Capacitive Multi-Core Cable Testing Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multi-core cables with dozens to hundreds of insulated wires face challenges in identifying corresponding ends due to unstable wire positions and the need for physical contact during testing, making it time-consuming to specify correspondences between ends.
Innovation Solution
A multi-core cable testing device utilizing capacitive coupling with a signal input unit, signal output unit, and correspondence specifying unit, featuring a substrate with electrodes and a shielding layer to accurately determine end correspondences by measuring test signal voltages, thereby eliminating the need for physical contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If physical contact of electrode with all conductors is used to input test signal, then test signal can be directly input into conductor, but it takes much time to prepare and perform the test
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical contact system (physical electrode-conductor contact) with a capacitive coupling system. The electrode is positioned close to the conductor without physical contact, using electric field coupling to transfer the test signal. This substitution eliminates the time-consuming process of making physical contact with each conductor while maintaining effective signal transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an insulator as an intermediary between the electrode and the conductor. The insulator allows the electrode to be positioned near the conductor for capacitive coupling while preventing direct physical contact. This intermediary enables non-contact signal transmission, reducing preparation time while ensuring accurate test signal input.
2Adaptability or versatility
If insulated wires are twisted within multi-core cable, then cable flexibility is improved, but positions of insulated wires in cross-sections become unstable making it difficult to identify correspondence between both ends
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses color-coded insulators (identification colors) on each insulated wire to maintain visual identification of wire correspondence despite twisting. Different colors or color patterns are assigned to different wires, allowing technicians to trace and identify the same wire at both ends of the cable even when the internal positions change due to twisting.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary identification and documentation of wire correspondences before the cable is installed or twisted. By establishing the initial mapping of wires to their corresponding ends and recording this information, the system preserves correspondence data even as the physical positions of wires change during installation or due to twisting.
3Measurement precision
If shielding layer is added to suppress noise, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the shielding layer directly into the substrate structure, combining the noise suppression function with the existing support structure. Rather than adding a separate shielding component, the shielding is incorporated as part of the substrate itself, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining effective noise suppression for accurate voltage measurements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device enables accurate and efficient specification of end correspondences in multi-core cables, reducing testing time and improving reliability by suppressing noise with a shielding layer and capacitive coupling.
Implementation Method 1
a second electrode configured to be capacitively coupled with an end of the insulated wire is provided on an other main surface of the substrate
Implementation Method 2
a shielding layer configured to suppress a noise from entering into the transmission path is provided at the substrate
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-core cable testing device is configured to specify a correspondence between ends of an insulated wire at both ends of a multi-core cable including insulated wires. The device includes a signal input unit for inputting a test signal by capacitive coupling into one end of the insulated wire as a testing object at one end of the multi-core cable, a signal output unit for outputting the test signal by capacitive coupling from each end of the insulated wires at the other end of the multicore cable, a correspondence specifying unit for measuring a voltage of the test signal from the signal output unit and for specifying an other side end of the insulated wire based on a measured voltage. At least one of the signal input unit and the signal output unit includes a signal transmission cable for transmitting the test signal and a substrate configured to be connected to the signal transmission cable. The substrate includes a first electrode to be connected to a signal conductor of the signal transmission cable on one main surface of the substrate, and a second electrode to be capacitively coupled to an end of the insulated wire on the other main surface. A transmission path for transmitting the test signal between the first electrode and the second electrode is provided within the substrate, and a shielding layer is provided at the substrate.