Automatic detecting unit for diagnosing a connection and...

Details Automatic detecting unit for diagnosing a connection and... Automatic detecting unit for diagnosing a connection and...

1998-09-11

2002-01-15

Beausoleil, Robert (Department: 2181)

Error detection/correction and fault detection/recovery

Data processing system error or fault handling

Reliability and availability

C710S009000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06339831

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an automatic detection technology by which an external device, such as adaptor card and a drive unit, can be preferably connected to an information processing apparatus, such as a computer system, and in particular to an automatic detection technology for identifying a connected external device and detecting a connection failure. More specifically, the present invention pertains to an automatic detection technology employing a minimum number of pins in a connector to detect a connection failure and to identify an external device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with recent technological developments, various types of computer systems, such as desktops, towers and notebook, have been produced and are being sold. In particular, as the costs of components have been reduced because of the availability of enhanced semiconductor technology, general-purpose personal computers (PCs) designed for ordinary users have become popular.
As well known, a computer system comprises a main system which includes a CPU and a memory, and a plurality of subsystems, such as a video subsystem, a storage subsystem and a network subsystem. The main system is constituted by main circuit components, such as a CPU and a memory, and these components are generally mounted on a printed board called a planar or a motherboard.
As is well known to those having ordinary skill in the art, there are a plurality of subsystem types having different specifications and standards. For example, a plurality of types of video subsystems, such as a standard video subsystem and an enhanced video subsystem, are produced in accordance with specific resolutions and functions.
If the planar includes subsystems as its components, the planar must be designed again each time one of the subsystems is re-designed. Or, a plurality of planars must be prepared equivalent to the number of possible combinations of subsystems. This deteriorates the production efficiency and makes it difficult to cope with model renewal promptly. Therefore, at present, the subsystems are provided in the form of cards apart from the planar so that the cards can be detached/replaced.
The subsystems are provided for a system planar as adaptor cards, such as a video adaptor, a LAN adaptor and a SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) adaptor. The subsystems can also be provided as drive units, such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a floppy disk drive (FDD) and a CD-ROM drive. Connectors for electrically connecting these cards or drive units are provided on the planar to facilitate the detachment and replacement of the subsystems. A video card, such as “cyber9320,” “cyber9385” or “cyber9385+H/W MPEG,” is detachably connected to a video subsystem connector. A CD-ROM drive and a DVD drive, for example, are detachably connected to a storage subsystem connector. These connectors generally have an oblong structure in which signal pins are arranged in one direction.
When a plurality of devices are detachably connected to one connector, a mechanism for diagnosing connection problems and a mechanism for identifying connected devices are required to ensure the normal operation of the system and the smooth utilization of the devices. The mechanism for diagnosing the connection can perform a diagnostics program and can easily determine whether the cause of a malfunction is a connection failure. Since an alarm can be issued to a user instantaneously and directly, especially for an apparatus, such as an FDD or a CD-ROM drive, that a user manually handles, such mechanisms are very effective.
Furthermore, the identification mechanism can automatically identify the types of subsystems that are currently installed by the execution of certain firmware. Therefore, system configuration data can be automatically reconfigured, and a so-called PnP (plug-and-play) function can be implemented. Even during the power saving state when a suspended system is not completely powered off, replacement of subsystems is possible (for example, an FDD can be replaced by a CD-ROM drive).
FIG. 3
shows an example identification mechanism for a subsystem. In
FIG. 3
, three pins in a connector that electrically connects a subsystem to a planar are assigned to identification (ID) pins (ID
0
, ID
1
and ID
2
). In the subsystem, identification information for the subsystem can be specified by either grounding the ID pins or by setting them in the opened state. An ID controller (tentatively named) on the planar can accept an identification signal obtained by pulling up the ID signals using a power voltage V
cc
, and thereby read identification information for the subsystem. According to the example depicted in
FIG. 3
, since the identification information is expressed using three bits, a maximum of eight different subsystems (precisely, seven types, excluding an ID value indicating a connection failure, which will be described later) can be identified.
The subsystem depicted in
FIG. 3
has the identification information (ID
0
, ID
1
, ID
2
)=(1, 0, 0). The ID controller reads (1, 0, 0), i.e., identification number
1
(=2° C.), and specifies the name of the device currently employed as a subsystem. When a connection failure occurs at a connector, the ID pins are set in the opened state, i.e., go high. In this case, the ID controller obtains the identification information (ID
2
, ID
1
, ID
0
)=(1, 1, 1), i.e., ID value 7, and detects a connection failure.
According to the example depicted in
FIG. 3
, the identification mechanism for the planar and a single subsystem is shown. When the planar permits connections with multiple subsystems, the number of subsystem connectors on the planar is increased, and the number of ID signals is accordingly increased in proportion.
FIG. 4
shows an example where a planar permits the connection of three subsystems A, B and C. When the subsystem connectors each employ three ID pins, a total of nine ID pins are required, and an ID controller requires an ID signal having a 9-bit width. However, since the number of input pins for the ID controller is limited, it is difficult to assign dedicated ID pins for all the subsystems.
As was previously described, the connector has an oblong structure in which connector pins are arranged in one direction. With this structure, the connection failure shown in
FIG. 5
occurs frequently as the result of an unskillful, diagonal insertion of a connector. However, in the arrangement wherein ID pins that are also employed for the detection of a connection failure are concentrated at one location (e.g. the center of the connector in
FIG. 5
) in the longitudinal direction of the connector, so long as the connection at that location is correct the identification number can still be read, and a connection failure will not be detected.
It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a superior automatic detection technology for the preferable connection of external devices, such as an adaptor card and a drive unit, with the main body of an information processing apparatus, such as a computer system.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a superior automatic detection technology for identifying external devices mounted, and for detecting a connection failure.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a superior automatic detection technology that employs a minimum number of pins of a connector to implement both the detection of a connection failure and the identification of an external device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To achieve the above objects, according to a first aspect of the present invention, an automatic detection unit for identifying an external device and diagnosing connections, comprises: (a) an oblong-shaped connector having a plurality of connector pins; (b) a first identification pin group consisting of one or more connector pins arranged in the longitudinal direction at one end of the connector; (c) a second identification pin group consisting of more than one connector pins arranged in the lo

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