Substrate Connection Circuit for Connector Identification
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing substrate connection systems face challenges in ensuring correct signal transmission between main and sub substrates when using common harnesses and connectors, leading to potential erroneous connections and faulty signal transmission.
Innovation Solution
A substrate connection system incorporating a programmable logic circuit unit, such as a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), and a sub controller that switches connection patterns between ports and connectors to ensure correct signal transmission by specifying and optimizing the connection destinations before boot processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If common harnesses and connectors are used to connect the main substrate and sub substrates, then component costs are reduced, but the reliability of signal transmission deteriorates due to increased possibility of erroneous connection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the electrical characteristics of signal lines through pull-up resistors and ground connections. Each sub substrate has specific signal lines connected to ground or pull-up resistors, creating unique electrical parameter patterns that allow the main substrate to identify and correctly connect to each sub substrate despite using common connectors and harnesses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by having each sub substrate transmit its identification information back to the main substrate through the connection. The main substrate receives this feedback signal and uses it to determine the correct connection pattern, enabling adaptive signal routing that ensures reliable transmission even with common connectors.
2Device complexity
If common connectors and harnesses are used for all sub substrates, then device complexity is reduced, but the precision of connection increases the risk of faulty connection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by giving each sub substrate unique local characteristics through specific ground connections and pull-up resistor configurations on particular signal lines. These localized electrical property differences enable precise identification of each sub substrate's identity and correct connection pairing, even though all sub substrates use the same physical connector type.
3Reliability
If autonomous diagnosis is implemented to detect faulty connection, then connection reliability is improved, but the time required for diagnosis and reconnection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring each sub substrate with unique identification patterns through ground connections and pull-up resistors before actual operation. This preliminary setup enables automatic identification and correct connection establishment without requiring time-consuming autonomous diagnosis or manual reconnection procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
After powered on, a check unit rewrites a lookup table in a memory of a programmable logic circuit unit to one of lookup tables in its own memory so as to switch a circuit state that a logic circuit implements. When the check unit outputs an inquiry signal in this state and an identification signal which responds to the inquiry signal is input into the check unit from a check circuit of a sub substrate via the logic circuit and a port, the sub substrate corresponding to the identification signal is specified as a connection destination of connectors. The circuit state of the logic circuit is optimized on the basis of a result of specification of the sub substrate as the connection destination obtained by repeating the above-mentioned operation.