Combined capacity estimation method, correspondence relationship identification method for multi-core cable ends, combined capacity estimation device, and manufacturing method of multi-core cable assembly

Abstract

To provide a coupling capacitance estimating method that can estimate coupling capacitance between an input electrode and a first exposed end facing each other and coupling capacitance between an output electrode and a second exposed end facing each other.SOLUTION: A step of measuring a voltage value of a measurement output signal output through an output electrode 412 from a second exposed end 822 of a large number of insulated electric wires 82 by capacitive coupling when a measurement input signal is input from an input electrode 242 to a first exposed end 821 of the large number of insulated electric wires 82 by capacitive coupling is performed for a plurality of predetermined combinations in which the input electrode 242 to which the measurement input signal is input and the output electrode 412 which outputs the measurement output signal are changed. Based on voltage values of a plurality of measurement output signals measured, coupling capacitance of each of between a large number of input electrodes 242 and a large number of first exposed ends 821 that face each other, and coupling capacitance of each of between a large number of output electrodes 412 and a large number of second exposed ends 822 that face each other are estimated.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a coupling capacity estimation method, a correspondence relationship identification method for the ends of a multi-core cable, a coupling capacity estimation device, and a manufacturing method of a multi-core cable assembly.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a multi-core cable in which a large number of insulated electric wires are collectively covered with an outer skin (jacket), for example, it is used in medical devices such as a gastric camera and an ultrasonic diagnostic device, and there is one in which several hundred insulated electric wires are arranged inside the outer skin. A large number of insulated electric wires of the multi-core cable include a large number of first exposed ends exposed from the outer skin to one side and a large number of second exposed ends exposed from the outer skin to the other side. The large number of first exposed ends and the large number of second exposed ends are electrically connected to a connected member such as a connector or a circuit board.

[0003] Here, in order to appropriately establish the electrical connection relationship between the multi-core cable and the connected members such as connectors and circuit boards connected to both ends of the multi-core cable, it is necessary to pre-identify the correspondence relationship between the large number of first exposed ends and the large number of second exposed ends, that is, which first exposed end is connected to which second exposed end.

[0004] Therefore, Patent Document 1 discloses a method of electrically identifying the corresponding first exposed end and second exposed end by inputting an inspection signal to each of the large number of first exposed ends one by one and identifying the second exposed end from which the inspection signal is output. The method described in Patent Document 1 arranges an input electrode on the insulating coating of each first exposed end and an output electrode on the insulating coating of each second exposed end. Then, an alternating current inspection signal is input from the input electrode to the first exposed end by capacitive coupling, and an alternating current inspection output is output from the second exposed end to the output electrode by capacitive coupling. Thereby, each electrode and the conductor portion of the insulated electric wire can be electrically connected in a non-contact manner, and the correspondence relationship between the first exposed end and the second exposed end can be identified easily and in a short time.

[0005] However, in a multi-core cable in which insulated electric wires are arranged at high density within an outer sheath, when an alternating inspection signal is input to the conductor portion of the insulated electric wire, crosstalk between the insulated electric wires tends to increase, and there is concern that the correspondence relationship between the first exposed end portion and the second exposed end portion cannot be accurately specified.

[0006] Therefore, the method described in Patent Document 1 inputs an inspection input signal from an input electrode to a first exposed end portion to be inspected, and inputs an auxiliary signal having a reverse phase to a specific input signal to a first exposed end portion other than the first exposed end portion to be inspected. And at this time, based on the voltage value of the output signal output by capacitive coupling from each second exposed end portion, the correspondence relationship between the first exposed end portion and the second exposed end portion is specified. It is described in Patent Document 1 that the influence of crosstalk can be suppressed when specifying the correspondence relationship between the first exposed end portion and the second exposed end portion by such a method.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0007]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0008] However, variations can occur in the coupling capacitance between a large number of insulated electric wires and electrodes (that is, input electrodes and output electrodes) facing each other. Hereinafter, the factors causing variations in the coupling capacitance will be described.

[0009] For example, if there are variations in the diameters of a large number of insulated wires due to manufacturing tolerances, variations will occur in the distances between a large number of insulated wires and electrodes facing each other, resulting in variations in the coupling capacitances between the large number of insulated wires and electrodes facing each other. Also, if the relative positions of some of the insulated wires and the electrodes shift in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the insulated wires, the facing areas of the some of the insulated wires and the electrodes will decrease, resulting in variations in the coupling capacitances between the large number of insulated wires and electrodes facing each other. Furthermore, if foreign matter enters between some of the insulated wires and the electrodes, the distances between the some of the insulated wires and the electrodes will increase, resulting in variations in the coupling capacitances between the large number of insulated wires and electrodes facing each other.

[0010] Therefore, it is useful to grasp in advance the coupling capacitances between a large number of insulated wires and electrodes facing each other. However, this is not mentioned in Patent Document 1, and there is room for improvement.

[0011] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a coupling capacitance estimation method, a method for specifying a correspondence relationship of a multi-core cable end portion, a coupling capacitance estimation device, and a method for manufacturing a multi-core cable assembly, which can estimate the coupling capacitance between an input electrode and a first exposed end portion facing each other, and the coupling capacitance between an output electrode and a second exposed end portion facing each other.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0012] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention makes each of a plurality of input electrodes face each of first exposed ends of a plurality of insulated electric wires exposed at one end of a multi-core cable, and makes each of a plurality of output electrodes face each of second exposed ends of the plurality of insulated electric wires exposed at the other end of the multi-core cable. When a measurement input signal is input from the input electrode to the first exposed end by capacitive coupling, a step of measuring a voltage value of a measurement output signal output from the second exposed end through the output electrode by capacitive coupling is performed in a plurality of predetermined combinations in which the input electrode for inputting the measurement input signal and the output electrode for outputting the measurement output signal are changed. Based on the measured voltage values of the plurality of measurement output signals, respective coupling capacitances between the plurality of input electrodes and the plurality of first exposed ends facing each other, and respective coupling capacitances between the plurality of output electrodes and the plurality of second exposed ends facing each other are estimated, and a coupling capacitance estimation method is provided.

[0013] Further, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a correspondence relationship specifying method for specifying a correspondence relationship between the plurality of first exposed ends and the plurality of second exposed ends using the coupling capacitance estimation method. A specific input signal is input from the input electrode to the first exposed end to be a specific target on the input side among the plurality of first exposed ends by capacitive coupling, and an auxiliary signal having a phase opposite to that of the specific input signal is input from the input electrode to the first exposed ends other than the first exposed end to be the specific target on the input side among the plurality of first exposed ends by capacitive coupling. The voltage value of a specific output signal output from each of the plurality of second exposed ends through the output electrode by capacitive coupling is measured, and a correction voltage value is calculated by multiplying the voltage value of each of the specific output signals measured at the plurality of second exposed ends by a correction coefficient calculated using an estimated value of the coupling capacitance estimated by the coupling capacitance estimation method. Based on the calculated correction voltage value, the second exposed end corresponding to the first exposed end of the input side specific target is specified, and a correspondence relationship specifying method for the multi-core cable end is provided.

[0014] Further, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a coupling capacitance estimation apparatus including: a plurality of input electrodes respectively arranged to face the first exposed ends of a plurality of insulated electric wires exposed at one end of a multi-core cable; a plurality of output electrodes respectively arranged to face the second exposed ends of the plurality of insulated electric wires exposed at the other end of the multi-core cable; a measuring means for measuring a voltage value of a measured output signal output through the output electrodes by capacitive coupling from the second exposed ends when a measured input signal is input from the input electrodes to the first exposed ends by capacitive coupling, the measuring being performed in a plurality of predetermined combinations in which the input electrodes for inputting the measured input signal and the output electrodes for outputting the measured output signal are changed; and an estimating means for estimating respective coupling capacitances between the plurality of input electrodes and the plurality of first exposed ends facing each other and respective coupling capacitances between the plurality of output electrodes and the plurality of second exposed ends facing each other based on the voltage values of the plurality of measured output signals measured by the measuring means.

[0015] Further, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a multi-core cable including a large number of insulated electric wires and an outer skin that collectively covers the large number of insulated electric wires, a first connected member electrically connected to a first exposed end portion of the large number of insulated electric wires exposed from the outer skin at one end of the multi-core cable, and a second connected member electrically connected to a second exposed end portion of the large number of insulated electric wires exposed from the outer skin at the other end of the multi-core cable. A method for manufacturing a multi-core cable assembly, comprising: a specifying step of specifying which of the second exposed end portions corresponds to a specific target first exposed end portion among the large number of first exposed end portions; and a connecting step of electrically connecting the large number of first exposed end portions to the first connected member and electrically connecting the large number of second exposed end portions to the second connected member based on the specifying result of the large number of first exposed end portions and the large number of second exposed end portions by the specifying step. The specifying step includes: facing each of the large number of input electrodes to each of the large number of first exposed end portions, and facing each of the large number of output electrodes to each of the large number of second exposed end portions; measuring a voltage value of a measured output signal output through the output electrode by capacitive coupling from the second exposed end portion when a measured input signal is input from the input electrode to the first exposed end portion by capacitive coupling; performing the measurement in a plurality of predetermined combinations in which the input electrode for inputting the measured input signal and the output electrode for outputting the measured output signal are changed; estimating a coupling capacitance between each of the large number of input electrodes and each of the large number of first exposed end portions facing each other and a coupling capacitance between each of the large number of output electrodes and each of the large number of second exposed end portions facing each other based on the measured voltage values of the plurality of measured output signals; inputting a specific input signal from the input electrode to the first exposed end portion that is the input-side specific target among the large number of first exposed end portions by capacitive coupling, and inputting an auxiliary signal having a phase opposite to that of the specific input signal from the input electrode to the first exposed end portions other than the first exposed end portion that is the input-side specific target among the large number of first exposed end portions by capacitive coupling; measuring the voltage value of a specific output signal output through the output electrode by capacitive coupling from each of the large number of second exposed end portions; and for each of the voltage values of the specific output signals measured at the large number of second exposed end portions,A method for manufacturing a multi-core cable assembly is provided, in which a corrected voltage value is calculated by multiplying a correction coefficient calculated using an estimated value of an estimated coupling capacitance, and based on the calculated corrected voltage value, the second exposed end corresponding to the first exposed end of the input-side specific target is specified.

Effect of the Invention

[0016] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a coupling capacitance estimation method, a method for specifying a correspondence relationship of a multi-core cable end portion, a coupling capacitance estimation device, and a method for manufacturing a multi-core cable assembly, in which each coupling capacitance between a large number of input electrodes facing each other and a large number of first exposed end portions, and each coupling capacitance between a large number of output electrodes facing each other and a large number of second exposed end portions can be estimated.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0017]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

Figure 15

Figure 16

Figure 17

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] [First Embodiment] The first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 15. It should be noted that the embodiments described below are shown as preferred specific examples for carrying out the present invention, and although there are parts that specifically exemplify various technically preferable technical matters, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to this specific aspect.

[0019] (Multi-core cable 8) FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of the multi-core cable 8. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the multi-core cable 8. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the insulated wire 82. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the multi-core cable 8 includes an outer sheath 81 and a number of insulated wires 82 collectively covered by the outer sheath 81. As shown in FIG. 1, the insulated wire 82 has a first exposed end 821 exposed from the outer sheath 81 on one side and a second exposed end 822 exposed from the outer sheath 81 on the other side. As shown in FIG. 2, the number of insulated wires 82 is covered by a shield portion 83 such as a braided shield, and the shield portion 83 is covered by the outer sheath 81 that constitutes the outermost layer of the multi-core cable 8.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 3, the insulated wire 82 is a coaxial line in which an insulator 824, an outer conductor 825, and a coating 826 are sequentially provided on the outer periphery of a central conductor 823. However, it is not limited thereto, and the insulated wire 82 may be an insulated wire having no insulator 824 and outer conductor 825. The insulated wire 82 of this embodiment is an ultra-thin wire having an outer diameter of, for example, 0.2 mm or more and 0.5 mm or less.

[0021] The outer diameter of the multi-core cable 8, that is, the outer diameter of the outer sheath 81, is, for example, about 10 mm. The multi-core cable 8 has three or more insulated electric wires 82. The multi-core cable 8 preferably includes 20 or more insulated electric wires 82, and more preferably includes 100 or more insulated electric wires 82. When the number of insulated electric wires 82 is 20 or more, it becomes difficult to distinguish a large number of insulated electric wires 82 by color coding when specifying the correspondence between a large number of first exposed ends 821 and a large number of second exposed ends 822 of the multi-core cable 8. Therefore, as will be described later, the effect of electrically specifying the correspondence between a large number of first exposed ends 821 and a large number of second exposed ends 822 is great. Further, when the number of insulated electric wires 82 is 100 or more, the density of the insulated electric wires 82 in the outer sheath 81 becomes high, and the concern about crosstalk increases. Therefore, it becomes difficult to improve the specifying accuracy of the correspondence between a large number of first exposed ends 821 and a large number of second exposed ends 822 without particular contrivance. According to the present embodiment as described later, since the specifying accuracy of the correspondence between a large number of first exposed ends 821 and a large number of second exposed ends 822 can be improved, it is more effective when the number of insulated electric wires 82 is 100 or more. In the present embodiment, in the multi-core cable 8, for example, 100 or more and 300 or less insulated electric wires 82 are twisted together in the outer sheath 81.

