JPH0215950B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention provides a method for controlling the connection state of a connector for setting a memory cassette into a main unit such as an adapter by configuring a power supply/signal circuit having at least two wires. Regarding the set state monitoring device of the memory cassette to be monitored, the state of the memory cassette can be monitored without adding a new signal line for detection by using the power supply and signal line necessary for operating the memory cassette. It is something.

[Technical background and problems of the invention]

Recently, memory cassettes containing bubble memories and semiconductor memories have been put into practical use as external storage devices for storing programs and data, as well as magnetic tape cassettes. This memory cassette does not require data modulation/demodulation for storage or reading, nor does it require a drive mechanism. Therefore, memory cassettes have high data reliability, can be made smaller, and
It also has memory that has fewer failures.

In such a memory cassette, as shown in Fig. 1, the connector 3' of the memory cassette 3 and the connector 2'' of the adapter 2 are connected, and the adapter 2 is connected to the connector 2' provided at the end of the connecting wire by a numerical value. It is connected to the main body device 1 such as a control device (NC), and the program, data, etc. stored in the memory cassette 3 are transferred to the memory, etc. of the main body device 1 via the adapter 2 under the read control of the adapter 2 as a sub-main body. Used for loading.Main device 1
executes desired processing using the loaded program, data, etc. Therefore, even if the main unit 1 does not store necessary programs, data, etc. in advance, when the need arises during operation, the adapter 2 can be connected via the connector 2' and the necessary programs, data, etc. can be stored in the main unit 1. By connecting the memory cassette 3 storing data etc. to the adapter 2 via the connectors 2'', 3' and loading the programs, data, etc. in the memory cassette 3 into its own memory, desired processing can be executed. Since the memory cassette 3 generally does not have a power source for driving, power is supplied from the main unit 1 through the adapter 2.The adapter 2 and the memory cassette 3 are connected to connectors 2'' and 3'. One of them is a male type and a female type, and the electrical connection is made by mechanical coupling, and the attachment and detachment are performed manually. Then, the control circuit of the adapter 2 detects the connection of the memory cassette and connects the memory cassette 3 according to instructions from the main unit 1.
This is to read the memory contents of.

In such a configuration, the adapter side power supply supplied from the adapter 2 to the cassette 3 is in the on state even when the cassette 3 is not connected to the conventional adapter 2, and the interface signal between the cassette and the adapter is in the active state. It was in a state of On the other hand, in the mechanical connection using the connector described above, since the connector has a large number of pins, when connecting the memory cassette 3 and the adapter 2, the many pins of the connector almost never come into contact at the same time. The pins will be brought into contact and coupled in sequence. Therefore, depending on the order in which the pins of the connector are contacted, there is a risk that the built-in semiconductor memory, bubble memory, etc. may be destroyed by the surrounding voltage. For example, if a pin to which +5V is applied from the power supply is in contact, but the ground pin is not in contact for a moment, there is a risk that a wrap-around voltage will be applied to the semiconductor memory etc. due to the relationship with other contact pins.
Therefore, valuable programs and data that have been painstakingly stored may be destroyed, or in the worst case, the semi-dynamic memory itself may be destroyed. at the same time,
The contact state of the pin naturally changes in the case of a manual insertion operation, but also changes step by step during the insertion and also depending on the person handling the insertion operation for each insertion operation.
Therefore, if the insertion state is monitored based on changes in the potential of the pins of the connector, the potential changes during the insertion operation, causing so-called chattering, which is inconvenient.

Under such circumstances, it is essential to detect that the memory cassette is completely connected to the main body, and conventionally the following measures have been taken.

