JP-7855321-B2 - Cable, test and measurement system, and method for demonstrating cable wear.

JP7855321B2JP 7855321 B2JP7855321 B2JP 7855321B2JP-7855321-B2

Inventors

サム・ジェイ・ストリックリング
ダニエル・エス・フローリック
ミッシェル・エル・ボールドウィン
ジョナサン・サン
リンヤン・チェン

Assignees

テクトロニクス・インコーポレイテッド

Dates

Publication Date: 20260508
Application Date: 20210802
Priority Date: 20210727

Claims (3)

A cable configured to be repeatedly connected to a device, which deteriorates with each repeated connection, A status indicator is placed on the cable and configured to be updated each time the cable is connected to the device , It comprises a connector having a conductor , The above-mentioned condition indicator has multiple layers of composite material covering at least a portion of the conductor, each of the layers having different material properties, and the multiple layers wear down with each repeated connection of the cable .
The device and A cable having a connector that can be detachably connected to the above device, wherein the cable deteriorates with each repeated connection to the above device, It comprises a status indicator configured to show the status of the cable , The condition indicator is a test measurement system having multiple layers of composite material covering at least a portion of the conductor of the connector, each of which has different material properties, and the multiple layers wear down with each repeated connection of the cable .
A process of detachably connecting a cable, which deteriorates with each repeated connection to the device, to the device using a connector for the cable , The system includes a process that indicates the state of the cable based on each of the repeated connections of the cable using a state indicator , The above-mentioned condition indicator has multiple layers of composite material covering at least a portion of the conductor of the connector, each of the layers having different material properties, and the multiple layers indicate wear of the cable with each repeated connection of the cable .

Description

This disclosed technology relates to a test measurement system for measuring one or more signals from a device under test (DUT) via one or more cables, and more particularly to a system for managing the integrity of at least one electrical cable or fixture of one or more cables. In conventional DUT testing, it is often necessary to connect the test measurement device to the DUT using a test cable or probe. Special table 2018-526646 publication Figure 1 is a diagram of the test measurement system.Figure 2 shows a cable connector according to an example of the disclosed technology.Figure 3 shows an example of a status indicator on a device, based on the disclosed technology.Figure 4 shows a wear indicator on a conductor according to an example of the disclosed technology.Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of a wear indicator on a conductor according to another example of the disclosed technology.Figure 6 shows a block diagram of a cable, device, and status indicator according to an example of the disclosed technology.Figure 7 shows a block diagram of a connector having a status indicator according to an example of the disclosed technology. Figure 1 shows an exemplary test and measurement system according to an example of the disclosed technology. The test and measurement system 100 may include, but is not limited to, test and measurement devices 102 such as an oscilloscope, vector network analyzer, margin tester, or bit error rate tester (BERT). The test and measurement devices 102 may also include a display 112. The test and measurement devices 102 can be connected to the DUT 104 by one or more cables or probes 106. In Figure 1, the cable 106 is connected to the input port 108 of the test and measurement device. Figure 1 shows a coaxial cable 106, but the cables and probes are not limited to these types of cables. Any cable can be used, such as high-density cables, plug cables, barrel cables, or voltage or current probes. Any cable or probe that is repeatedly inserted into devices such as the test measurement device 102 or DUT 104 may be used. The cable 106 may have a status indicator 110. The status indicator 110 may be any mechanism indicating the status or integrity of the cable 106. For example, the status indicator 110 may be a mechanical status indicator, a wear indicator, or an onboard electronic status indicator that can count the number of times the cable 106 has been inserted into the device. While Figure 1 shows a single status indicator 110, in some examples, status indicators 110 may be provided at both ends of the cable or connector/adapter 106. The status indicator 110 may be located on or inside the connector or cable assembly of the cable 106. Figure 2 shows an example of a mechanical condition indicator according to the disclosed technology. Figure 2 shows the end of a high-density cable 200. However, as those skilled in the art will see, the mechanical condition indicator in Figure 2 may be used not only with high-density cables but also with any cable connector or cable assembly. In this example, the mechanical condition indicator 202 has a mechanical wheel, like a numbered wheel. The mechanical condition indicator 202 rotates to a new number each time a cable is inserted into the device. In some examples, the color of the numbers may change to indicate the remaining service life of the cable 200. The numbers on the mechanical condition indicator 202 may start in green and change to red as cables 200 are inserted consecutively. For example, the numbers may change from green to orange to red, where red indicates that the cable 200 is worn out and needs to be replaced. Any number of colors can be used. In some examples, the mechanical condition indicator 202 may count down to zero, rather than count up, to evaluate how many more times the cable 200 will be inserted. However, in both embodiments, the mechanical condition indicator 202 is adjusted based on each successive insertion of the cable 200 into the device. Allowing the user to see the number of cable insertions can provide useful information, such as ensuring the test results of the device under test. Although a numbered wheel is illustrated, the numbers do not need to be displayed on the wheel; only the color of the wheel may change each time the cable 200 is inserted into the device. The status indicator 202 may rotate when pin 204 is pressed. For example, pin 204 may be pushed inward when the cable interface 206 is inserted into the device. Pressing pin 204 allows the status indicator 202 to be updated with each new insertion. Although pin 204 is shown within the interface 206 of the cable 200, pin 204 may be located anywhere on the connector 210 that allows pin 204 to be pressed when the interface 206 is inserted into the device. However, the examples of disclosed technologies are not limited to the mechanical status indicator 202 and pin 204 shown in Figure 2. For example, the status indicator 202 may be a digital screen capa