[0022] (Inspection device 1 for multi-core cable 8) FIG. 4 is a schematic overall configuration diagram of the inspection device 1. The inspection device 1 for the multi-core cable 8 is a device for specifying the correspondence between a large number of first exposed ends 821 and a large number of second exposed ends 822 of the multi-core cable 8. That is, since a large number of insulated electric wires 82 are arranged in the outer sheath 81 of the multi-core cable 8, it is difficult to specify which first exposed end 821 is connected to which second exposed end 822 (that is, the correspondence). However, the inspection device 1 of the present embodiment enables the correspondence between a large number of first exposed ends 821 and a large number of second exposed ends 822 to be specified with high accuracy.

[0023] Then, based on the correspondence relationship between the identified multiple first exposed ends 821 and the multiple second exposed ends 822, the multiple first exposed ends 821 of the multi-core cable 8 are electrically connected to appropriate locations of the first member to be connected, and the multiple second exposed ends 822 are electrically connected to appropriate locations of the second member to be connected, thereby obtaining a multi-core cable assembly. One of the first member to be connected and the second member to be connected can be, for example, a connector having a plurality of terminals to which a plurality of insulated electric wires are electrically connected, and the other can be a circuit board or the like having a plurality of patterns to which a plurality of insulated electric wires are electrically connected. Further, the multi-core cable assembly can be configured to constitute medical devices such as a gastric camera and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.

[0024] The inspection device 1 for the multi-core cable 8 includes a main input circuit 2, an auxiliary input circuit 3, an output circuit 4, a reference signal generation circuit 5, and a control device 6. Hereinafter, each component will be described in detail.

[0025] (Main Input Circuit 2) The main input circuit 2 includes a voltage source 21, a main amplifier 22, a main input switch device 23, and an input substrate 24. The voltage source 21 is an AC power source. In FIG. 4, the internal resistance of the voltage source 21 is represented by the symbol r. The main amplifier 22 amplifies the output of the voltage source 21 and generates a main input signal V+ input to the insulated electric wire 82. The main input signal V+ is a measurement input signal or a specific input signal. The measurement input signal is, as will be described later, the respective coupling capacitances C px between the multiple input electrodes 242 and the multiple first exposed ends 821, and the respective coupling capacitances C qx between the multiple output electrodes 412 and the multiple second exposed ends 822, and is a signal input to the first exposed end 821 when estimating the capacitances. Note that the coupling capacitance C px , the coupling capacitance C qxThe symbol x means a value from 1 to the total number n of the insulated electric wires 82. The specific input signal is a signal input to the first exposed ends 821 when specifying the correspondence relationship between a number of first exposed ends 821 and a number of second exposed ends 822. The frequency of the main input signal V+ needs to be lower than the resonance frequency in the multi-core cable 8 and can be appropriately set according to the structure of the multi-core cable 8 and the like. In this embodiment, the frequency of the main input signal V+ is, for example, 10 MHz or less, and specifically, a main input signal V+ of 2.5 MHz is used.

[0026] The main input switch devices 23 are arranged in the same number as the number of the insulated electric wires 82. The number of main input switch devices 23 is connected in parallel to the main amplifier 22. By appropriately adjusting the on / off states of each of the number of main input switch devices 23, the main input signal V+ is input only to a desired insulated electric wire 82. The sides of the number of main input switch devices 23 opposite to the voltage source 21 are electrically connected to different input electrodes 242 of the input substrate 24.

[0027] FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view showing a number of first exposed ends 821 fixed to the inspection table 7 and the input substrate 24. FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing a number of first exposed ends 821 fixed to the inspection table 7 and the input substrate 24. The input substrate 24 includes a base material 241 having electrical insulation and input electrodes 242 formed from a wiring pattern formed on the base material 241. At least the same number of input electrodes 242 as the insulated electric wires 82 are formed on the base material 241 at equal intervals. The electrode surfaces 242a of the input electrodes 242 on the side opposite to the base material 241 are designed to be arranged on the same plane as each other. The electrode surfaces 242a of the number of input electrodes 242 of the input substrate 24 are pressed toward a number of aligned first exposed ends 821 as described later. Then, the main input signal V+ is input to the insulated electric wire 82 by capacitive coupling from the input electrode 242 connected to the main input switch device 23 in the on state through the first exposed end 821 facing the input electrode 242.

[0028] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a number of first exposed ends 821 are fixed in an aligned state on the inspection table 7. The inspection table 7 includes a pedestal 71 and a positioning wall 72 erected upward from the upper surface 711 of the pedestal. The positioning walls 72 are arranged in a number at predetermined intervals in the alignment direction X of the first exposed ends 821, and the first exposed ends 821 are positioned between the adjacent positioning walls 72 in the alignment direction X. The positioning walls 72 are in a direction parallel to the upper surface 711 of the pedestal and position the first exposed ends 821 at two locations in the vertical direction Y orthogonal to the alignment direction X. The two positioning walls 72 in the vertical direction Y face each other in the vertical direction Y. Note that the structure for fixing the insulating wire 82 to the inspection table 7 is not limited to this. For example, the insulating wire 82 may be adhesively fixed to the upper surface 711 of the pedestal using an adhesive tape such as a double-sided tape. Also, in this embodiment, the first exposed ends 821 are arranged in alignment at equal intervals in one direction, but the arrangement method of the first exposed ends 821 on the upper surface 711 of the pedestal may be appropriately changed.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 6, each input electrode 242 of the input substrate 24 is pressed against a portion of the first exposed end 821 located between the positioning walls 72 provided at two locations in the vertical direction Y. In this state, when a main input signal V+ is input to a predetermined input electrode 242, the main input signal V+ is input to the insulating wire 82 from the first exposed end 821 facing the input electrode 242 by capacitive coupling. Note that in this embodiment, since a coaxial line is used as the insulating wire 82, the main input signal V+ is input to the outer conductor 825 of the insulating wire 82.

[0030] FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the inspection table 7 in a normal state, a plurality of insulating wires 82, and the input substrate 24. FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the inspection table 7, a plurality of insulating wires 82, and the input substrate 24 when the diameters of some of the plurality of insulating wires 82 are formed smaller. FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the inspection table 7, a plurality of insulating wires 82, and the input substrate 24 when the relative position in the alignment direction X between some of the plurality of insulating wires 82 and the input electrode 242 is shifted.

[0031] Here, as shown in FIG. 7, each insulating electric wire 82 is manufactured so that their diameters are the same as each other, and is arranged so as to fit within the electrode surface region ER in the alignment direction X where the electrode surfaces 242a of the opposing input electrodes 242 exist.

[0032] However, each insulating electric wire 82 is an ultra-thin electric wire as described above, and manufacturing errors can occur in their diameters relative to each other. In this case, as shown in FIG. 8, among a large number of insulating electric wires 82, a gap is formed between the first exposed end 821 of the insulating electric wire 820a formed with a relatively small diameter and the input electrode 242 facing the first exposed end 821. As a result, the coupling capacitance between the first exposed end 821 of the insulating electric wire 820a formed with a relatively small diameter and the input electrode 242 facing the first exposed end 821 becomes smaller than the coupling capacitance between the other first exposed ends 821 and the input electrodes 242 facing them.

[0033] Also, as shown in FIG. 9, due to assembly errors or the like when arranging the first exposed ends 821 on the inspection table 7, it is also conceivable that some of the first exposed ends 821a among the large number of first exposed ends 821 are arranged so as to protrude from the electrode surface region ER in the alignment direction X. In this case, the opposing area between the first exposed end 821a and the input electrode 242 decreases by the amount protruding from the electrode surface region ER, and the coupling capacitance between the first exposed end 821a and the input electrode 242 decreases.

[0034] Due to the above reasons, variations can occur in the respective coupling capacitances between the large number of first exposed ends 821 and the large number of input electrodes 242, which can adversely affect the identification of the first exposed ends 821 and the second exposed ends 822 in the large number of insulating electric wires 82. The same can be said for the relationship between the second exposed ends 822 and the output electrodes 412 described later.

[0035] (Auxiliary input circuit 3) The auxiliary input circuit 3 is a circuit for capacitively coupling and inputting an auxiliary signal V- described later to the first exposed ends 821 other than the first exposed end 821 to which a specific input signal among a number of first exposed ends 821 is input. As shown in FIG. 4, the auxiliary input circuit 3 includes an inverting amplifier 31, an auxiliary amplifier 32, and an auxiliary switch device 33.

[0036] The inverting amplifier 31 is connected to the voltage source 21 in parallel with the main amplifier 22. The inverting amplifier 31 is constituted by a phase shifter that shifts the phase of the output of the voltage source 21 by 180 degrees. The auxiliary amplifier 32 amplifies the output of the inverting amplifier 31 and generates the auxiliary signal V-.

[0037] The auxiliary switch device 33 is arranged in the same number as the number of a number of insulated wires 82. The number of auxiliary switch devices 33 is connected in parallel to the auxiliary amplifier 32. By appropriately adjusting the on / off states of each of the number of auxiliary switch devices 33, the auxiliary signal V- is input only to a predetermined insulated wire 82 other than the insulated wire 82 to which the specific input signal is input. In this way, when specifying the correspondence between the number of first exposed ends 821 and the number of second exposed ends 822, by inputting the auxiliary signal V- to the insulated wire 82 separately from the specific input signal, the accuracy of specifying the correspondence is improved, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-120608. The side opposite to the voltage source 21 in the number of auxiliary switch devices 33 is electrically connected to different input electrodes 242 of the input substrate 24.

[0038] In this embodiment, the auxiliary signal V- is generated by inverting the phase of the voltage source 21 of the main input circuit 2, but it is not limited to this, and a separate voltage source 21 for generating the auxiliary signal V- may be used. Also, in this embodiment, the inverted phase inspection signal is input to the insulated wire 82 via the input substrate 24, but it is not limited to this, and a separate substrate for inputting the auxiliary signal V- may be used.

[0039] (Output circuit 4) The output circuit 4 includes an output substrate 41, an output switch device 42, an output amplifier 43, a multiplier 44, a low-pass filter 45, and a load resistor 46. The output substrate 41 includes a base material 411 and output electrodes 412 formed of an array pattern formed on the base material 411. The configuration of the output substrate 41 is the same as that of the input substrate 24, and overlapping descriptions will be omitted as appropriate. Similar to the configuration shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in the output substrate 41, each output electrode 412 is pressed toward the second exposed end portions 822 of a large number of aligned insulating electric wires 82. The large number of second exposed end portions 822 are fixed in an aligned state in the same manner as the large number of first exposed end portions 821 on an inspection table similar to the aforementioned inspection table 7. Then, by capacitive coupling, an output signal from the insulating electric wire 82 (a signal output from the input electrode 242 through the outer conductor 825 of the insulating electric wire 82) is output from the output electrode 412. The large number of output electrodes 412 are electrically connected to the output switch device 42.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 4, the output switch device 42 is arranged in the same number as the large number of insulating electric wires 82. The large number of output switch devices 42 are electrically connected to different output electrodes 412. By appropriately adjusting the on / off state of each of the large number of output switch devices 42, a signal is output only from a desired insulating electric wire 82. The output side of each of the large number of output switch devices 42 is connected in parallel to the output amplifier 43. The output amplifier 43 amplifies the signal output from the output switch device 42 that is in the on state among the large number of output switch devices 42 and outputs it to the multiplier 44 side.

[0041] The multiplier 44 is a mixer that multiplies the output from the output electrode 412 and the output of the reference signal generation circuit 5. The reference signal generation circuit 5 generates a reference signal in the same phase as the signal output from the output electrode 412, and the multiplier 44 multiplies the signal output from the output electrode 412 and the output signal of the reference signal generation circuit 5, which are in the same phase with each other. When the multiplier 44 multiplies the signal output from the output electrode 412 and the output signal of the reference signal generation circuit 5, which are in the same phase with each other, a DC component and a component having a frequency twice that of the signal output from the output electrode 412 are generated. Therefore, the low-pass filter 45 to which the output signal from the multiplier 44 is input removes the component having the twice frequency and outputs only the DC component.

[0042] The output signal of the low-pass filter 45 is output to the load resistor 46. In this embodiment, the signal applied to the load resistor 46 is a specific output signal or a measurement output signal. The measurement output signal is the coupling capacitance C between each of the multiple input electrodes 242 facing each other and the multiple first exposed ends 821 px and the coupling capacitance C between each of the multiple output electrodes 412 facing each other and the multiple second exposed ends 822 qx is the signal output from the second exposed end 822 when estimating. The specific output signal is the signal output from the second exposed end 822 when specifying the correspondence between the multiple first exposed ends 821 and the multiple second exposed ends 822. Information on the voltage value (potential difference between both ends of the load resistor 46) of the specific output signal or the measurement output signal output from the load resistor 46 is sent to the control device 6.

[0043] (Reference signal generation circuit 5) The reference signal generation circuit 5 includes a reference phase shifter 51 and a reference amplifier 52. The reference phase shifter 51 is connected to the voltage source 21 in parallel with the main amplifier 22 and the auxiliary input circuit 3. The reference phase shifter 51 adjusts the phase of the output voltage of the voltage source 21. The reference amplifier 52 amplifies the output of the reference phase shifter 51 to generate a reference signal v ref The reference signal v output from the reference amplifier 52 refis input to the multiplier 44. That is, the reference signal generation circuit 5 takes into account the capacitive coupling between the electrodes facing each other (the input electrode 242 and the output electrode 412) and the insulating wire 82, and the phase shift when the signal travels through the multi-core cable 8. In the multiplier 44, the signal output from the output electrode 412 and input to the multiplier 44 and the reference signal v ref from the reference amplifier 52 are in the same phase, the reference signal v ref is generated.

