Electrical connectors – Having circuit interrupting provision effected by mating or...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-21
2001-06-12
Bradley, Paula (Department: 2833)
Electrical connectors
Having circuit interrupting provision effected by mating or...
C439S061000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06244881
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connector to be connected to an object apparatus, a data processing apparatus for processing a signal inputted to a signal line, and a network apparatus constituted by a plurality of equipments connected.
Description of the Prior Art
Recently a network system capable of sharing an information signal has been suggested.
The network system, for example, employs a ring topology where a plurality of equipments are connected so that an input/output signal is in a single ring shape. Here, the ring topology represents a form or configuration of a network connection. The network system of this ring topology, in general, is a network system where equipments connected to the network, i.e., so-called nodes carry out a signal transmission and reception in a ring shape.
For example, in a network system of the aforementioned ring topology, as shown in
FIG. 1
, nodes serving as communication equipment are inserted/connected to the network so that a signal is transmitted and received in a ring shape between communication equipment serving as nodes.
Here, if a signal is passed between a node
101
and a node
103
, a signal transmitted from the node
101
goes via a node
102
to the node
103
. The signal processed by the node
103
goes vgia a node
104
to be received by the node
101
.
Each of the aforementioned nodes has an input block and an output block for passing a signal. Each of the nodes receives a signal through the input block, process the signal in its own processing circuit, and outputs the signal from the output block. Among signals inputted to a node, there is such a signal that is outputted without being processed in that node.
Now, in the network system
100
employing the aforementioned ring topology, if one of the nodes is removed from the network, the input and the output in this node are left unconnected, and a signal cannot be transferred. Accordingly, it is necessary to make a connection for the removed node.
For example, as shown in
FIG. 2
, suppose the node
101
is removed. A signal to the other nodes
102
,
103
, and
104
are not connected and these nodes cannot operate. In this case, as shown in
FIG. 3
, a connection should be made between the node
104
the node
102
by some means.
The same applies to a data processing apparatus such as a computer serving as the aforementioned node. For example, as shown in
FIG. 4
, a data processing apparatus is constituted by a plurality of connectors
107
,
108
,
109
,
110
, and
111
which are arranged in series on a back plane substrate
106
constituting a back plane as an internal bus, and which are used for connection of an object apparatus to be connected such as I/O (input/output) card
105
.
In the aforementioned data processing apparatus, a signal inputted is transmitted in one direction between the plurality of connectors
107
,
108
,
109
,
110
, and
111
which are connected in series on the back plane substrate
106
. For example, in the connector
111
, the signal is outputted via the I/O card
105
connected.
For example, when the aforementioned data processing apparatus is connected to a network using a ring topology, in order to maintain a ring connection in the entire network, even if an I/O card is mounted on the data processing apparatus, an I/O signal should be taken into the I/O card. However, with a conventional connector, it is impossible to cut off an electrical connection and simultaneously take the I/O signal into the I/O card. Accordingly, with a conventional connector, it is impossible to insert or remove an I/O card while maintaining a ring topology.
Moreover, among connectors, there is such a connector that is constituted to cut off an electrical connection on the back plane and to be short-circuited by an adapter or the like.
FIG. 5
to
FIG. 7
show such examples.
FIG. 5
shows a specific example of the back plane substrate
106
on which the plurality of connectors
107
,
108
,
109
,
119
, and
111
are connected in series. Here, on the back plane substrate
106
, the plurality of connectors
107
,
108
,
109
,
110
, and
111
are connected in series by six signal lines
112
In a case of a conventional connector, connection means
120
to be inserted/connected to respective signal lines is normally constituted so as to cut off an electrical connection. More specifically, the connection means
120
is constituted by terminal members
118
and
119
which are arranged apart when no I/O card is inserted, thus cutting off the electrical connection.
Accordingly, as shown in
FIG. 6
, in a conventional connector, a signal inputted is outputted via an I/O card
105
inserted and adapters
113
,
114
,
115
, and
116
. For example, the I/O card
105
inserted to the connector
111
processes in a processing circuit
117
a signal inputted via the connector
111
, or outputs the signal as it is via the connector
111
without processing the signal. Moreover, the adapters
113
,
114
,
115
, and
116
shortcut an input and output of the respective connectors
107
,
108
,
109
,
110
, and
111
so that a signal inputted is outputted as it is.
In other words, when the I/O card
105
or the adapters
113
,
114
,
115
, and
116
are not inserted, the connectors
107
,
108
,
109
,
110
, and
111
cannot output a signal inputted. For example, as shown in
FIG. 7
, if no I/O card or adapter is inserted to the connectors
107
,
108
,
109
, and
110
, no signal is inputted to the I/O card
105
inserted into the connector
111
.
Moreover, in a network system using a ring topology in which a data processing apparatus having a back plane of the aforementioned configuration is involved as a node, if a signal is cut off in the node as has been described above, it is impossible to maintain a ring connection in the network as a whole.
However, it is not desirable to insert an adapter for short-circuiting into all the empty connectors having no I/O card or the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a connector and a data processing apparatus in which insert and removal of an I/O card or the like is carried out as follows: when an I/O card or the like is inserted, it is automatically connected to a signal line, and when the I/O card or the like is removed, the connection state of a back plane can be maintained.
Moreover, another object of the present invention is to provide a network apparatus for a ring topology type network, which apparatus operates as follows: when an I/O card or the like is inserted to a back plane, it is automatically ring-connected, and when the I/O card or the like is removed, the ring connection state can be maintained without using an adapter.
The connector according to the present invention includes connection means consisting of: a first terminal member to be electrically connected to a first connection member serving as a terminal of the object apparatus; and a second terminal member to be electrically connected to a second connection member serving as at terminal of the object apparatus, wherein in a first state, the first terminal member is in contact with the second terminal member to establish an electrical connection between the first terminal member and the second terminal member, and in a second state, the first terminal member is mechanically disconnected from the second terminal member, which is associated with that the first terminal member is brought into contact with the first connection member to establish an electrical connection between the first terminal member and the first connection member, and the second terminal member is brought into contact with the second connection member to establish an electrical connection between the second terminal member and the second connection member.
The data processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a connector having connection means connected to a signal line so that a terminal side of an object apparatus to be connected is guided to be inserted
Bradley Paula
Lerner David Littenberg Krumholz & Mentlik LLP
Sony Corporation
Ta Tho D.
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