on the second conductor 11-2 at this point, it indicates that the preliminary short-circuit detection meets the preset conditions, and it is not necessary to input the first test signal to the second port of the first conductor 11-1. However, if no voltage is detected on the second conductor 11-2 after inputting the first test signal to the first port A1 of the first conductor 11-1, then the first test signal is input to the second port A2 of the first conductor 11-1.

[0068] It should be noted that the presence of voltage in this article means that the voltage is not 0, and the absence of voltage means that the voltage is 0.

[0069] Further optionally, before inputting the first test signal to any port of the first conductor 11-1, the method further includes: if the first test signal is input to the first port A1 of the first conductor 11-1, then the second port A2 is connected to the common point; if the first test signal is input to the second port A2 of the first conductor 11-1, then the first port A1 is connected to the common point.

[0070] Detecting whether there is voltage on the second conductor 11-2 of the two conductors includes: detecting the voltage between the two ports of the second conductor 11-2 and the common point. If there is voltage between any port of the second conductor 11-2 and the common point, then it is determined that there is voltage on the second conductor 11-2.

[0071] Specifically, a common point can be understood as an interface outside the connecting wires. Setting a common point simplifies the connection between different wires. For example, a switch can be set between the port and the common point; only the corresponding switch needs to be turned on to connect the two ports, reducing the number of switches in the detection device. During preliminary short-circuit detection, if a first test signal is input from the first port A1 of the first wire 11-1 (the first port A1 is connected to the positive terminal of the first power module 211, for example), a reference potential will be connected to the second port A2 of the first wire 11-1. For example, the second port A2 is electrically connected to the negative terminal of the first power module 211. When the common point is connected to the second port A2, a reference potential is also connected to the common point. If there is a voltage between the second wire 11-2 and the common point, it indicates that there is an electrical signal on the second wire 11-2, and there may be a short circuit path between the first wire 11-1 and the second wire 11-2. Similarly, if a first test signal is input from the second port A2 of the first wire 11-1 (the second port A2 is connected to the positive terminal of the second power module 212, for example), a reference potential will be connected to the first port A1 of the first wire 11-1. For example, the first port A1 will be electrically connected to the negative terminal of the second power module 212. If the common point is then connected to the first port A1, a reference potential will also be connected to the common point. If there is a voltage between the second wire 11-2 and the common point, it indicates that there is an electrical signal on the second wire 11-2, and there may be a short circuit between the first wire 11-1 and the second wire 11-2.

[0072] Furthermore, the two ports of a conductor may not be directly connected; there may be structures such as transistors in between. Therefore, one end of the conductor may have voltage, while the other end may not. In this embodiment, the voltage between the two ports of the second conductor 11-2 and the common point is detected, further improving the accuracy of the initial short-circuit detection.

[0073] Optionally, the detection method for the connection cable also includes:

[0074] Perform a straight-through test on any wire. If the result of the straight-through test is that there is no voltage between the second port and the first port of the wire, then perform a half-continuity test on the wire.

[0075] For example, if a straight-through test is performed on the first conductor 11-1 and the result of the straight-through test is that there is no voltage between the second port A2 and the first port A1 of the first conductor 11-1, then a half-continuity test is performed on the first conductor 11-1.

[0076] Specifically, a pass-through test determines whether a wire can transmit a signal. In some embodiments, a signal can be input from the first port A1 of the first wire 11-1, and the response of the second port A2 of the first wire 11-1 to the signal can be detected. In other embodiments, a signal can be input from the second port A2 of the first wire 11-1, and the response of the first port A1 to the signal can be detected.

[0077] Straight-through testing can be performed using a straight-through test module. Each port of the wire can correspond to a straight-through test module. For example, the first port A1 of the first wire 11-1 corresponds to the first straight-through test module, and the second port A2 corresponds to the second straight-through test module.

[0078] like Figure 6 As shown, Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of a circuit structure for a through-through test provided in an embodiment of the present invention. The first through-through test module includes a first power supply module 211, a first range control module 241, a first voltage acquisition module 231, a fifth switch K5, and a sixth switch K6. The second through-through test module includes a second power supply module 212, a second voltage acquisition module 232, a seventh switch K7, and an eighth switch K8.