[0044] (Control device 6) The control device 6 includes a control unit 61 including a CPU (arithmetic processing unit) and a RAM that serves as an arithmetic area during CPU operation, and a storage unit 62 having a ROM, a hard disk, etc. The control unit 61 includes a first measurement unit 611, an estimation unit 612, a second measurement unit 613, a correspondence identification unit 614, and an error detection determination unit 615. The control unit 61 realizes the functions of the first measurement unit 611, the estimation unit 612, the second measurement unit 613, the correspondence identification unit 614, and the error detection determination unit 615 by the CPU executing the program stored in the storage unit 62.

[0045] The first measurement unit 611 controls the on / off states of a large number of main input switch devices 23 and a large number of output switch devices 42, inputs a measurement input signal as the main input signal V+ from a predetermined input electrode 242 among the large number of input electrodes 242 to the first exposed end 821 by capacitive coupling, outputs a measurement output signal through the output electrode 412 from a predetermined second exposed end 822 among the large number of second exposed ends 822 by capacitive coupling, and measures the voltage value of the measurement output signal. Then, the first measurement unit 611 performs the measurement of the voltage value of the aforementioned measurement output signal in a predetermined plurality of combinations in which the input electrode 242 for inputting the measurement input signal and the output electrode 412 for outputting the measurement output signal are changed. The predetermined plurality of combinations will be described later. The measurement of the measurement output signal in the first measurement unit 611 is performed with all the auxiliary switch devices 33 in the off state.

[0046] The estimating means 612 estimates the respective coupling capacitances C between a large number of input electrodes 242 facing each other and a large number of first exposed ends 821, and between a large number of output electrodes 412 facing each other and a large number of second exposed ends 822, based on the voltage values of the plurality of measured measurement output signals. The theory of the estimation of various coupling capacitances by the estimating means 612 will be described later. px And the respective coupling capacitances C between a large number of output electrodes 412 facing each other and a large number of second exposed ends 822. qx The estimating means 612 estimates these.

[0047] The second measuring means 613 controls the on / off states of each of the large number of main input switch devices 23 and the large number of auxiliary switch devices 33, inputs a specific input signal as the main input signal V+ to the first exposed end 821 that becomes the specific target of the correspondence relationship (hereinafter referred to as the input-side specific target) among the first exposed ends 821, and inputs the auxiliary signal V- to another first exposed end 821. At the same time, the second measuring means 613 controls the on / off states of the large number of output switches, causes a specific output signal to be output through the output electrode 412 by capacitive coupling from the second exposed end 822 that becomes the specific target of the correspondence relationship (hereinafter referred to as the output-side specific target) among the large number of second exposed ends 822, and measures the voltage value of the specific output signal. The second measuring means 613 measures the voltage value of such a specific output signal while keeping the first exposed end 821 to which the specific input signal is input and the second exposed end 822 to which the auxiliary signal V- is input unchanged, and sequentially changes the second exposed end 822 from which the specific output signal is output until the specific output signal is output through all the second exposed ends 822. Further, the second measuring means 613 repeats the measurement of the voltage value of the specific output signal as described above while changing the first exposed end 821 to which the specific input signal is input while keeping the first exposed end 821 to which the auxiliary signal V- is input unchanged until each of the large number of first exposed ends 821 becomes the input-side specific target.

[0048] The correspondence specifying means 614 specifies the correspondence relationship between a large number of first exposed ends 821 and a large number of second exposed ends 822. The correspondence specifying means 614 multiplies the voltage value of each specific output signal measured by the second measuring means 613 by a correction coefficient to calculate a corrected voltage value. Details of the method for calculating the corrected voltage value will be described later. For one first exposed end 821 to be specified on the input side, the correspondence specifying means 614 specifies the maximum corrected voltage value among the corrected voltage values calculated based on the specific output signals output from each of all the second exposed ends 822. Then, the correspondence specifying means 614 determines that the second exposed end 822 that output the specific output signal that is the basis for the calculation of the maximum corrected voltage value is the second exposed end 822 corresponding to the first exposed end 821 to be specified on the input side. The correspondence specifying means 614 performs such specification for all the first exposed ends 821, specifies all the correspondence relationships between the large number of first exposed ends 821 and the large number of second exposed ends 822, and stores them in the storage unit 62. The correspondence relationship between the large number of first exposed ends 821 and the large number of second exposed ends 822 is stored in the storage unit 62, for example, based on the numbers sequentially assigned to the large number of first exposed ends 821 arranged in alignment on the input substrate 24 and the numbers sequentially assigned to the large number of second exposed ends 822 arranged in alignment on the output substrate 41.

[0049] The false detection determination means 615 determines whether there is an error in the specific result of the correspondence relationship between a large number of first exposed ends 821 and a large number of second exposed ends 822. The false detection determination means 615 refers to the correspondence relationship between the first exposed end 821 and the second exposed end 822 stored in the storage unit 62. If a plurality of first exposed ends 821 are specified to correspond to the same second exposed end 822, it is determined that there is a false detection. Then, in the false detection determination means 615, if it is determined that there is a false detection in the specification of the correspondence relationship between the large number of first exposed ends 821 and the large number of second exposed ends 822, only for the plurality of first exposed ends 821 in which the false detection has occurred, the corresponding second exposed end 822 is re-specified using the correspondence specifying means 614. At this time, the auxiliary signal V- is input to a first exposed end 821 different from the first exposed end 821 to which the auxiliary signal V- was input when the correspondence relationship between the large number of first exposed ends 821 and the large number of second exposed ends 822 was specified using the correspondence specifying means 614 last time. This is repeated until no false detection is found.

[0050] (Theory regarding the process performed by the estimation means 612) The estimation means 612 estimates the respective coupling capacitances C between a large number of input electrodes 242 facing each other and a large number of first exposed ends 821 px , and the respective coupling capacitances C between a large number of output electrodes 412 facing each other and a large number of second exposed ends 822 qx will explain the theory that is the basis for the process of estimating.

[0051] FIG. 10 is an equivalent circuit diagram of a simple model for calculating the theoretical value of the voltage value v of the measurement output signal measured by the first measurement means 611. Hereinafter, for convenience, the three insulated electric wires 82 shown in FIG. 10 are referred to as the first insulated electric wire 82a, the second insulated electric wire 82b, and the third insulated electric wire 82c in order from the upper side of the paper surface of FIG. 10. Also, the main input switch device 23 electrically connected to the input electrode 242 facing the first insulated electric wire 82a is the main input switch device SW a1 , and the output switch device 42 electrically connected to the output electrode 412 facing the first insulated electric wire 82a is the output switch device SW b1Let it be so. Also, the main input switch device 23 electrically connected to the input electrode 242 facing the second insulated wire 82b is the main input switch device SW a2 The output switch device 42 electrically connected to the output electrode 412 facing the second insulated wire 82b is the output switch device SW b2 Let it be so. Also, the main input switch device 23 electrically connected to the input electrode 242 facing the third insulated wire 82c is the main input switch device SW a3 The output switch device 42 electrically connected to the output electrode 412 facing the third insulated wire 82c is the output switch device SW b3 Let it be so. Note that the method for calculating the voltage value of the measurement output signal measured by the first measurement means 611 is the same as the method for calculating the voltage value of the measurement output signal output from the third insulated wire 82c for the insulated wires other than the insulated wire 82 shown in FIG. 10. Therefore, in FIG. 10, only three insulated wires 82a, 82b, and 82c out of the many insulated wires 82 are shown.

[0052] Also, in FIG. 10, the coupling capacitance between the first exposed end 821 of the first insulated wire 82a and the input electrode 242 is C p1 The coupling capacitance between the first exposed end 821 of the second insulated wire 82b and the input electrode 242 is C p2 The coupling capacitance between the first exposed end 821 of the third insulated wire 82c and the input electrode 242 is C p3 Let it be so. And the coupling capacitance between the second exposed end 822 of the first insulated wire 82a and the output electrode 412 is C q1 The coupling capacitance between the second exposed end 822 of the second insulated wire 82b and the output electrode 412 is C q2 The coupling capacitance between the second exposed end 822 of the third insulated wire 82c and the output electrode 412 is C q3 Let it be so. Further, the coupling capacitance between the first insulated wire 82a and the second insulated wire 82b is C α Let it be so, and the coupling capacitance between the second insulated wire 82b and the third insulated wire 82c is C β Let it be so, and the coupling capacitance between the first insulated wire 82a and the third insulated wire 82c is C γ Let it be so. Also, Z in1 represents the input impedance when looking at the output side from the voltage source 21, and Zin2 indicates the input impedance when viewed from the output side of the output switch device 42.

[0053] In this embodiment, let the voltage of the measurement input signal be V + = v0exp(jωt). Here, v0 indicates the amplitude of the voltage, j indicates the imaginary unit, ω indicates the angular frequency, and t indicates the time. Also, in FIG. 10, when the measurement input signal is input to a predetermined insulated wire 82, the voltage of the signal output from the output electrode 412 is v´, the voltage of the signal output from the multiplier 44 is v″, and the voltage of the signal output from the low-pass filter 45, that is, the measurement output signal, is indicated by v.

[0054] First, the voltage of the measurement output signal and the average value v a1-m0-ave are calculated respectively in the following five combinations (i) to (v) where the input electrode 242 for inputting the measurement input signal and the output electrode 412 for outputting the measurement output signal are changed. (i) When the main input switch device SW a1 and the output switch device SW b1 are in the on state and all other switch devices are in the off state, the voltage v a1-m0-b1 of the measurement output signal. (ii) When the main input switch device SW a2 and the output switch device SW b1 are in the on state and all other switch devices are in the off state, the voltage v a2-m0-b1 of the measurement output signal. (iii) When the main input switch devices SW a1 , SW a2 and the output switch device SW b1 are in the on state and all other switch devices are in the off state, the voltage v a1,a2-m0-b1 of the measurement output signal. (iv) When the main input switch device SW a1 and the output switch device SW b2 are in the on state and all other switch devices are in the off state, the voltage v a1-m0-b2 of the measurement output signal. (v) When the main input switch device SW a1 and the output switch device SWb3 The voltage v of the measurement output signal when the switch device is in the on state and all other switch devices are in the off state a1-m0-b3 . (vi) Voltage v a1-m0-b1 , voltage v a1-m0-b2 , and voltage v a1-m0-b3 The average value v a1-m0-ave .

[0055] First, calculate the theoretical value of the voltage v of the measurement output signal in the case of (i). a1-m0-b1 . In FIG. 10, the input impedance Z in1 can be calculated as follows according to the AC theory.

Equation

[0056] Here, it is assumed that the following inequality relationship of formula (2) holds for the angular frequency ω, each coupling capacitance, and the resistance values r, R. In formula (2) below, the symbol C a is any one of the coupling capacitances C p1 , C p2 , C p3 , C q1 , C q2 , C q3 , and the symbol C b is any one of the coupling capacitances C α , C β, C γ , and the symbol R a is any one of the resistance values r, R.

Equation

[0057] When formula (2) holds, the following formula (3) holds.

Equation

[0058] Using formula (3), formula (1) can be approximated as formula (4) below. [Number]

[0059] And, as shown in FIG. 10, the signal output from the output electrode 412 is multiplied by the reference signal v ref Here, the reference signal v ref is set as in the following equation (5). [Number]

[0060] Also, the voltage v' a1-m0-b1 of the signal output from the output electrode 412 is obtained as in the following equation (6). [Number]

[0061] At this time, the voltage v″ a1-m0-b1 of the signal output from the multiplier 44 is obtained as in the following equation (7). In the following equation, u[-] defined is the dimensionless quantity obtained by dividing v r [V] by 1 [V]. [Number]

[0062] And the voltage v a1-m0-b1 of the measurement output signal output from the low-pass filter 45 is obtained as in the following equation (8) by leaving only the DC component in equation (7). [Number]

[0063] Similarly, for the cases of (ii) to (vi) above, the results of calculating the theoretical values of the voltage values of the measurement output signals are shown in the following equations (9) to (13). C in the following equation (13) qr is the capacitance when the voltage of the measurement output signal is the average value v a1-m0-aveis the coupling capacitance between the second exposed end portion 822 and the output electrode 412 when it is as described above.

Number

[0064] Then, by solving the six simultaneous equations of formulas (8) to (13), the six coupling capacitances C p1 , C p2 , C q1 , C q2 , C q3 , C qr are obtained as shown in the following formulas (14) to (19).

Number

[0065] From the above theory, as shown in formulas (14) to (19), each coupling capacitance can be expressed by the voltages v a1-m0-b1 , v a2-m0-b1 , v a1,a2-m0-b1 , v a1-m0-b2 , v a1-m0-b3 and the average value v a1-m0-ave of the measured output signal, that is, the measured values by the first measuring means 611. Therefore, by measuring the voltages v a1-m0-b1 , v a2-m0-b1 , v a1,a2-m0-b1 , v a1-m0-b2 , v a1-m0-b3 of the measured output signal by the first measuring means 611 in advance and calculating the average value v a1-m0-ave , each coupling capacitance can be estimated using formulas (14) to (19).