Figure 2 is a circuit diagram of a conventional memory cassette insertion detection system, and memory cassette 3 is an EEPROM
A plurality of semiconductor memories 3a and 3b such as (electrically erasable programmable ROM) are connected in parallel, and power supply lines 3f and 3g, a ground line 3h, and an insertion detection loop 3c are provided. The figure shows a state in which the memory cassette 3 and the adapter 2 are connected through connectors 3' and 2''.
The circle mark at the connection position of adapter 2 and memory cassette 3 indicates that the pins of connectors 2'' and 3' are connected.On the other hand, adapter 2 has power supply lines 2f, 2g and grounded ground line 2d
and inverter circuit 2b and inverter circuit 2b
A control circuit 2a is provided which controls the supply of power supply voltage to the power supply line 2g and confirms that the memory cassette is completely set using the output of the memory cassette. The adapter 2 is also provided with a transmitting/receiving circuit for exchanging signals with the memory cassette 3 and the main body device 1, a buffer memory, etc., but these are omitted for the sake of simplicity.

Therefore, when the adapter 2 and the memory cassette 3 are connected as shown in the figure, the ground line 3h of the memory cassette 3 is connected to the ground line 2d of the adapter 2, so that the inverter circuit 2b of the adapter circuit 2 is connected to the inverter circuit 2b of the adapter circuit 2 via the detection loop 3c. The input of the inverter circuit 2b becomes the ground potential, and an insertion detection signal is generated from the inverter circuit 2b and is notified to the control circuit 2a. On the other hand, the power supply line 2 of the adapter 2 is connected to the memory cassette 3.
+power and -power are respectively supplied from f and 2g to the power supply lines 3f and 3g, and are utilized by the memories 3a and 3b of the memory cassette 3 and a memory control circuit (not shown). In this case, the moment the memory cassette 3 is inserted into the connector 2'' of the adapter 2,
The pins of the connector 2'' and the pins of the connector 3' do not all contact and connect at the same time, but some pins make contact and the contact state is not stable.For this reason, for example, the ground line 3h and the ground line 2d
Power supply line 2 before the pins make contact with the
When f, 3f, 2g, and 3g come into contact, the power supply (-12V) is applied to the memories 3a and 3b via the capacitor 3d.
Not only is power applied to the internal circuits of the adapter through the detection loop 3c, not only the memories 3a and 3b of the memory cassette 3 are destroyed, but also the internal circuits of the adapter 2 (inverter circuit 2b, etc.) are damaged. may also be destroyed. Therefore, if the power supply is started based on the insertion detection signal that is output when the ground line 3h and the ground line 2d come into contact with each other with a pin, it is possible to prevent the ground line 3h and the ground line 2d from being destroyed before they come into contact. As mentioned above, the contact state is not stable, and the input signal of the inverter circuit 2b is in a chattering state as shown in FIG. 4, and the contact state is not stable for a certain period of time after contact.
A similar problem arises.

Therefore, in order to further prevent the potential from sneaking around due to such a detection loop, the detection loop is provided in the memory cassette 3 insulated from others in terms of voltage, and insertion detection is also performed by detecting that the contact state has stabilized. was.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the detection system, showing a state corresponding to FIG. 2, and the same parts as in FIG. 2 are indicated by the same symbols.

The detection device shown in FIG. 3 differs from the detection method shown in FIG. 2 in that the detection lube 3e and the monitoring circuit 2c
This is a relevant point. That is, firstly, the detection loop 3e of the memory cassette 3 is not connected to other circuits or lines within the memory cassette 3, and is provided in an electrically insulated manner. That is, the connector pins of the detection loop 3e are also electrically insulated. Therefore, the adapter 2 of the memory cassette 3
At the initial stage of insertion into the line, potentials from other lines do not run around, so that adverse effects via the detection loop 3e can be prevented.

Second, the adapter 2 is provided with a monitoring circuit 2c. Even if the input of the inverter circuit 2b includes chattering as shown in FIG. 4, the monitoring circuit 2c removes the chattering and detects a stable state.