[0079] During the pass-through test, the positive terminal of the power module is electrically connected to the corresponding port. Specifically, if a pass-through test is performed on the wire from the first port A1 of the first wire 11-1, then the first port 11-1 is electrically connected to the positive terminal of the first power module 211; if a pass-through test is performed on the wire from the second port A2 of the first wire 11-2, then the second port A2 is electrically connected to the positive terminal of the second power module 212. The other port is then electrically connected to the negative terminal of the power module. Specifically, if a pass-through test is performed on the wire from the first port A1 of the first wire 11-1, then the fifth switch K5 is turned on to connect the second port A2 of the first wire 11-1 to the negative terminal of the first power module 211, and one end of the first voltage acquisition module 231 is electrically connected to the first port A1. The sixth switch K6 is then turned on to connect the other end of the first voltage acquisition module to the second port A2. At this time, the first voltage acquisition module 231 acquires the voltage between the first port A1 and the second port A2 of the first conductor 11-1. If the conductor is normally connected, a current loop will be formed between the conductor and the power module, and current will be generated in the conductor. There will be a voltage difference between the first port A1 and the second port A2 of the first conductor 11-1. At this time, the first voltage acquisition module 231 can acquire a non-zero voltage, indicating that the continuity test is normal. It should be noted that the first range control module 241 controls the impedance when performing a continuity test on the first conductor 11-1 from the first port A1 to avoid problems such as overvoltage and overcurrent; the second range control module 242 controls the impedance when performing a continuity test on the first conductor 11-1 from the second port A2 to avoid problems such as overvoltage and overcurrent.

[0080] Understandably, the pass-through test can be performed automatically by the controller. The controller controls the conduction state of the corresponding switch and reads the parameters of the corresponding voltage acquisition module for judgment. Both the first voltage acquisition module 231 and the second voltage acquisition module 232 are connected to the controller. More specifically, the controller can compare the voltage acquired by the voltage acquisition module with a reference value pre-stored inside the controller. If it is greater than the reference value, it can be assumed that there is a voltage between the second port and the first port. The reference value is, for example, zero.

[0081] Some wires in a connector cable have unidirectional conductivity, meaning that when a pass-through test is performed at one port, the other port may not normally respond. For example, ... Figure 2As shown, the VBUS line with MOSFET M1 has unidirectional conduction characteristics, and the control terminal of MOSFET M1 is connected to the first microcontroller unit MCU1. A pass-through test is performed on the VBUS line from the first port. Due to the reverse cutoff of the parasitic diode in MOSFET M1, the second port will not respond to the first test signal. At this time, a pass-through test can be performed from the other port (i.e., the second port). If the result of the pass-through test from one port is that there is voltage between the two ports, it indicates that the wire has passed the pass-through test, meaning there is no open circuit. However, if the result of the pass-through test from both ports is that there is no voltage between the two ports, a half-conductivity test is needed to determine if there is an abnormality. Specifically, some wires in the connection may not have direct conduction between their two ports. For example, in the case of the CC line with the second microcontroller unit MCU2, if a test signal is input to one port and the second microcontroller unit MCU2 is not working, the other port will not respond. In this case, a half-conductivity test is needed for the wire.

[0082] Optionally, in some embodiments, when a first test signal is input to any port of the first wire 11-1, a pass-through test is performed on the first wire 11-1.

[0083] Specifically, in this embodiment, the pass-through test and preliminary short-circuit detection are performed simultaneously. For example, while performing a pass-through test on the first conductor 11-1 from its first port A1, a preliminary short-circuit detection is performed on the first conductor 11-1 and the second conductor 11-2. Preliminary short-circuit detection can also be performed simultaneously on other conductors connected to the first conductor 11-1. Similarly, while performing a pass-through test on the first conductor 11-1 from its second port A2, a preliminary short-circuit detection is performed on the first conductor 11-1 and the second conductor 11-2. Preliminary short-circuit detection can also be performed simultaneously on other conductors connected to the first conductor 11-1. This embodiment sets the pass-through test and preliminary short-circuit test to be performed simultaneously, greatly improving detection efficiency.

[0084] Optionally, performing a semi-continuity test on any conductor includes: inputting a second test signal to any port of the conductor and detecting the impedance between the port and the ground wire among multiple conductors; if the impedance between the port of the conductor and the ground wire is within a third range, the semi-continuity test is determined to be passed; if the impedance between the port of the conductor and the ground wire is within a fourth range, the semi-continuity test is determined to be failed, and the conductor is open-circuited.

[0085] For example, performing a semi-continuity test on the first conductor 11-1 includes: inputting a second test signal to any port of the first conductor 11-1 and detecting the impedance between the port and the ground wire among the multiple conductors; if the impedance between the port of the first conductor 11-1 and the ground wire is within a third range, then the semi-continuity test is determined to be passed; if the impedance between the port of the first conductor 11-1 and the ground wire is within a fourth range, then the semi-continuity test is determined to be failed, and the first conductor is open-circuited.

[0086] Specifically, Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a circuit structure for a semi-conductance test provided in an embodiment of the present invention, with reference to... Figure 7 During the semi-conductance test, the ninth switch K9, connected between the negative terminal of the first power module 211 and the ground GND, is closed, and the tenth switch K10, connected between the second terminal of the first voltage acquisition module 231 and the ground GND, is closed. At this time, the first voltage acquisition module 231 acquires the voltage between the first port A1 of the first conductor and the ground GND, and the first current acquisition module 221 acquires the current flowing through the first port A1 of the first conductor 11-1 and the ground GND. The resistance between the first port A1 and the ground can be obtained through Ohm's law, that is, the impedance between the first port A1 and the ground. The third range is, for example, less than or equal to one hundred kilohms. Under normal circumstances, the impedance between the conductor with the microcontroller unit (such as the CC line with the second microcontroller unit MCU2) and the ground GND is below one hundred kilohms, such as several thousand ohms to tens of thousands of ohms. However, if the impedance between the first port A1 and the ground GND is in the fourth range, which indicates a larger impedance, for example, the fourth range is greater than one hundred kilohms, then the first conductor 11-1 is an open circuit. Similarly, a half-continuity test is also required at the second port A2 of the first conductor 11-1. This is achieved by closing the twelfth switch K12 connected between the negative terminal of the second power module 212 and the ground wire GND, and the eleventh switch K11 connected between the second power module 232 and the ground wire GND. Only if both ports pass the half-continuity test is the entire conductor's half-continuity test considered passed. If any port fails the half-continuity test, the conductor's half-continuity test fails. In some implementations, the half-continuity test only requires connecting the current acquisition module and the voltage acquisition module to the ground wire; they can be connected to either the first or second port of the ground wire. It should be noted that during the manufacturing process of the connecting wire, for example, if only one interface is soldered, only a half-continuity test can be performed.

[0087] Optionally, when testing the connection wires, the ground wire GND can be tested for continuity first. Once the ground wire passes the continuity test, it will be easier to test the semi-continuity of other wires.

[0088] Based on the same inventive concept, the present invention also provides a detection device for connecting wires. Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a monitoring device for a connecting line provided in an embodiment of the present invention, with reference to... Figures 4 to 8 The detection device for the connecting wire includes at least two detection channels, each corresponding to one wire; this embodiment illustrates the first detection channel CH1 and the second detection channel CH2. In some embodiments, the number of detection channels is the same as the number of wires in the connecting wire, with each detection channel corresponding to one wire. Each detection channel includes a power supply module, a voltage acquisition module, a current acquisition module, and a switch module; the ports of the power supply module, the current acquisition module, and the corresponding wires are connected in series; the first end of the voltage acquisition module is connected to the corresponding port, and the second end of the voltage acquisition module is electrically connected to other wires through the switch module, which controls the conduction state between the second end of the voltage acquisition module and other wires. It should be noted that... Figure 8 To facilitate differentiation, the wires connecting the second detection channel and the first detection channel are drawn separately. The two second wires 11-2 shown in the figure are the same wire in the same connecting line, and the two ground wires GND are also the same wire in the same connecting line.

[0089] Specifically, in some implementations, one detection channel can correspond to one detection module, which includes the aforementioned power supply module, voltage detection module, current detection module, and switch module. When one detection channel corresponds to one detection module, the detection module is configured to connect to the first or second port of the corresponding wire as needed for testing (connected to the first port when a test signal is input to the first port, and connected to the second port when a test signal is input to the second port). In this embodiment, taking one detection channel including two detection modules as an example, for instance, the first detection channel CH1 includes a first detection module CH1-1 and a second detection module CH1-2, and the second detection channel CH2 includes a third detection module CH2-1 and a third detection channel CH2-2. Each detection module corresponds to one port. In this embodiment, the first detection module CH1-1 corresponds to the first port of the first wire 11-1, the second detection module CH1-2 corresponds to the second port of the first wire 11-1, the third detection module CH2-1 corresponds to the first port of the second wire, and the fourth detection module CH2-2 corresponds to the second port of the second wire. In some embodiments, the switching module is also used to control the conduction state between the first terminal of the current detection module and the corresponding port, and to control the conduction state between the negative terminal of the power supply module and the common point. It should be noted that the detection device may also include an adapter board, etc., with the first and second interfaces of the connecting cable connected to the adapter board, and the detection channel disposed on the adapter board.

[0090] The detection device also includes a controller, which controls the state of the switch module to perform preliminary short-circuit detection on the two wires; if the preliminary short-circuit detection meets the preset conditions, the impedance between the port of one wire and the port of the other wire is detected; based on the detected multiple impedances, it is determined whether the two wires are short-circuited and the location of the short circuit.

[0091] Specifically, refer to Figure 6 and Figure 8 The switching module includes switches connected between the second terminal of the voltage acquisition module and other wires, switches connected between the current acquisition module and corresponding wires, switches connected between the negative terminal of the power supply module and the other port of the corresponding wire, and switches connected between the second terminal of the voltage acquisition module and a common point. In some embodiments, the switches between the second terminal of the voltage acquisition module and other wires are all connected to the voltage acquisition module through a switch between the second terminal of the voltage acquisition module and the negative terminal of the power supply module. During preliminary short-circuit detection, for example, a first test signal is first input to the first port of the first wire 11-1. At this time, the fifth switch K5 and the sixth switch K6 are closed. Of course, the fifteenth switch K15 between the first current acquisition module 221 and the first wire also needs to be closed. At this time, the first power supply module 211 outputs the first test signal to the first port A1. And the thirteenth switch K13 between the negative terminal of the first power supply module 211 and the common point 81 is controlled to close. At this time, the potential at the common point 81 is the same as the potential of the negative terminal of the first power supply module 211. For other channels, the switch between the corresponding voltage acquisition module and the common point 81 is closed. If voltage is detected, it indicates that the preliminary short circuit detection meets the preset conditions. Then, high-precision short circuit detection is performed. This high-precision short circuit detection involves detecting the impedance between the port of the first conductor 11-1 and the port of another conductor, and determining whether the two conductors are short-circuited and the location of the short circuit based on the detected impedances.

[0092] When performing high-precision short-circuit detection, for example, high-precision short-circuit detection is performed on the first conductor 11-1 and the second conductor 11-2. First, the fifth switch K5 is opened, and then the second switch K2 and the first switch K1 are closed in sequence to detect the impedance between the first port A1 of the first conductor 11-1 and the two ports of the second conductor 11-2. Of course, for the impedance between the second port A2 of the first conductor 11-1 and the two ports of the second conductor 11-2, the second detection module is used for detection, such as opening the seventh switch K7, closing the sixteenth switch K16 and the eighth switch K8, and then closing the third switch K3 and the fourth switch K4 in sequence for detection. The specific method for determining whether the two conductors are short-circuited and determining the short-circuit location can be referred to the description of the detection method for connecting wires in this invention, and will not be repeated here. It should be noted that the switch between the negative terminal of the second power module 212 and the common point 81 in the second detection module CH1-2 is the fourteenth switch K14; Figure 7 The ninth switch K9 shown can be understood as Figure 8 The sixth switch K6 and the tenth switch K10 are connected in series. Figure 7 The eleventh switch K11 shown can be understood as Figure 8 The eighth switch K8 and the twelfth switch K12 are connected in series. Figure 8 The range control module in the middle specifically includes a variable resistor, such as the first range control module 241 including a first variable resistor R1, and the second range control module 242 including a second variable resistor R2.

[0093] The technical solution of this embodiment employs a connection detection device that determines whether two wires are short-circuited by detecting impedance, and identifies the short-circuit location when a short circuit occurs. This detection method not only improves the accuracy of detecting short circuits between two wires but also determines the specific location of the short circuit when it occurs.

[0094] Optionally, in the above embodiment, when performing a straight-through test on the first conductor 11-1, a preliminary short-circuit test can be performed on the other conductors and the first conductor 11-1. If the straight-through test of the first conductor 11-1 fails, a semi-continuity test is performed.

[0095] For example, Figure 9 A flowchart of another connection line detection method provided in an embodiment of the present invention is shown below. Figure 8 and Figure 9The connection cable testing method can be performed by a connection cable testing device. The device first initializes the system, then communicates with the host computer and checks in real time whether a test command has been received. Receiving a test command can be a one-click start command. Once testing begins, each testing channel outputs sequentially. For example, the testing channel corresponding to the first conductor 11-1 starts first. After starting, overvoltage and overcurrent testing is performed on the first conductor 11-1. If the overvoltage and overcurrent test passes, a pass-through test is performed. If the overvoltage and overcurrent test fails, an error message is displayed indicating that the conductor failed the overvoltage and overcurrent test. The pass-through test can be performed first from one port and then from another port. In some implementations, the pass-through test and preliminary short-circuit test can be performed asynchronously, with the preliminary short-circuit test performed after the pass-through test passes. In other implementations, the pass-through test and preliminary short-circuit test can be performed simultaneously, with a high-precision short-circuit test performed after the pass-through test passes and the preliminary short-circuit test meets preset conditions. If the pass-through test at any port fails, a half-conductivity test is performed on that wire (e.g., the first wire 11-1). If both half-conductivity tests at both ports pass, cyclic testing can be performed, i.e., pass-through testing, half-conductivity testing, and preliminary short-circuit testing with other wires are performed on the second wire 11-2. If the half-conductivity test at any port fails, an error message is displayed, indicating that the wire is open-circuited. Furthermore, in some embodiments, cyclic testing is only performed after the high-precision short-circuit test is passed (i.e., the impedance between the first port A1 of the first wire 11-1 and the second wire 11-2 is normal, and the impedance between the second port A2 of the first wire 11-1 and the second wire 11-2 is normal), and the pass-through test or half-conductivity test is passed. An error message is displayed if any one of the three tests fails. When all wire tests are completed and all pass, the connection is considered normal. The specific processes of the above-mentioned pass-through test, half-conductivity test, and high-precision short-circuit test can be found in the present invention. Figures 3 to 7 The description, in which Figure 8 It can be understood as Figures 5 to 7In some implementations, if the type of the connecting wire is known, the normal impedance range of each wire can be pre-set, and an error message will be displayed if the impedance is abnormal. For wires containing MOSFETs (such as the VBUS line containing MOSFET M1), only a pass-through test is needed from the port connected to the anode of the parasitic diode. For wires containing MCUs (such as the CC line containing the second microcontroller MCU2), only a half-conductivity test is needed, without a pass-through test. In some implementations, by configuring the detection device, a pass-through test can be performed on each wire first. For connecting wires of known types, further configuration is possible; for example, a half-conductivity test can be added for CC lines, while a half-conductivity test is unnecessary for wires that should pass the pass-through test. Furthermore, when both ends of the connecting wire are connected to connectors, i.e., connected to both the first and second interfaces, the half-conductivity test can be bidirectional. That is, a second test signal is input from each of the two ports of the connecting wire, and the impedance between the port and ground is detected to determine whether the half-conductivity test passes. If the connecting cable is connected to a connector at only one end, i.e., only to the first or second interface, the testing device can be configured to perform a half-conductivity test only on the port connected to the connector. If the half-conductivity test of that port passes, the half-conductivity test of the wire is considered passed. If the type of the connecting cable is unknown, i.e., it is unclear which wires contain MOSFETs or microcontrollers, then a pass-through test followed by a half-conductivity test can be performed sequentially. Furthermore, it should be noted that by performing a bidirectional half-conductivity test on the wire, it is also possible to determine which end of the CC line the second microcontroller is connected to. In actual use of data cables and their assembly in the testing device, it is unclear which port of the CC line the second microcontroller is located on. By performing a bidirectional half-conductivity test, the impedance of the two CC line ports to ground can be used to determine which port the second microcontroller is connected to.

[0096] Optionally, the testing device for the connecting cable also includes an aging test system, which is connected to the controller and is used to perform aging tests on the connecting cable.

[0097] Specifically, the aging test system includes, for example, a rocking machine, and a controller such as a microcontroller. The controller controls the speed, angle, and number of swings of the rocking machine. After or during the rocking process, it detects the number of open wires in the connecting cable and performs high-precision short-circuit detection to determine the quality of the connecting cable. In some embodiments, the connecting cable detection device also includes an image acquisition module, such as a camera. The controller controls the camera to perform a 360-degree inspection of the connecting cable's appearance to determine the appearance quality of the data cable. Aging test, appearance inspection, and the above-mentioned detection methods can be performed simultaneously. In some embodiments, the detection device may also include a voice module to announce the test results. The rocking machine may include a displacement angle sensor, a temperature and humidity sensor, a motor, and a cylinder, etc., the specific structure of which is well known to those skilled in the art and will not be described in detail here.