[0066] In addition, for each coupling capacitance between a large number of first exposed end portions 821 and a large number of input electrodes 242 other than the coupling capacitances calculated by formulas (14) and (15), assuming the case where the insulating wire 82 for inputting the measured input signal is sequentially changed, it can be calculated by applying the same theory as the calculation method of formulas (14) and (15).

[0067] Here, the accuracies of Expressions (14) to (19) were determined by comparison with the simulation results. Here, the various parameters used in performing the simulation are summarized in Table 1. [Table 1]

[0068] And the simulation results are shown in Table 2 below. In Table 2 below, Estimated Value 1 is the result when all of the "±" in Expressions (14) to (19) are taken as "+", and Estimated Value 2 is the result when all of the "±" in Expressions (14) to (19) are taken as "-". [Table 2]

[0069] Regarding the "±" in Expressions (14) to (19), Estimated Value 1 when all are taken as "+" and Estimated Value 2 when all are taken as "-" take different values as shown in Table 2. Regarding which of Estimated Value 1 and Estimated Value 2 to adopt, for example, a numerical range within which each coupling capacitance is expected to fall is predicted in advance, and the estimated value (in this case, Estimated Value 1) for which all coupling capacitances fall within the numerical range is selected as the estimated value to be used. A method for determining the range within which each coupling capacitance is expected to fall in advance can be estimated in advance by considering, for example, the thickness of the coating 826 of the insulated wire 82, the relative dielectric constant of the coating 826, the area of the electrode (the product of the vertical width and the horizontal width), the distance between the electrode and the insulated wire 82, and the like. And as can be seen from Table 2, for Estimated Value 1, it can be seen that the error from the measured value is 4.6% or less, and each coupling capacitance can be estimated with high accuracy.

[0070] (Theory regarding the processing performed by the correspondence specifying means 614) The theory underlying the processing by which the correspondence specifying means 614 specifies the correspondence relationship between a large number of first exposed ends 821 and a large number of second exposed ends 822 will be described.

[0071] FIG. 11 is an equivalent circuit diagram of a simple model for calculating the theoretical value of the voltage of a specific output signal measured by the second measuring means 613. The three insulated wires shown in FIG. 11 are the first insulated wire 82a, the second insulated wire 82b, and the third insulated wire 82c shown in FIG. 10. A specific input signal is input to the first insulated wire 82a, an auxiliary signal V- is input to the second insulated wire 82b, and no signal is input to the third insulated wire 82c. Note that the method for calculating the voltage value of the specific output signal measured by the second measuring means 613 is the same as the method for calculating the voltage value of the specific output signal output from the third insulated wire 82c for the insulated wires 82 other than the insulated wire 82 shown in FIG. 11. Therefore, in FIG. 11, only three of the many insulated wires 82 are shown.

[0072] In FIG. 11, let the voltage of the auxiliary signal V- be V - = v0exp{j(ωt + π)}. Also, in FIG. 11, when a specific input signal is input to the first insulated wire 82a and the auxiliary signal V- is input to the second insulated wire 82b, the voltage of the signal output from the output electrode 412 is v´, the voltage of the signal output from the multiplier 44 is v″, and the voltage of the signal output from the low-pass filter 45, that is, the voltage of the specific output signal, is represented by v. For other reference numerals shown in FIG. 11, they are the same as those in FIG. 10.

[0073] Here, when a specific input signal is input to the first exposed end 821 of the first insulated wire 82a and the auxiliary signal V- is input to the first exposed end 821 of the second insulated wire 82b, the voltage value of the specific output signal output through the output electrode 412 by capacitive coupling from the second exposed ends 822 of the first insulated wire 82a, the second insulated wire 82b, and the third insulated wire 82c is theoretically calculated.

[0074] First, a specific input signal is input to the first insulated wire 82a and the auxiliary signal V- is input to the second insulated wire 82b. When only the output switch device SW b1 of the many output switch devices 42 is in the on state, the voltage v a1-m2-b1Calculate this. The equivalent circuit at this time is represented as shown in FIG. 12. In the state shown in FIG. 12, the main input switch device connected to the input electrode 242 facing the first insulating electric wire 82a shown in FIG. 11, the auxiliary switch device connected to the input electrode 242 facing the second insulating electric wire 82b, and the output switch device SW b1 is in the on state, and the main input switch device, the auxiliary switch device, and the output switch device other than these three switch devices are in the off state.

[0075] From the equivalent circuit of FIG. 12, the voltage v' of the signal output from the output electrode 412 using the AC theory a1-m2-b1 is calculated and becomes as shown in the following formula (20). In the following formula (20), the symbol C δ is, C δ ≡C α +{(C β C γ ) / (C β +C γ )}. Also, in the following formula (20), the symbol " / / " is, for example, A / / B = (A × B) / (A + B), and indicates the impedance of a parallel connection.

Equation

[0076] Here, a relational expression (that is, the following formula (23)) for making formula (20) easier to handle is derived. First, the following formula (21) is obtained. As described above, the symbol C a is any one of the coupling capacitances C p1 , C p2 , C p3 , C q1 , C q2 , C q3 , and the symbol C b is any one of the coupling capacitances C α , C β , C γ , and the symbol R a is any one of the resistance values r, R. In the formula transformation from the first line to the second line of the following formula (21), the above-mentioned formula (2) is used.

Equation

[0077] Here, for the denominator \(\{(1 / C a )+(2 / C b )\}\) of Equation (21), applying Newton's generalized binomial theorem allows for equation transformation as shown in the following Equation (22). Note that the equation transformation from the second line to the third line of the following Equation (22) uses an approximation considering \((1 / C -1 / 2 )>(1 / C a )>(1 / C b ).

Number

[0078] From Equations (21) and (22), the relational equation of the following Equation (23) is obtained.

Number

[0079] Using the derived Equation (23) to organize Equation (20) results in the following Equation (24). Note that when applying Equation (23), \(C δ \) is also considered to be included in \(C b \). Also, the approximation based on Equation (2) is used from the first line to the second line of the following Equation (24).

Number

[0080] Then, as shown in FIG. 12, the signal output from the output electrode 412 is multiplied by the reference signal \(v ref \) by the multiplier 44. At this time, the voltage \(v'' a1-m2-b1 \) of the signal output from the multiplier 44 can be organized as shown in the following Equation (26) using Equation (24) and Equation (5) indicating the voltage of the reference signal \(v ref \).

Number

[0081] Then, the voltage v of the specific output signal output from the low-pass filter 45 a1-m2-b1 leaves only the DC component in Equation (26), and by substituting V1 defined in Equation (25) back into Equation (26), it can be expressed as the following Equation (27). The v in the following Equation (27) a1-m2-b1 is the voltage of the specific output signal when only the output switch device SW b1 among a number of output switch devices 42 is in the on state. [Number]

[0082] Next, a specific input signal is input to the first insulated wire 82a, and an auxiliary signal V- is input to the second insulated wire 82b. The voltage v b2 of the specific output signal output when only the output switch device SW a1-m2-b2 among a number of output switch devices 42 is in the on state is calculated. Using the same logic as when calculating the voltage v a1-m2-b1 of the specific output signal represented by Equation (27), the voltage v a1-m2-b2 of the specific output signal is obtained as follows. [Number]

[0083] Next, a specific input signal is input to the first insulated wire 82a, and an auxiliary signal V- is input to the second insulated wire 82b. The voltage v b3 of the specific output signal output when only the output switch device SW a1-m2-b3 among a number of output switch devices 42 is in the on state is calculated. The equivalent circuit at this time is as shown in FIG. 13. However, for simplicity of calculation, Δ-Y conversion is performed at the connection points of the three coupling capacitors C α , C β , C γ to convert it into the equivalent circuit shown in FIG. 14. The coupling capacitors after Δ-Y conversion are C x , C y , C zLet it be so. From the equivalent circuit of FIG. 14, using the AC theory, the voltage v' of the signal output from the output electrode 412 a1-m2-b3 is as shown in the following formula (29).

Number

[0084] Here, while formula (29) is transformed by using the relational expression of formula (23), and each of C x , C y , and C z is returned to the formula using C α , C β , and C γ it can be approximated as shown in the following formula (30).

Number

[0085] Here, the following inequality can be obtained from formula (2).

Number

[0086] Using such an inequality, formula (30) can be approximated as shown in the following formula (31).

Number

[0087] And, as shown in FIG. 14, the signal output from the output electrode 412 is multiplied by the reference signal v ref by the multiplier 44. At this time, the voltage v″ a1-m2-b3 of the signal output from the multiplier 44 can be arranged as shown in the following formula (33) by using formula (5) showing the voltage of formula (31) and the reference signal v ref .

Number

[0088] Then, the voltage v of the specific output signal output from the low-pass filter 45 a1-m2-b3 leaves only the DC component in Equation (33), and by substituting V3 defined in Equation (32) back into Equation (33), it can be expressed as the following Equation (34). The voltage v in the following Equation (34) a1-m2-b3 is the voltage of the specific output signal when only the output switch device SW among a number of output switch devices 42 b3 is in the on state.

Equation

[0089] From the above, the voltages v a1-m2-b1 , v a1-m2-b2 , and v a1-m2-b3 of the specific output signal can be calculated as in Equations (27), (28), and (34), respectively.

[0090] Here, in the example of the circuit shown in FIG. 11, assuming that all of the coupling capacitors C p1 , C p2 , C q1 , C q2 , C q3 are equal, from Equations (27), (28), and (34), the voltage v a1-m2-b1 is greater than each of the voltages v a1-m2-b2 , v a1-m2-b3 . Therefore, when there is no variation in the coupling capacitors C p1 , C p2 , C q1 , C q2 , C q3 , it is possible to simply compare the voltages v a1-m2-b1 , v a1-m2-b2 , and v a1-m2-b3 and identify the second exposed end 822 of the insulated wire 82 where the specific input signal is input as the second exposed end 822 of the specific output signal with the largest voltage.

[0091] However, for example, the coupling capacitors C q1 , C q2 , C q3If there is a variation between them, then v a1-m2-b1 <v a1-m2-b2 、or v a1-m2-b1 <v a1-m2-b3 may occur, and misdetection may occur in specifying the correspondence between the multiple first exposed ends 821 and the multiple second exposed ends 822. That is, as can be seen from Equation (27), v a1-m2-b1 is positively correlated with the coupling capacitance C q1 , and as can be seen from Equation (28), v a1-m2-b2 is positively correlated with the coupling capacitance C q2 , and as can be seen from Equation (34), v a1-m2-b3 is positively correlated with the coupling capacitance C q3 . Therefore, since the coupling capacitance C q1 is the coupling capacitance C q2 and C q3 is smaller than each of them, when v a1-m2-b1 <v a1-m2-b2 , or v a1-m2-b1 <v a1-m2-b3 may hold and misdetection may occur. For example, due to the tolerance, the diameter of the second exposed end 822 of the first insulated wire 82a of the input-side specific object is formed smaller than the diameter of the second exposed end 822 of the other insulated wire 82, or due to the manufacturing error, the relative position between the second exposed end 822 of the first insulated wire 82a of the input-side specific object and the output electrode 412 deviates from the desired position, then the coupling capacitance C q1 may be smaller than each of the coupling capacitances C q2 and C q3 .

[0092] Therefore, correct the voltage value of the specific output signal to a correction voltage value that is less likely to be affected by the variation in the coupling capacitance between the multiple second exposed ends 822 and the multiple output electrodes 412 facing each other. When the corrected voltage value of the voltage v a1-m2-b1 is set as vc a1-m2-b1 , the corrected voltage value of the voltage v a1-m2-b2 is set as vc a1-m2-b2 , and the corrected voltage value of the voltage v a1-m2-b3 is set as vc a1-m2-b3 , then the correction voltage values vc a1-m2-b1 , vc a1-m2-b2 , vc a1-m2-b3 are represented by the following Equations (35) to (37).

Number

[0093] As represented by Expressions (35) to (37), the correction voltage value vc is the voltage v of the specific output signal output from the second exposed end 822 to be the output-side specific target, multiplied by a correction coefficient having a negative correlation with the coupling capacitance C between the second exposed end 822 to be the output-side specific target and the output electrode 412. qx Thus, a correction voltage value with the influence of the coupling capacitance C between the second exposed end 822 to be the output-side specific target and the output electrode 412 reduced can be calculated. qx

[0094] Further, the correction coefficient is the product of a term having a negative correlation with the coupling capacitance C between the second exposed end 822 from which the specific output signal is output and the output electrode 412 (that is, the numerator of the correction coefficient represented by Expressions (35) to (37)), and a term having a positive correlation with a reference coupling capacitance indicating a predetermined reference value of the coupling capacitance between the second exposed end 822 and the output electrode 412 facing each other (that is, the term obtained by removing the numerator from the correction coefficient represented by Expressions (35) to (37)). In this embodiment, the term having a positive correlation with the reference coupling capacitance indicating a predetermined reference value of the coupling capacitance between the second exposed end 822 and the output electrode 412 facing each other is the coupling capacitance C of the term having a negative correlation with the coupling capacitance C between the second exposed end 822 from which the specific output signal is output and the output electrode 412 qx changed to the reference coupling capacitance. The reference coupling capacitance is a value that can be expected to be close to each of the coupling capacitances between a large number of second exposed ends 822 and a large number of output electrodes 412 facing each other, and in this embodiment, it is C qx qx qr By doing so, it is possible to prevent the correction coefficient from becoming a value significantly deviated from 1, and it is possible to prevent the correction voltage value from being significantly deviated from the voltage value of the specific output signal serving as the basis for its calculation. Note that the reference coupling capacitance is not limited to this, and for example, it can also be the coupling capacitance between any one second exposed end 822 and the output electrode 412 facing it.

[0095] The correction voltage value vc represented by formulas (35) to (37) a1-m2-b1 , vc a1-m2-b2 , vc a1-m2-b3 The values of, are the coupling capacitances C p1 , C p2 , C q1 , C q3 , C qr shown in these formulas. By substituting the theoretical values represented by formulas (14) to (19) estimated by the estimation means 612 into these coupling capacitances C, the correction voltage value vc can be obtained. Then, among the obtained correction voltage values vc, the second exposed end 822 that output the specific output signal serving as the basis for calculating the correction voltage value with the largest value is specified as the second exposed end 822 corresponding to the first exposed end 821 to which the specific input signal is input. Thereby, even when there is variation in the coupling capacitance between the multiple second exposed ends 822 and the multiple output electrodes 412, based on the correction voltage value that reduces the influence of the coupling capacitance between the multiple second exposed ends 822 and the multiple output electrodes 412, by specifying the correspondence between the multiple first exposed ends 821 and the multiple second exposed ends 822, the correspondence can be specified with high precision. Note that the specification of the second exposed end 822 corresponding to the first exposed end 821 of the insulating wire 82 other than the first insulating wire 82a can also be performed based on the same theory as described above.

[0096] (Coupling Capacitance Estimation Method) Next, an example of a method for estimating the respective coupling capacitances between the multiple first exposed ends 821 and the multiple input electrodes 242, and the respective coupling capacitances between the multiple second exposed ends 822 and the multiple output electrodes 412 will be described. FIG. 15 is a flowchart for estimating the coupling capacitance. Hereinafter, the total number of insulating wires 82 in the multi-core cable 8 is represented by the symbol n. Also, the first exposed ends 821 of all the insulating wires 82 are sequentially numbered from 1 to n, and similarly, the second exposed ends 822 of the insulating wires 82 are sequentially numbered from 1 to n. Then, the main input switch device 23 electrically connected to the input electrode 242 facing the arbitrarily x-th first exposed end 821 is the main input switch device SW axis connected to the output electrode 412 facing the second exposed end 822 of any x-th insulated wire 82, and the output switch device 42 is the output switch device SW bx is called.

[0097] In estimating the coupling capacitance, the total number n of the insulated wires 82 is input and stored in the storage unit 62. Next, all the auxiliary switch devices 33 are turned off, and when a measurement input signal is input from the input electrode 242 to the first exposed end 821 by capacitive coupling, the voltage value of the measurement output signal output from the second exposed end 822 through the output electrode 412 by capacitive coupling is measured. This step is performed in a plurality of predetermined combinations in which the input electrode 242 for inputting the measurement input signal and the output electrode 412 for outputting the measurement output signal are changed (steps S101 to S107). The plurality of predetermined combinations are combinations in which the voltage values of all the measurement output signals represented by the theoretical formulas (for example, formulas (14) to (19)) of the respective coupling capacitances between a large number of first exposed ends 821 and a large number of input electrodes 242 and the respective coupling capacitances between a large number of second exposed ends 822 and a large number of output electrodes 412 can be obtained. Steps S101 to S107 are executed by the first measuring means 611.

[0098] In step S101, the first measuring means 611 measures the voltage v a1-m0-b1 . The voltage v a1-m0-b1 is the voltage of the measurement output signal when the main input switch device SW a1 and the output switch device SW b1 are turned on, and the other main input switch device 23, the other output switch device 42, and all the auxiliary switch devices 33 are turned off. The measurement result of the voltage v a1-m0-b1 is stored in the storage unit 62.

[0099] Next, in step S102, the first measuring means 611 measures the voltage v a1,a2-m0-b1 . The voltage v a1,a2-m0-b1 is the voltage of the measurement output signal when both the main input switch devices SW a1 , SW a2 and the output switch device SW b1This is the voltage of the measurement output signal when it is turned on and the other main input switch devices 23, the other output switch devices 42, and all the auxiliary switch devices 33 are turned off. Voltage v a1,a2-m0-b1 The measurement result of is stored in the storage unit 62.

[0100] Next, when the variable i is set to 2 to n, the voltage v a1-m0-bi is measured and stored, and the voltage v ai-m0-b1 is measured and stored (steps S103 to S107). The voltage v a1-m0-bi is the voltage of the measurement output signal when the main input switch device SW a1 and the output switch device SW bi are turned on and the other main input switch devices 23, the other output switch devices 42, and all the auxiliary switch devices 33 are turned off. The voltage v ai-m0-b1 is the voltage of the measurement output signal when the main input switch device SW ai and the output switch device SW b1 are turned on and the other main input switch devices 23, the other output switch devices 42, and all the auxiliary switch devices 33 are turned off.

[0101] First, in step S103, the variable i is initialized to 2. Next, in step S104, the voltage v with i = 2 a1-m0-bi is measured and stored in the storage unit 62. Next, in step S105, the voltage v with i = 2 a1-m0-bi is measured and stored in the storage unit 62. Next, in step S106, it is determined whether the variable i is greater than or equal to the total number n of the insulating electric wires 82. At the current time, since the variable i is 2, it is determined as No in step S106, and the process proceeds to step S107. In step S107, 1 is added to the current variable i, and the process returns to step S104. Then, the steps of S104 to S105 are performed until it is determined in step S106 that the variable i is greater than or equal to the total number n of the insulating electric wires 82. If it is determined that the variable i is greater than or equal to the total number n, the process proceeds to the next step S108.

[0102] In step S108, the average value v a1-m0-ave is calculated and stored. The average value v a1-m0-ave is the average value of the voltage v a1-m0-bi when the variable i ranges from 1 to n, and is calculated using the values of the voltage v a1-m0-bi stored in the storage unit 62 (see steps S101 and S104). The calculated average value v a1-m0-ave is stored in the storage unit 62.

[0103] Next, in steps S109 to S114, a process of calculating estimated values of the respective coupling capacitances between a large number of first exposed ends 821 and a large number of input electrodes 242, and between a large number of second exposed ends 822 and a large number of output electrodes 412 is performed. This process is performed by the estimation means 612. The coupling capacitance between an arbitrary x-th first exposed end 821 and the input electrode 242 facing it is represented by the symbol C px , and the coupling capacitance between an arbitrary x-th second exposed end 822 and the output electrode 412 facing it is represented by the symbol C qx .

[0104] First, in step S109, the variable i is initialized to 1. Next, in step S110, the coupling capacitance C qi with i = 1 is calculated and stored in the storage unit 62. The coupling capacitance C q1 is calculated according to the above formula (16) using the voltage v a1-m0-b1 (i.e., the symbol α in formula (16)), v a2-m0-b1 (i.e., the symbol β in formula (16)), v a1,a2-m0-b1 (i.e., the symbol γ in formula (16)) stored in the storage unit 62. Next, in step S111, the coupling capacitance C pi with i = 1 is calculated and stored in the storage unit 62. The coupling capacitance C p1 is calculated according to the above formula (14) using the voltage v a1-m0-b1 (i.e., the symbol α in formula (16)), v a2-m0-b1 (i.e., the symbol β in formula (16)), v a1,a2-m0-b1 (i.e., the symbol γ in formula (16)) stored in the storage unit 62.

[0105] Next, in step S112, it is determined whether the variable i is greater than or equal to the total number n of the insulated electric wires 82. At the current time, since the variable i is 2, in step S112, it is determined as No, and the process proceeds to step S113. In step S113, 1 is added to the current variable i, and the process returns to step S110. Then, according to the aforementioned formulas (14) to (19), the coupling capacitance C for each case of the variable i qi , C pi is sequentially calculated using various voltages v ax-m0-by (where x and y are each any value from 1 to n) stored in the storage unit 62. In step S112, when it is determined that the variable i is greater than or equal to the total number n of the insulated electric wires 82, the process proceeds to the next step S114.

[0106] In step S114, the coupling capacitance C qr is calculated according to the aforementioned formulas (13) and (19). Since the coupling capacitance C qr is a numerical value used in the correspondence relationship specifying method described later, it is calculated here. As described above, it is possible to estimate the respective coupling capacitances between the multiple first exposed ends 821 and the multiple input electrodes 242, and the respective coupling capacitances between the multiple second exposed ends 822 and the multiple output electrodes 412.

[0107] (Correspondence relationship specifying method) Next, an example of a method for specifying the correspondence relationship between the multiple first exposed ends 821 and the multiple second exposed ends 822 will be described. FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a method for specifying the correspondence relationship between the multiple first exposed ends 821 and the multiple second exposed ends 822. FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a method for specifying the correspondence relationship between the multiple first exposed ends 821 and the multiple second exposed ends 822, and is a diagram showing the subsequent steps of the process shown in FIG. 16.

[0108] The correspondence determination method is a method for determining the correspondence between the aforementioned multiple first exposed ends 821 and the multiple second exposed ends 822, and steps S201 to S226 are executed. In the correspondence determination method, first, in step S201, the respective coupling capacitances between the multiple first exposed ends 821 and the multiple input electrodes 242, and the respective coupling capacitances between the multiple second exposed ends 822 and the multiple output electrodes 412 are estimated. Step S201 is the aforementioned coupling capacitance estimation method (the steps from step S101 to S114 in FIG. 15).

[0109] Then, in steps S202 to S204, the variables i, j, and k are each initialized to 1 (steps S202 to S204). Next, in this case, the voltage v aj-mM(i)-bk is measured (step S205). The voltage v aj-mM(i)-bk is the voltage of a specific output signal when the main input switch device SW aj , the auxiliary switch device SW mM(i) and the output switch device SW bk are turned on, and the other main input switch devices 23, the other auxiliary switch devices 33, and the other output switch devices 42 are turned off. The main input switch device SW aj is the main input switch device 23 electrically connected to the input electrode 242 facing the j-th first exposed end 821. The auxiliary switch device SW mM(i) is the auxiliary switch device 33 electrically connected to the input electrode 242 facing the arbitrarily M(i)-th first exposed end 821. The function M(i) is a numerical value from 1 to the total number n of the insulating wires 82, and is a function whose value changes depending on the variable i. Also, the variable i is a numerical value from 1 to N, and the functions M(1) to M(N) have different numerical values from each other. The output switch device SW bk is the output switch device 42 electrically connected to the output electrode 412 facing the second exposed end 822 of the k-th insulating wire 82. Here, the symbol N indicates the upper limit number of repetitions of the re-detection process described later, and there is a relationship of N ≤ n.

[0110] In the first step S205, using the second measuring means 613, the voltage v when each of i, j, and k is 1 aj-mM(i)-bk , that is, the voltage v a1-mM(1)-b1 , is measured and stored in the storage unit 62. Next, in step S206, the voltage v measured in the immediately preceding step S205 aj-mM(i)-bk , the C estimated in step S201 pj , C pM(i) , C qr , C qk and the mathematical formula described in step S206 of FIG. 16 are used to calculate the corrected voltage value vc aj-mM(i)-bk , which is stored in the storage unit 62. Next, in step S207, it is determined whether the variable k is greater than or equal to the total number n of the insulating wires 82. At this point, since the variable k is 1, in step S207, it is determined as No, and the process proceeds to step S208. In step S208, 1 is added to the current variable k, and the process returns to step S205. Then, the steps S205 to S206 are performed until it is determined in step S207 that the variable k is greater than or equal to the total number n of the insulating wires 82.

[0111] In step S207, if it is determined that the variable k is greater than or equal to the total number n, the process proceeds to the next step S209. When it is determined that the variable k is greater than or equal to the total number n, the voltage v a1-mM(1)-b1 ~voltage v a1-mM(1)-bn and their respective corrected voltage values vc a1-mM(1)-b1 ~vc a1-mM(1)-bn are in a state where they have been obtained. The voltage v a1-mM(1)-b1 ~voltage v a1-mM(1)-bn is the voltage of the specific output signal output from each of all the second exposed ends in a state where a specific input signal is input to the first first exposed end and an auxiliary signal V- is input to the M(1)th first exposed end. And the corrected voltage values vc a1-mM(1)-b1 ~vc a1-mM(1)-bn are the corrected voltage values calculated based on the voltages of the specific output signals measured as described above.

[0112] Steps S209 to S210 are executed by the correspondence specifying means 614. In step S209, the correction voltage value vc a1-mM(1)-bk (where the variable k ranges from 1 to n), when the value is maximized, the value of the variable k is set as k´. That is, the value k´ is the number of the second exposed end portion 822 corresponding to the first exposed end portion 821 of the first

[0113] Next, in step S210, using the function d(j), the equation d(j)=k´ is set. The equation d(j)=k´ indicates that the second exposed end portion 822 corresponding to the j-th first exposed end portion 821 is the k´-th second exposed end portion 822 on the right side. At the current time, since the variable j is 1, in the first step S210, d(1)=k´ is determined. That is, in the first step S210, the second exposed end portion 822 corresponding to the first first exposed end portion 811 is specified. Also, the information of d(1)=k´ is stored in the storage unit 62.

[0114] Next, in step S211, it is determined whether the variable j is greater than or equal to the total number n of the insulated electric wires 82. At the current time, since the variable j is 1, in step S211, it is determined as No, and the process proceeds to step S212. In step S212, 1 is added to the current variable j, and the process returns to step S204. Then, the steps S204 to S210 are performed until it is determined in step S211 that the variable j is greater than or equal to the total number n of the insulated electric wires 82.

[0115] If it is determined that the variable j is greater than or equal to the total number n, the process proceeds to the next step S213 shown in FIG. 17. When it is determined that the variable j is greater than or equal to the total number n, each of the functions d(1) to d(n) is in a determined state, that is, the state where the second exposed end portion 822 corresponding to each of all the first exposed end portions 821 is specified.

[0116] Step S213 is executed by the false detection determination means 615. In step S213, it is determined whether there are any duplicates among the functions d(1) to d(n) stored in the storage unit 62. If there are no duplicates among the functions d(1) to d(n), it is determined that the correspondence relationship between the multiple first exposed ends 821 and the multiple second exposed ends 822 is accurately obtained, and the process of correspondence identification is terminated. On the other hand, if there are duplicates among the functions d(1) to d(n), the second exposed ends 822 corresponding to a specific plurality of first exposed ends 821 overlap, indicating that false detection has occurred. Therefore, in steps S214 to S227, the correspondence relationship of the multiple first exposed ends 821 with overlapping second exposed ends 822 is re-identified.

[0117] First, in step S214, 1 is added to the variable i (which is 1 at the current time). The process of step S214 is a preparation process for measuring the voltage v of the specific output signal in step S219 described later. That is, the process of step S214 is for making the number M(i) of the first exposed end 821 to which the auxiliary signal V- is input in step S219 described later different from the number of the first exposed end 821 to which the auxiliary signal V- has been input so far (i.e., the value of the function M(1)). aD(j)-mM(i)-bk That is, the process of step S214 is for making the number M(i) of the first exposed end 821 to which the auxiliary signal V- is input in step S219 described later different from the number of the first exposed end 821 to which the auxiliary signal V- has been input so far (i.e., the value of the function M(1)).

[0118] Next, in step S215, it is determined whether the numerical value i - 1 is less than or equal to the upper limit re - detection count N. The numerical value i - 1 in step S215 is a numerical value indicating how many times the re - detection process (i.e., the processes of steps S216 to S226) performed immediately after step S215 is carried out. Also, the upper limit re - detection count N indicates the upper limit number of repetitions of the re - detection process and is predetermined. If the upper limit re - detection count N is large, the possibility of false detection decreases, but on the other hand, the system load increases. From the viewpoint of suppressing the increase in system load while reducing the possibility of false detection, as an example, the upper limit re - detection count N can be 10 or more and 100 or less, more specifically 10 or more and 50 or less. In step S215, if the numerical value i - 1 is less than or equal to the upper limit re - detection count N, the process proceeds to the re - detection process (i.e., the processes of steps S216 to S226). On the other hand, if the numerical value i - 1 exceeds the upper limit re - detection count N, the specific processing of the correspondence relationship is terminated.

[0119] In the re - detection process (i.e., the processes of steps S216 to S226), first, in step S216, the number of duplicates of d(1) to d(n) is set to w. That is, as an example, if both d(1) and d(6) are 2, and both d(3) and d(8) are 7, the number of duplicates w is set to 4. Also, a plurality of duplicate first exposed ends 821, which are the first exposed ends for which it is determined that the corresponding second exposed ends 822 overlap, are sequentially numbered D(1) to D(w).

[0120] Next, in step S217, the variable j is initialized to 1, and in step S218, the variable k is initialized to 1. Then, in step S219, the voltage v aD(1)-mM(2)-b1 is measured by the second measuring means 613. The voltage v aD(1)-mM(2)-b1is the voltage of a specific output signal when the main input switch device 23 electrically connected to the input electrode 242 facing the D(1)-th first exposed end 821, the auxiliary switch device 33 electrically connected to the input electrode 242 facing the M(2)-th first exposed end 821, and the output switch device 42 electrically connected to the output electrode 412 facing the first second exposed end are in the on state, and the other main input switch devices 23, auxiliary switch devices 33, and output switch devices 42 are in the off state. Voltage v aD(1)-mM(2)-b1 The measurement result of is stored in the storage unit 62.

[0121] Next, in step S220, the voltage v aD(j)-mM(i)-bk (currently voltage v aD(1)-mM(2)-b1 ) is corrected using the formula described in step S220 of FIG. 17 to obtain a corrected voltage value vc aD(j)-mM(i)-bk (currently voltage vc aD(1)-mM(2)-b1 ), which is calculated and stored in the storage unit 62. Next, in step S221, it is determined whether the variable k is greater than or equal to the total number n of the insulated electric wires 82. At the current time, since the variable k is 1, in step S221, it is determined as No, and the process proceeds to step S222. In step S222, 1 is added to the current variable k, and the process returns to step S219. Then, the steps S219 to S220 are performed until it is determined in step S221 that the variable k is greater than or equal to the total number n of the insulated electric wires 82.

[0122] If it is determined in step S221 that the variable k is greater than or equal to the total number n, the process proceeds to the next step S223. When it is determined that the variable k is greater than or equal to the total number n, the voltages v aD(1)-mM(2)-b1 ~voltages v aD(1)-mM(2)-bn and their respective corrected voltage values vc aD(1)-mM(2)-b1 ~vc a1-mM(1)-bn are in a state where they have been obtained. The voltages v aD(1)-mM(2)-b1 ~voltages v aD(1)-mM(2)-bn are the measured values of the voltages of the specific output signals output from each of all the second exposed ends in a state where a specific input signal is input to the D(1)-th first exposed end and an auxiliary signal V- is input to the M(2)-th first exposed end. And the corrected voltage value vcaD(1)-mM(2)-b1 ~vc a1-mM(1)-bn is a correction voltage value calculated based on each of the voltages of the specific output signals measured as described above.

[0123] Steps S223 to S224 are executed by the corresponding specifying means 614. In step S223, the correction voltage value vc aD(1)-mM(2)-bk (where the variable k is from 1 to n), when the value becomes the maximum, the value of the variable k is set as k´. That is, the value k´ is the number of the second exposed end 822 corresponding to the D(1)-th first exposed end 821.

[0124] Next, in step S224, using the function d(D(j)), the equation d(D(j)) = k´ is set. The equation d(D(j)) = k´ indicates that the second exposed end 822 corresponding to the D(j)-th first exposed end 821 is the k´-th second exposed end 822 on the right side. In the first step S224, the second exposed end 822 corresponding to the D(1)-th first exposed end 821 is specified. Also, the information of d(D(1)) = k´ is stored in the storage unit 62.

[0125] Next, in step S225, it is determined whether the variable j is greater than or equal to the total number w of the overlapping first exposed ends. At the current time, since the variable j is 1, in step S225, it is determined as No, and the process proceeds to step S226. In step S226, 1 is added to the current variable j, and the process returns to step S218. Then, the steps S218 to S224 are performed until it is determined in step S225 that the variable j is greater than or equal to the total number w of the overlapping first exposed ends.

[0126] If it is determined that the variable j is greater than or equal to the total number w of the overlapping first exposed ends, the process proceeds to step S227. When it is determined that the variable j is greater than or equal to the total number w of the overlapping first exposed ends, each of the functions d(D(1)) to d(D(w)) is in a determined state, that is, the state where the second exposed end 822 corresponding to each of all the overlapping first exposed ends is specified.

[0127] In step S227, it is determined whether there are any duplicates in d(1) to d(n) where the values of the functions d(D(1)) to d(D(w)) have been updated. If there are no duplicates in the functions d(1) to d(n), it is determined that the correspondence relationship between the multiple first exposed ends 821 and the multiple second exposed ends 822 has been accurately obtained, and the process of specifying the correspondence ends. On the other hand, if there are duplicates in the functions d(1) to d(n), since the second exposed ends 822 corresponding to the multiple first exposed ends 821 overlap, the state of false detection still exists. Therefore, in steps S214 to S227 again, for the multiple first exposed ends 821 where the corresponding second exposed ends 822 overlap, the correspondence relationship is re-specified. This is repeated until there are no duplicates in the functions d(1) to d(n) (that is, until it is determined as No in step S227), or until the numerical value i - 1 exceeds the upper limit re-detection count N (that is, until it is determined as No in step S215). As described above, the correspondence relationship between the multiple first exposed ends 821 and the multiple second exposed ends 822 can be specified with high precision.

[0128] (Effect verification simulation) Next, the simulation results regarding the accuracy of specifying the correspondence relationship between the multiple first exposed ends 821 and the multiple second exposed ends 822 in this embodiment will be described.

[0129] Here, simulations for calculating the accuracy of specifying the correspondence relationship were performed for three cases: a reference example, a comparative example, and an example. In the reference example and the comparative example, without correcting the voltage values of the specific output signals output from each second exposed end 822, the comparison was made, and the second exposed end 822 that output the specific output signal with the maximum voltage value was determined to be the second exposed end 822 corresponding to the first exposed end 821 to be specified on the input side. For other processes, the same processes as those in this embodiment were performed. In the example, while correcting the voltage values of the specific output signals as in this embodiment, the correspondence relationship between the multiple first exposed ends 821 and the multiple second exposed ends 822 was specified.

[0130] In both the comparative example and the embodiment, it was assumed that there were variations in the respective coupling capacitances between a large number of insulated wires 82 and each electrode facing them. In the reference example, an ideal case was assumed where the respective coupling capacitances between a large number of insulated wires 82 and each electrode facing them were constant (without variations). And the values of various parameters when performing the simulation were those described in Table 1 above.

[0131] And first, the signal-to-noise ratio (SN ratio) was obtained for each of the reference example, the comparative example, and the embodiment. In the reference example and the comparative example, the SN ratio was obtained by dividing the voltage of the specific output signal output from the second exposed end 822 of the first insulated wire 82a by the voltage of the specific output signal output from the second exposed end 822 of the third insulated wire 82c when a specific input signal was input to the first insulated wire 82a and a reference signal v ref was input to the second insulated wire 82b. Also, in the embodiment, the SN ratio was obtained by dividing the corrected voltage value calculated based on the voltage of the specific output signal output from the second exposed end 822 of the first insulated wire 82a by the corrected voltage value calculated based on the voltage of the specific output signal output from the second exposed end 822 of the third insulated wire 82c when a specific input signal was input to the first insulated wire 82a and a reference signal v ref was input to the second insulated wire 82b. The larger the SN ratio, the smaller the influence of noise when specifying the correspondence between the large number of first exposed ends 821 and the large number of second exposed ends 822. In particular, it is preferable that the SN ratio is larger than 1.

[0132] In the case of the reference example, the SN ratio was 15.2. In the case of the comparative example, the SN ratio was 0.7. In the case of the embodiment, the SN ratio was 14.9. That is, in the case of the embodiment where the correspondence between the large number of first exposed ends 821 and the large number of second exposed ends 822 was specified based on the corrected voltage value, the SN ratio became significantly larger than 1, resulting in a level equivalent to that of the ideal reference example.

[0133] In addition, in the simulation, for each of the reference example, the comparative example, and the exemplary embodiment, the correspondence between a large number of first exposed ends 821 and a large number of second exposed ends 822 was specified. As a result, false detection occurred in the comparative example, but false detection did not occur in the reference example and the exemplary embodiment. From this, it can be seen that when specifying the correspondence between a large number of first exposed ends 821 and a large number of second exposed ends 822 based on the correction voltage value, it is easy to improve the specification accuracy of the correspondence.

[0134] (Operation and Effect of the First Embodiment) In this embodiment, based on the voltage values of a plurality of measured measurement output signals, the respective coupling capacitances between a large number of input electrodes 242 facing each other and a large number of first exposed ends 821, and the respective coupling capacitances between a large number of output electrodes 412 facing each other and a large number of second exposed ends 822 are estimated. Therefore, the respective coupling capacitances between a large number of input electrodes 242 facing each other and a large number of first exposed ends 821, and the respective coupling capacitances between a large number of output electrodes 412 facing each other and a large number of second exposed ends 822 can be easily grasped.

[0135] Further, in this embodiment, a correction voltage value obtained by multiplying the voltage value of the specific output signal output from the second exposed end 822 to be specified on the output side by a correction coefficient having a negative correlation with the coupling capacitance between the second exposed end 822 to be specified on the output side and the output electrode 412 is calculated using the estimated value of the coupling capacitance between the second exposed end 822 to be specified on the output side and the output electrode 412 estimated by the coupling capacitance estimation method. Then, based on each calculated correction voltage value, the second exposed end 822 corresponding to the first exposed end 821 to be specified on the input side is specified. Therefore, even when variations occur in the coupling capacitance between a large number of second exposed ends 822 and a large number of output electrodes 412, by specifying the correspondence between a large number of first exposed ends 821 and a large number of second exposed ends 822 based on the correction voltage value that reduces the influence of the coupling capacitance between a large number of second exposed ends 822 and a large number of output electrodes 412, the correspondence can be specified with high accuracy.

[0136] Further, the correction coefficient is the product of a term having a negative correlation with the coupling capacitance between the second exposed end portion 822 of the output-side specific target and the output electrode 412, and a term having a positive correlation with a reference coupling capacitance indicating a predetermined reference value of the coupling capacitance between the second exposed end portion 822 and the output electrode 412 facing each other. Therefore, the term having a negative correlation with the coupling capacitance between the second exposed end portion 822 from which the specific output signal is output and the output electrode 412 can reduce the influence of the coupling capacitance between a large number of second exposed end portions 822 and a large number of output electrodes 412 in the correction voltage value, and the term having a positive correlation with the reference coupling capacitance indicating a predetermined reference value of the coupling capacitance between the second exposed end portion 822 and the output electrode 412 facing each other can easily prevent the correction voltage value from greatly fluctuating from the voltage of the specific output signal before correction.

[0137] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a coupling capacitance estimation method, a correspondence relationship specifying method for a multi-core cable end portion, a coupling capacitance estimation device, and a manufacturing method for a multi-core cable assembly, which can estimate the respective coupling capacitances between a large number of input electrodes and a large number of first exposed end portions facing each other, and the respective coupling capacitances between a large number of output electrodes and a large number of second exposed end portions facing each other.

[0138] [Second Embodiment] This embodiment is a form in which the correction coefficient is changed from the first embodiment, and the rest is the same as the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the correction coefficient is a term having a positive correlation with the average value of the voltage values of the measurement output signals output from each of the large number of second exposed end portions 822 when a measurement input signal is input to the first exposed end portion 821 that is the input-side specific target by the first measurement means 611, and a term having a negative correlation with the voltage value of the measurement output signal output from the second exposed end portion 822 that is the output-side specific target when the measurement input signal is input to the first exposed end portion 821 that is the input-side specific target. That is, the correction voltage value vc shown in equations (35) to (37) a1-m2-b1 ,vc a1-m2-b2 ,vc a1-m2-b3 is represented as follows in equations (38) to (40) in this embodiment. [Number]

[0139] Although details will be described later, the correction coefficients in the above formulas (38) to (40) have a negative correlation with the coupling capacitance between the second exposed end 822, which is the output-side specific target, and the output electrode 412, similar to the first embodiment. Therefore, the correction voltage values represented by formulas (38) to (40) are values that are hardly affected by the coupling capacitance between the second exposed end 822, which is the output-side specific target, and the output electrode 412. This will be described later.

[0140] Combining formula (8), formula (9), formula (11), and formula (12), they can be combined as shown in the following formula (41). In the following formula, s and t are each any of 1 to 3. [Number]

[0141] Here, using formula (41), set v as-m0-ave as shown in the following formula (42). [Number]

[0142] From the above, formulas (38) to (40) can be transformed as shown in the following formulas (43) to (45). [Number]

[0143] The voltage v a1-m2-b1 appearing on the right side of formula (43) is found to have a positive correlation with C q1 from formula (27), and it can be seen that the correction coefficient multiplied by the voltage v a1-m2-b1 has a negative correlation with C q1 . Therefore, the correction voltage value vc a1-m2-b1 represented by formula (43) is the coupling capacitance C q1The influence can be reduced. Similarly, the correction voltage value vc represented by Equation (44) a1-m2-b2 can reduce the influence of the coupling capacitance C q2 and the correction voltage value vc represented by Equation (45) a1-m2-b3 can reduce the influence of the coupling capacitance C q3 Therefore, even when there is variation in the coupling capacitance between the multiple second exposed ends 822 and the multiple output electrodes 412, based on the correction voltage value with the influence of the coupling capacitance between the multiple second exposed ends 822 and the multiple output electrodes 412 reduced, by specifying the correspondence between the multiple first exposed ends 821 and the multiple second exposed ends 822, the specification of the correspondence can be performed with high precision.

[0144] The rest is the same as in the first embodiment. Among the reference numerals used in the second and subsequent embodiments, those identical to the reference numerals used in the previously presented embodiments represent the same components and the like as those in the previously presented embodiments, unless otherwise specified.

[0145] (Operation and Effect of the Second Embodiment) This embodiment also has the same operation and effect as the first embodiment.

[0146] (Summary of the Embodiments) Next, the technical idea grasped from the embodiments described above will be described by referring to the reference numerals and the like in the embodiments. However, each reference numeral and the like in the following description are not limited to the members and the like that specifically show the components in the claims in the embodiments.

[0147] [1] At each of the first exposed ends (821) of a number of insulated electric wires (82) exposed at one end of a multi-core cable (8), each of a number of input electrodes (242) is opposed; at each of the second exposed ends (822) of the number of insulated electric wires (82) exposed at the other end of the multi-core cable (8), each of a number of output electrodes (412) is opposed; and a step of measuring the voltage value of a measured output signal output through the output electrode (412) by capacitive coupling from the second exposed end (822) when a measured input signal is input from the input electrode (242) to the first exposed end (821) by capacitive coupling is performed in a plurality of predetermined combinations in which the input electrode (242) for inputting the measured input signal and the output electrode (412) for outputting the measured output signal are changed, and based on the voltage values of the plurality of measured output signals measured, the respective coupling capacitances between each of the number of input electrodes (242) and each of the number of first exposed ends (821) opposed to each other, and the respective coupling capacitances between each of the number of output electrodes (412) and each of the number of second exposed ends (822) opposed to each other are estimated. A coupling capacitance estimation method.

[0148] [2A]A correspondence specifying method for specifying the correspondence between the multiple first exposed ends (821) and the multiple second exposed ends (822) by using the coupling capacitance estimation method described in [1], wherein a specific input signal is input by capacitive coupling from the input electrode (242) to the first exposed end (821) to be specified on the input side among the multiple first exposed ends (821), and an auxiliary signal having a phase opposite to that of the specific input signal is input by capacitive coupling from the input electrode (242) to the first exposed ends (821) other than the first exposed end (821) to be specified on the input side among the multiple first exposed ends (821), the voltage value of the specific output signal output through the output electrode (412) by capacitive coupling from each of the multiple second exposed ends (822) is measured, a correction voltage value is calculated by multiplying the voltage value of each of the specific output signals measured at the multiple second exposed ends (822) by a correction coefficient calculated by using the estimated value of the coupling capacitance estimated by the coupling capacitance estimation method, and based on the calculated correction voltage value, the second exposed end (822) corresponding to the first exposed end (821) to be specified on the input side is specified. A method for specifying the correspondence of the ends of a multi-core cable.

[0149] [2B]A correspondence specifying method for specifying the correspondence between the multiple first exposed ends (821) and the multiple second exposed ends (822) by using the coupling capacitance estimation method according to [1], wherein a specific input signal is input by capacitive coupling from the input electrode (242) to the first exposed end (821) to be specified on the input side among the multiple first exposed ends (821), and when an auxiliary signal having a phase opposite to that of the specific input signal is input by capacitive coupling from the input electrode (242) to a predetermined first exposed end (821) other than the first exposed end (821) to be specified on the input side among the multiple first exposed ends (821), a step of measuring the voltage value of a specific output signal output through the output electrode (412) by capacitive coupling from the second exposed end (822) to be specified on the output side among the multiple second exposed ends (822) is performed until all the second exposed ends (822) become the output side specific targets, and a correction voltage value obtained by multiplying the voltage value of the specific output signal output from the second exposed end (822) to be specified on the output side by a correction coefficient having a negative correlation with the coupling capacitance between the second exposed end (822) to be specified on the output side and the output electrode (412) is calculated by using the estimated value of the coupling capacitance between the second exposed end (822) to be specified on the output side and the output electrode (412) estimated by the coupling capacitance estimation method, and based on the calculated correction voltage value, the second exposed end (822) corresponding to the first exposed end (821) to be specified on the input side is specified. A method for specifying the correspondence of the multi-core cable end.

[0150] [3A]The correction coefficient multiplied by the voltage value of the specific output signal is the product of a term having a correlation with the coupling capacitance between the second exposed end, which is the output target of the specific output signal, and the output electrode, and a term having a correlation with a reference coupling capacitance indicating a predetermined reference value of the coupling capacitance between the multiple second exposed ends facing each other and the multiple output electrodes. The method for specifying the correspondence of the multi-core cable end according to [2A].

[0151] [3B] The correction coefficient is the product of a term having a negative correlation with the coupling capacitance between the second exposed end portion (822) of the output-side specific target and the output electrode (412), and a term having a positive correlation with a reference coupling capacitance indicating a predetermined reference value of the coupling capacitance between the plurality of second exposed end portions (822) and the plurality of output electrodes (412) facing each other. The method for specifying the correspondence relationship of the multi-core cable end portion according to [2B].

[0152] [4A] The correction coefficient multiplied by the voltage value of the specific output signal is a term having a correlation with the average value of the voltage values of the measurement output signals output from each of the plurality of second exposed end portions when the measurement input signal is input to the first exposed end portion that is the input-side specific target, and a term having a correlation with the voltage value of the measurement output signal output from the second exposed end portion that is the output target of the specific output signal when the measurement input signal is input to the first exposed end portion that is the input-side specific target. The method for specifying the correspondence relationship of the multi-core cable end portion according to [2A].

[0153] [4B] The correction coefficient is the product of a term having a positive correlation with the average value of the voltage values of the measurement output signals output from each of the plurality of second exposed end portions (822) when the measurement input signal is input to the first exposed end portion (821) that is the input-side specific target, and a term having a negative correlation with the voltage value of the measurement output signal output from the second exposed end portion (822) of the output-side specific target when the measurement input signal is input to the first exposed end portion (821) that is the input-side specific target. The method for specifying the correspondence relationship of the multi-core cable end portion according to [2B].

[0154] [5] A plurality of input electrodes (242) respectively arranged to face the first exposed ends (821) of a plurality of insulated electric wires (82) exposed at one end of a multi-core cable (8), a plurality of output electrodes (412) respectively arranged to face the second exposed ends (822) of the plurality of insulated electric wires (82) exposed at the other end of the multi-core cable (8), and a step of measuring the voltage value of a measurement output signal output through the output electrode (412) by capacitive coupling from the second exposed end (822) when a measurement input signal is input to the first exposed end (821) by capacitive coupling from the input electrode (242), are performed in a plurality of predetermined combinations in which the input electrode (242) for inputting the measurement input signal and the output electrode (412) for outputting the measurement output signal are changed. Measuring means (611), and estimating means (612) for estimating the respective coupling capacitances between the plurality of input electrodes (242) and the plurality of first exposed ends (821) facing each other, and the respective coupling capacitances between the plurality of output electrodes (412) and the plurality of second exposed ends (822) facing each other, based on the voltage values of the plurality of measurement output signals measured by the measuring means (611). A coupling capacitance estimation device comprising:

[0155] [6A]A method for manufacturing a multi-core cable assembly, comprising: a multi-core cable (8) including a plurality of insulated electric wires (82) and an outer sheath (81) that collectively covers the plurality of insulated electric wires (82); a first connected member electrically connected to a first exposed end portion (821) of the plurality of insulated electric wires (82) exposed from the outer sheath (81) at one end of the multi-core cable (8); and a second connected member electrically connected to a second exposed end portion of the plurality of insulated electric wires (82) exposed from the outer sheath (81) at the other end of the multi-core cable (8), the method including: a specifying step of specifying which of the second exposed end portions corresponds to a specific target first exposed end portion (821) among the plurality of first exposed end portions (821); and a connecting step of electrically connecting the plurality of first exposed end portions (821) to the first connected member and electrically connecting the plurality of second exposed end portions to the second connected member based on the specifying result of the plurality of first exposed end portions (821) and the plurality of second exposed end portions by the specifying step. The specifying step includes: facing each of a plurality of input electrodes (242) to each of the plurality of first exposed end portions (821), and facing each of a plurality of output electrodes (412) to each of the plurality of second exposed end portions; measuring a voltage value of a measured output signal output through the output electrode (412) by capacitive coupling from the second exposed end portion when a measured input signal is input from the input electrode (242) to the first exposed end portion (821) by capacitive coupling; performing the measurement in a predetermined plurality of combinations in which the input electrode (242) for inputting the measured input signal and the output electrode (412) for outputting the measured output signal are changed; estimating a respective coupling capacitance between each of the plurality of input electrodes (242) and the plurality of first exposed end portions facing each other and a respective coupling capacitance between each of the plurality of output electrodes (412) and the plurality of second exposed end portions facing each other based on the voltage values of the plurality of measured output signals measured; inputting a specific input signal from the input electrode (242) to the input-side specific target first exposed end portion (821) among the plurality of first exposed end portions (821) by capacitive coupling, andAn auxiliary signal having a phase opposite to that of the specific input signal is input from the input electrode (242) to the first exposed end portions (821) other than the first exposed end portion (821) to be specified on the input side among the plurality of first exposed end portions (821) by capacitive coupling, the voltage value of the specific output signal output through the output electrode (412) by capacitive coupling from each of the plurality of second exposed end portions is measured, a correction voltage value is calculated by multiplying the voltage value of each of the specific output signals measured at the plurality of second exposed end portions by a correction coefficient calculated using an estimated value of the estimated coupling capacitance, and based on the calculated correction voltage value, the second exposed end portion corresponding to the first exposed end portion (821) to be specified on the input side is specified, a method for manufacturing a multi-core cable assembly.

[0156] [6B]A method for manufacturing a multi-core cable assembly, comprising: a multi-core cable (8) having a plurality of insulated electric wires (82) and an outer sheath (81) that collectively covers the plurality of insulated electric wires (82); a first connected member electrically connected to a first exposed end portion (821) of the plurality of insulated electric wires (82) exposed from the outer sheath (81) at one end of the multi-core cable (8); and a second connected member electrically connected to a second exposed end portion (822) of the plurality of insulated electric wires (82) exposed from the outer sheath (81) at the other end of the multi-core cable (8), the method comprising: a specifying step of specifying which of the second exposed end portions (822) corresponds to a specific target first exposed end portion (821) among the plurality of first exposed end portions (821); and a connecting step of electrically connecting the plurality of first exposed end portions (821) to the first connected member and electrically connecting the plurality of second exposed end portions (822) to the second connected member based on the specifying result of the plurality of first exposed end portions (821) and the plurality of second exposed end portions (822) by the specifying step, wherein the specifying step includes: facing each of the plurality of input electrodes (242) to each of the plurality of first exposed end portions (821), and facing each of the plurality of output electrodes (412) to each of the plurality of second exposed end portions (822), measuring a voltage value of a measured output signal output through the output electrode (412) by capacitive coupling from the second exposed end portion (822) when a measured input signal is input to the first exposed end portion (821) by capacitive coupling from the input electrode (242), performing this in a plurality of predetermined combinations in which the input electrode (242) for inputting the measured input signal and the output electrode (412) for outputting the measured output signal are changed, estimating a coupling capacitance between each of the plurality of input electrodes (242) and the plurality of first exposed end portions (821) facing each other and a coupling capacitance between each of the plurality of output electrodes (412) and the plurality of second exposed end portions (822) facing each other based on the voltage values of the plurality of measured output signals measured, inputting a specific input signal to the input-side specific target first exposed end portion (821) among the plurality of first exposed end portions (821) by capacitive coupling from the input electrode (242), andWhen an auxiliary signal having a phase opposite to that of the specific input signal is input from the input electrode (242) to a predetermined first exposed end portion (821) other than the first exposed end portion (821) to be specified on the input side among the plurality of first exposed end portions (821) by capacitive coupling, a step of measuring the voltage value of a specific output signal output through the output electrode (412) by capacitive coupling from the second exposed end portion (822) to be specified on the output side among the plurality of second exposed end portions (822) is performed until all the second exposed end portions (822) become the output-side specific targets. A correction voltage value obtained by multiplying the voltage value of the specific output signal output from the second exposed end portion (822) to be specified on the output side by a correction coefficient having a negative correlation with the coupling capacitance between the second exposed end portion (822) to be specified on the output side and the output electrode (412) is calculated using an estimated value of the coupling capacitance between the second exposed end portion (822) to be specified on the output side and the output electrode (412). Based on the calculated correction voltage value, the second exposed end portion (822) corresponding to the first exposed end portion (821) to be specified on the input side is specified. A method for manufacturing a multi-core cable assembly.

[0157] As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, the above-described embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. It should also be noted that not all combinations of the features described in the embodiments are essential means for solving the problems of the invention. Further, the present invention can be appropriately modified and implemented without departing from its gist.

[0158] For example, in each of the above embodiments, the estimated value of the coupling capacitance estimated by the estimation means is used for calculating the correction voltage value when specifying the correspondence between the plurality of first exposed end portions and the plurality of second exposed end portions, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, when the estimated value of the coupling capacitance between the insulated wire and the electrode at a certain position is small based on the estimated value of the coupling capacitance, it can be determined that the fixing method of the insulated wire at that position or the electrode is defective, and the estimated value may be used for such determination.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0159] 242... Input electrode 412…Output electrode 611…First measuring means 612…Estimation means 8…Multi-core cable 81…Outer sheath 82…Insulated wire 821…First exposed end 822…Second exposed end

Claims

1. At one end of a multi-core cable, each of a plurality of first exposed ends of a plurality of insulated electric wires exposed is opposed to each of a plurality of input electrodes, At the other end of the multi-core cable, each of a plurality of second exposed ends of the plurality of insulated electric wires exposed is opposed to each of a plurality of output electrodes, When a measurement input signal is input from the input electrode to the first exposed end by capacitive coupling, the voltage value of the measurement output signal output from the second exposed end through the output electrode by capacitive coupling is measured, By substituting the results of the measurement into a plurality of estimation formulas derived based on AC theory, each coupling capacitance between the plurality of input electrodes and the plurality of first exposed ends opposed to each other, and each coupling capacitance between the plurality of output electrodes and the plurality of second exposed ends opposed to each other are estimated. A coupling capacitance estimation method, When the coupling capacitance between the input electrode to which the measurement input signal is input and the first exposed end opposed thereto is defined as a first coupling capacitance, and the coupling capacitance between the output electrode from which the measurement output signal is output and the second exposed end opposed thereto is defined as a second coupling capacitance, and the formula for obtaining the voltage value of the measurement output signal from the first coupling capacitance and the second coupling capacitance based on AC theory is defined as a voltage equation, The derivation of the plurality of estimation formulas is To obtain all of the plurality of estimation formulas as solution formulas, a system of simultaneous equations including a plurality of the voltage equations is created by changing the combinations between the input electrode to which the measurement input signal is input and the output electrode from which the measurement output signal is output among a plurality of combinations, And is performed by solving the system of simultaneous equations, The measurement of the voltage value of the measurement output signal is The combination of the input electrode to which the measurement input signal is input and the output electrode from which the measurement output signal is output is changed among the plurality of combinations so that each of the plurality of input electrodes and each of the plurality of output electrodes are used at least once, and so that the voltage values of all the measurement output signals represented by the plurality of estimation formulas are obtained, and for each such combination, A coupling capacitance estimation method.

2. A correspondence relationship specifying method for specifying the correspondence relationship between the plurality of first exposed ends and the plurality of second exposed ends by using the coupling capacitance estimation method according to claim 1, A specific input signal is input by capacitive coupling from the input electrode to the first exposed end to be specified on the input side among the plurality of first exposed ends, and an auxiliary signal having a phase opposite to that of the specific input signal is input by capacitive coupling from the input electrode to the first exposed ends other than the first exposed end to be specified on the input side among the plurality of first exposed ends, and the voltage value of the specific output signal output through the output electrode by capacitive coupling from each of the plurality of second exposed ends is measured, A correction voltage value is calculated by multiplying the voltage value of each of the specific output signals measured at the plurality of second exposed ends by a correction coefficient calculated by using an estimated value of the coupling capacitance estimated by the coupling capacitance estimation method, Based on the calculated correction voltage value, the second exposed end corresponding to the first exposed end to be specified on the input side is specified. A method for specifying the correspondence relationship of the multi-core cable end.

3. The correction coefficient multiplied by the voltage value of the specific output signal is the product of a term having a correlation with the coupling capacitance between the second exposed end that is the output target of the specific output signal and the output electrode, and a term having a correlation with a reference coupling capacitance indicating a predetermined reference value of the coupling capacitance between the plurality of second exposed ends facing each other and the plurality of output electrodes. The method for specifying the correspondence relationship of the multi-core cable end according to claim 2.

4. A plurality of input electrodes respectively arranged opposite to the first exposed ends of a number of insulated electric wires exposed at one end of a multi-core cable, A plurality of output electrodes respectively arranged opposite to the second exposed ends of the number of insulated electric wires exposed at the other end of the multi-core cable, Measuring means for measuring the voltage value of a measurement output signal output through the output electrode by capacitive coupling from the second exposed end when a measurement input signal is input to the first exposed end by capacitive coupling from the input electrode, Estimation means for substituting the measurement results by the measurement means into a plurality of estimation formulas derived based on AC theory to estimate the respective coupling capacitances between the plurality of input electrodes and the plurality of first exposed ends facing each other, and the respective coupling capacitances between the plurality of output electrodes and the plurality of second exposed ends facing each other, When the coupling capacitance between the input electrode to which the measurement input signal is input and the first exposed end facing it is defined as the first coupling capacitance, and the coupling capacitance between the output electrode from which the measurement output signal is output and the second exposed end facing it is defined as the second coupling capacitance, and a formula for obtaining the voltage value of the measurement output signal from the first coupling capacitance and the second coupling capacitance based on AC theory is defined as the voltage equation, The derivation of the plurality of estimation formulas, A system of simultaneous equations including a plurality of the voltage equations is created by changing the combination of the input electrode to which the measurement input signal is input and the output electrode from which the measurement output signal is output among a plurality of combinations so that all of the plurality of estimation formulas can be obtained as solution formulas, It is performed by solving the system of simultaneous equations, The estimation means stores the plurality of estimation formulas, The measurement of the voltage value of the measurement output signal by the measurement means, The combination of the input electrode to which the measurement input signal is input and the output electrode from which the measurement output signal is output is changed among the plurality of combinations so that each of the plurality of input electrodes and each of the plurality of output electrodes are used at least once, and so that the voltage values of all the measurement output signals represented by the plurality of estimation formulas are obtained, and this is performed for each combination. Capacitance estimation device.

5. A method for manufacturing a multi-core cable assembly including a multi-core cable including a plurality of insulated electric wires and an outer skin that collectively covers the plurality of insulated electric wires, a first connected member electrically connected to a first exposed end portion of the plurality of insulated electric wires exposed from the outer skin at one end of the multi-core cable, and a second connected member electrically connected to a second exposed end portion of the plurality of insulated electric wires exposed from the outer skin at the other end of the multi-core cable, the method comprising: A specifying step of specifying which of the second exposed end portions corresponds to a specific target first exposed end portion among the plurality of first exposed end portions; A connecting step of electrically connecting the plurality of first exposed end portions to the first connected member and electrically connecting the plurality of second exposed end portions to the second connected member based on the specifying result of the plurality of first exposed end portions and the plurality of second exposed end portions by the specifying step. The specifying step includes: Opposing each of the plurality of input electrodes to each of the plurality of first exposed end portions; Opposing each of the plurality of output electrodes to each of the plurality of second exposed end portions; Measuring the voltage value of a measurement output signal output through the output electrode by capacitive coupling from the second exposed end portion when a measurement input signal is input from the input electrode to the first exposed end portion by capacitive coupling; By substituting the measurement results into a plurality of estimation formulas derived based on AC theory, estimating the respective coupling capacitances between the plurality of input electrodes and the plurality of first exposed end portions facing each other, and the respective coupling capacitances between the plurality of output electrodes and the plurality of second exposed end portions facing each other; A specific input signal is input by capacitive coupling from the input electrode to the first exposed end portion that is the input-side specific target among the plurality of first exposed end portions, and an auxiliary signal having an opposite phase to the specific input signal is input by capacitive coupling from the input electrode to the first exposed end portions other than the first exposed end portion that is the input-side specific target among the plurality of first exposed end portions. The voltage value of the specific output signal output through the output electrode by capacitive coupling from each of the plurality of second exposed end portions is measured. A corrected voltage value is calculated by multiplying the voltage value of each of the specific output signals measured at the plurality of second exposed end portions by a correction coefficient calculated using an estimated value of the estimated coupling capacitance. Based on the calculated corrected voltage value, the second exposed end portion corresponding to the first exposed end portion of the input-side specific target is specified. A method for manufacturing a multi-core cable assembly, Defining the coupling capacitance between the input electrode to which the measurement input signal is input and the first exposed end portion facing it as the first coupling capacitance, and defining the coupling capacitance between the output electrode from which the measurement output signal is output and the second exposed end portion facing it as the second coupling capacitance. When an equation for obtaining the voltage value of the measurement output signal from the first coupling capacitance and the second coupling capacitance based on the AC theory is defined as the voltage equation, The derivation of the plurality of estimation formulas is A system of equations including a plurality of the voltage equations is created by changing the combination between the input electrode to which the measurement input signal is input and the output electrode from which the measurement output signal is output among a plurality of combinations so that all of the plurality of estimation formulas are obtained as solution formulas. It is performed by solving the system of equations. The measurement of the voltage value of the measurement output signal is The combination between the input electrode to which the measurement input signal is input and the output electrode from which the measurement output signal is output is changed among the plurality of combinations so that each of the plurality of input electrodes and each of the plurality of output electrodes are used at least once, and the voltage values of all the measurement output signals represented by the plurality of estimation formulas are obtained, and it is performed for each combination. Method for manufacturing a multi-core cable assembly.

6. A method for specifying a correspondence relationship between a first exposed end portion of a plurality of insulated electric wires exposed at one end of a multi-core cable and a second exposed end portion of the plurality of insulated electric wires exposed at the other end of the multi-core cable, comprising: Opposing each of the plurality of input electrodes to each of the first exposed end portions of the plurality of insulated electric wires; Opposing each of the plurality of output electrodes to each of the second exposed end portions of the plurality of insulated electric wires; Inputting a specific input signal by capacitive coupling from the input electrode to the first exposed end portion to be specified on the input side among the plurality of first exposed end portions, and inputting an auxiliary signal having a phase opposite to that of the specific input signal by capacitive coupling from the input electrode to the first exposed end portions other than the first exposed end portion to be specified on the input side among the plurality of first exposed end portions, and measuring the voltage value of a specific output signal output through the output electrode by capacitive coupling from each of the plurality of second exposed end portions; Inputting a measurement input signal by capacitive coupling from the input electrode to the first exposed end portion to be specified on the input side, and measuring the voltage value of a measurement output signal output through the output electrode by capacitive coupling from each of the plurality of second exposed end portions; Calculating a corrected voltage value by multiplying the voltage value of each of the specific output signals measured at the plurality of second exposed end portions by a correction coefficient; The correction coefficient is a product of a term having a correlation with the average value of the voltage values of the measurement output signals output from each of the plurality of second exposed end portions when the measurement input signal is input to the first exposed end portion to be specified on the input side, and a term having a correlation with the voltage value of the measurement output signal output from the second exposed end portion that is the output target of the specific output signal when the measurement input signal is input to the first exposed end portion to be specified on the input side; Specifying the second exposed end portion corresponding to the first exposed end portion to be specified on the input side based on the calculated corrected voltage value; Method for specifying the correspondence relationship of the multi-core cable end.

Images