However, in the set state monitoring device as shown in FIG. 3, the number of pins of the connector for setting the memory cassette 3 to the main body device such as the adapter 2 is increased when compared to the device shown in FIG. Therefore, when monitoring the contact state of the connector and controlling reading and writing of data in the memory cassette from the main unit side, the probability that a contact failure will occur increases as the number of pins in the cassette 3 and adapter 2 increases.
There was a problem with its maintenance. Further, the detection device in the conventional memory cassette insertion detection method relies on the contact state during the insertion operation of the memory cassette, which may lead to malfunction.

[Purpose of the invention]

An object of the present invention is to simplify the connector circuit configuration by reducing the number of pins of the connector that connects the memory cassette and the adapter in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and to reduce the number of pins of the connector that connects the memory cassette and the adapter. To provide a memory cassette state monitoring device capable of monitoring the connection state of a connector without any trouble.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for monitoring the set state of a memory cassette which is provided with a circuit for detecting the set state of the memory cassette and which allows an operator to visually check the set state on the memory cassette side.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel memory cassette set state monitoring system in which an electric element for detecting the set state of the memory cassette is provided in the power supply/signal circuit in order to reduce the number of pins of the connector. It's about doing.

[Summary of the invention]

When monitoring the setting status of the memory cassette, the power supply/signal line connecting between the adapter and the memory cassette is two wires, and an electric element connected between the two wires on the memory cassette side and a minute current flowing through this electric element are used. A detection circuit is provided to detect the set state of the memory cassette by receiving the information on the main unit side via the power supply and signal circuit, and to use the power supply and signal line necessary to operate the memory cassette, a new detection circuit is installed. As an electrical element that allows a minute current outside the original operating range to flow without the addition of signal lines,
For example, by connecting a resistor, light emitting diode, etc. between the two wires, the number of pins in the connector between the adapter and the memory cassette can be reduced, simplifying the circuit and monitoring the complete setting of the memory cassette. to ensure that this is carried out reliably at all times.

[Structure of the invention]

The present invention includes a power supply/signal circuit having at least two wires to monitor the connection state of a connector for setting a memory cassette to a main unit such as an adapter, and to read data from the memory cassette from the main unit. In a memory cassette setting status monitoring device that controls writing, an electrical element connected between two wires on the memory cassette side and a minute current flowing through this electrical element are connected to the main body via the power supply and signal circuit. The present invention is a memory cassette set state monitoring device characterized by comprising a detection circuit that receives the state of the memory cassette on the device side and detects the state of the memory cassette.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the same parts as those of the conventional device are given the same reference numerals, and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

In the circuit diagram shown in FIG. 5, on the memory cassette 3 side, a bubble memory drive device 40 is connected between 50V high voltage power supply lines 30f and 30g. Semiconductor devices 3i, 3j, . . . for bubble memory control are connected between the 5V power supply lines 3f, 3g. The above line 30 on the memory cassette 3 side
An electric element 3z is connected between f and 30g. This electric element 3z functions to flow a minute current sufficient to operate a detection circuit 2h for detecting the set state of the memory cassette. The detection circuit 2h receives this minute current on the main unit side via the power supply/signal circuit and detects the set state of the memory cassette. As the electric element 3Z, a resistor can be used, or a light emitting diode can be connected. In short, any type of circuit may be used as long as it functions to flow a current sufficient to detect the set state of the memory cassette to operate the memory cassette set state detection circuit 2h. The detection circuit 2h in the set state is a type of current detector, and sends a signal to the control circuit 2a when the current flowing through point A exceeds a certain value.
Note that the connector connecting the memory cassette 3 and the adapter 2 is provided with line pins for exchanging signals, but these are omitted to simplify the explanation.