[0098] It should be understood that the various forms of processes shown above can be used, with steps reordered, added, or deleted. For example, the steps described in this invention can be executed in parallel, sequentially, or in different orders, as long as the desired result of the technical solution of this invention can be achieved, and this is not limited herein.

[0099] The specific embodiments described above do not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of this invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations, and substitutions can be made according to design requirements and other factors. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of this invention should be included within the scope of protection of this invention.

Claims

1. A method for detecting a connecting cable, wherein the connecting cable includes a first interface, a second interface, and a plurality of wires connected between the first interface and the second interface; characterized in that, The detection method for the connecting wire includes: Preliminary short-circuit detection is performed based on at least any two of the aforementioned wires; If the preliminary short-circuit detection meets the preset conditions, then the impedance between the port of one of the wires and the port of the other wire is detected; The short circuit status of the two conductors is determined based on the detected impedances, and the location of the short circuit is determined based on the impedances detected.

2. The method for detecting connecting wires according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of determining whether the two conductors are short-circuited and the location of the short circuit based on the detected multiple impedances includes: If at least one of the impedances is within the corresponding first range, then the two conductors are determined to be short-circuited, and the short-circuit location is determined to be the two ports with the lowest impedance among the two conductors.

3. The method for detecting connecting wires according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of determining whether the two conductors are short-circuited based on multiple detected impedances includes: If all the impedances are within the corresponding second range, then it is determined that the two wires are not short-circuited.

4. The method for detecting connecting wires according to claim 1, characterized in that, The preliminary short-circuit detection based on at least any two of the wires includes: A first test signal is input to any port of the first wire to detect whether there is voltage on the second wire of the two wires; If there is voltage on the second conductor, then the preliminary short-circuit detection of the conductor is determined to meet the preset conditions.

5. The method for detecting connecting wires according to claim 4, characterized in that, Before inputting the first test signal to any port of the first conductor, the method further includes: if the first test signal is input to the first port of the first conductor, then the second port is connected to a common point; if the first test signal is input to the second port of the first conductor, then the first port is connected to a common point. The step of detecting whether there is voltage on the second of the two conductors includes: detecting the voltage between the two ports of the second conductor and the common point; if there is voltage between any port of the second conductor and the common point, then it is determined that there is voltage on the second conductor.

6. The method for detecting connecting wires according to claim 4, characterized in that, The method for detecting the connecting wire also includes: Perform a straight-through test on any wire. If the result of the straight-through test is that there is no voltage between the second port and the first port of the wire, then perform a half-continuity test on the wire.

7. The method for detecting connecting wires according to claim 6, characterized in that, When a first test signal is input to any port of the first conductor, the first conductor is subjected to the pass-through test.

8. The method for detecting connecting wires according to claim 6, characterized in that, The half-continuity test for any conductor includes: A second test signal is input to any port of the conductor, and the impedance between the port and the ground wire among the plurality of conductors is detected; If the impedance between the port of the conductor and the ground wire is within the third range, the semi-continuity detection is determined to be passed; if the impedance between the port of the conductor and the ground wire is within the fourth range, the semi-continuity detection is determined to be failed, and the conductor is open-circuited.

9. A testing device for a connecting wire, used to perform the testing method for a connecting wire according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The detection device for the connecting wire includes: At least two detection channels are provided, with each detection channel corresponding to one of the wires. Each detection channel includes a power module, a voltage acquisition module, a current acquisition module, and a switch module. The power module, the current acquisition module, and the corresponding ports of the wires are connected in series. A first terminal of the voltage acquisition module is connected to the corresponding port, and a second terminal of the voltage acquisition module is electrically connected to the other wires via the switch module. The switch module controls the conduction state between the second terminal of the voltage acquisition module and the other wires. The controller controls the state of the switching module to perform preliminary short-circuit detection on the two wires; if the preliminary short-circuit detection meets preset conditions, the impedance between the port of one wire and the port of the other wire is detected; based on the detected impedances, the controller determines whether the two wires are short-circuited and the location of the short circuit.

10. The detection device for connecting wires according to claim 9, characterized in that, The testing device for the connecting wire also includes an aging test system, which is connected to the controller and is used to perform aging tests on the connecting wire.

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