Here, when the memory cassette 3 is mechanically and electrically connected to the adapter 2 to which 50V is applied to the power supply through the two pins of the connector, a constant current flows through the electric element 3z regardless of the operating state of the bubble memory. flows. By setting the current as a current value sufficient to operate at least the memory cassette set state detection circuit 2h, the set voltage level via the amplifier is detected based on the current value, and the memory cassette set state is detected. can be detected. Then, upon receiving the output signal from the detection circuit 2h, that is, after detecting that the memory cassette is completely set, the control circuit 2a is operated.
When the control circuit operates, the contents stored in the memory cassette can be read out or written to the memory cassette based on instructions from the main unit. However, unless the memory cassette is completely set in the connector, the power supply circuit will not be closed, and therefore the above-mentioned detection circuit 2h
A current exceeding the set current value does not flow into the circuit, and since the detection circuit 2h cannot detect a predetermined voltage level, the control circuit 2a does not operate. In other words, if the memory cassette is incompletely set, the pins of the connector will be in poor contact and the detection circuit 2h will not operate. In this way, a power supply/signal circuit with at least two wires is constructed that connects the adapter 2 and the memory cassette 3, and an electrical element is connected between the two wires on the memory cassette side, and the memory cassette is set on the main unit side. By providing a detection circuit for detecting the state, the detection circuit 2h provided on the main unit side can be connected between the two wires 30f and 30g on the memory cassette 3 side when the memory cassette 3 is completely set in the adapter 2. It is possible to force a current sufficient to operate the device.

Next, other embodiments of the present invention will be described.
6 and 7 are circuit diagrams showing these embodiments, respectively, and the difference from the above embodiment is that a resistor 3z' and a light emitting diode 3z'' are used as electric elements, respectively. Although not shown, the memory used in the memory cassette 3 is a semiconductor memory, and 3a and 3b are semiconductor devices for controlling these semiconductor memories.
12V is applied to the power supply. . 7th
In the example shown in the figure, a light emitting diode is used as the electric element, so that the operator can visually check the set state of the memory cassette.

Note that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention, and these are not excluded from the scope of the present invention.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, the present invention uses a two-wire power supply circuit that connects the main unit and the memory cassette, and connects the main unit with the memory cassette completely set in the main unit between the two wires on the memory cassette side. Since an electric element is provided that can force a current sufficient to operate the provided detection circuit, (1) the number of connector pins in the memory cassette set state monitoring system can be reduced; Maintenance can be facilitated due to the decrease in

(2) The circuit configuration of the set state monitoring method for the memory cassette is simplified, and costs can be reduced.

(3) Regardless of the contact state during the insertion operation of the memory cassette, the complete setting state of the memory cassette can be reliably monitored at all times.

(4) When a light emitting diode is used as an electric element, the operator can visually check the setting status of the memory cassette nearby, and can quickly take action if the memory cassette is set incorrectly. Destruction of programs and data in the cassette can be prevented.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating how a memory cassette is used, FIGS. 2 through 4 are circuit diagrams of a conventional example, and FIGS. 5 through 7 are circuit diagrams showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1... Main unit, 2... Adapter, 3...
...Memory cassette, 2', 2'', 3'...Connector,
2a...control circuit, 2h...detection circuit, 3a, 3
b...Semiconductor device, 3i, 3j...Semiconductor device,
3z...Electric element, 3z'...Resistor, 3z''...Light emitting diode.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. By configuring a power supply/signal circuit with at least two wires, it is possible to monitor the connection state of a connector used to set a memory cassette in the main unit, such as an adapter, and to connect the memory cassette from the main unit side. In a memory cassette setting status monitoring device that controls reading and writing of data, an electric element connected between two wires on the memory cassette side and a minute current flowing through this electric element are connected through the power supply and signal circuit. 1. A memory cassette set state monitoring device comprising: a detection circuit that receives the data on the main unit side and detects the set state of the memory cassette. 2. The memory cassette set state monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein a resistor is used as the electric element. 3. The device for monitoring the set state of a memory cassette according to claim 1, wherein a light emitting diode is used as the electric element. 4. The memory cassette set state monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the memory cassette is made of a bubble memory. 5. The memory cassette set state monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the memory cassette is made of a semiconductor memory. 6. The detection circuit for detecting the set state of the memory cassette operates a control circuit for reading and writing the memory contents of the memory cassette based on an instruction from the main unit using its output signal. A memory cassette setting status monitoring device according to claim 1, characterized in that: