Communication interface unit, connection tool for test, wrap test tool, and wrap testing method

• US 6,591,214 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2001
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kimura, Tomoaki, Miyamura, Tsuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff, Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SUAREZ, FELIX E
• Application Number:
  US09/772,135
• Publication Number:
  US 20020052704A1
• Time in Patent Office: 890 Days
• Field of Search: 702/116-122, 702/183, 702/186, 702/189, 705/36, 705/43, 382/550
• US Class Current: 702/120
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4068 Electrical coupling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2213/0036 Small computer system interface [SCSI]

Abstract

A wrap test for a communication interface unit used for a computer, etc. When a wrap tool 40 is connected to a SCSI device 10, a signal (TEMPWR) is output from an output device 38 to SCSI connectors 22 and 24 through a Y-type cable 14, then wrapped in the wrap tool 40 and returned to a SCSI controller 12 through resistors 28 and 30 as a signal (PSCSIWRAP) to recognize the wrap tool 40. Because the non-grounded end of a resistor 26 is connected to an input terminal of the SCSI controller 12, the resistors 28 and 30 are connected in parallel. The potential of the signal (PSCSIWRAP) is stabilized by the resistors 26, 28 and 30. If a single wrap tool is connected to the SCSI device 10, the potential of the signal (PSCSIWRAP) is stabilized by the resistors 26 and 28 or 30.

Claims

1. A communication interface unit for a computer, comprising:

a controlling device for outputting an acknowledge signal and receiving said acknowledge signal so as to test the operation of a communication interface used for a computer, as well as controlling a plurality of I/O signals including said acknowledge signal, thereby controlling said communication interface;

a separating device provided with a plurality of signal lines for transferring a plurality of I/O signals of said controlling device, a plurality of said signal lines including at least one output signal line for outputting said acknowledge signal and at least one acknowledge signal line for receiving said acknowledge signal, said separating device being used for separating each of a plurality of said signal lines into a plurality of signal line groups corresponding to a plurality of said I/O signals of said controlling device, a potential dropping device being added to each of a plurality of said acknowledge signal lines; and

a plurality of relaying devices for relaying each of a plurality of said signal line groups of said separating device to an external device.

2. A connection tool for testing a communication interface unit comprising a controlling device for outputting an acknowledge signal and receiving said acknowledge signal so as to test the operation of a communication interface used for a computer, as well as controlling a plurality of I/O signals including said acknowledge signal, thereby controlling said communication interface, a separating device provided with a plurality of signal lines for transferring a plurality of I/O signals of said controlling device, a plurality of said signal lines including at least one output signal line for outputting said acknowledge signal and at least one acknowledge signal line for receiving said acknowledge signal, said separating device being used for separating each of a plurality of said signal lines into a plurality of signal line groups corresponding to a plurality of said I/O signals of said controlling device, a potential dropping device being added to each of a plurality of said acknowledge signal lines, and a plurality of relaying devices for relaying each of a plurality of said signal line groups of said separating device to an external device, said connection tool comprising:

a connecting device for connecting a first terminal to be connected to an input signal line of a first signal line group separated by said separating device and a second terminal to be connected to an output signal line of a second signal line group separated by said separating device to at least two relaying devices included in said communication interface unit.

3. The connection tool for testing said communication interface unit according to claim 2, wherein said connecting device forms a first connecting device including said first terminal and to be connected to a first relaying device connected to an input signal line of said first signal line group and a second connecting device including said second terminal and to be connected to a second relaying device connected to an output signal line of said second signal line group independently of each other, said connecting device being provided with a connection cable for relaying said formed first connecting device to said formed second connecting device.

4. The connection tool for testing said communication interface unit, including:

a controlling device for outputting an acknowledge signal and receiving said acknowledge signal so as to test the operation of a communication interface used for a computer and controlling a plurality of I/O signals including said acknowledge signal, thereby controlling said communication interface;

a separating device provided with a plurality of signal lines for transferring a plurality of I/O signals of said controlling device, a plurality of said signal lines including an output signal line for outputting said acknowledge signal and an acknowledge signal line for receiving said acknowledge signal, said separating device being also used for separating each of a plurality of said signal lines into a plurality of signal lines, thereby forming a plurality of signal line groups corresponding to a plurality of said I/O signals of said controlling device; and

a plurality of relaying devices for relaying each of a plurality of said signal groups of said separating device to an external device,

wherein said connection tool further includes;

a specific connecting device provided with;

a first connector provided with a first terminal to be attached to one of said two relaying devices and connected to an input signal line of said first signal line group separated by said separating device and a second connector provided with a second terminal to be attached to the other relaying device and connected to an output signal line of said second signal line group, said specific connecting device enabling said first terminal of said first connector to be connected to said second terminal of said second connector with a potential dropping device therebetween.

5. A wrap tool for testing said communication interface unit, comprising:

a controlling device for outputting an acknowledge signal and receiving said acknowledge signal so as to test the operation of a communication interface used for a computer and controlling a plurality of I/O signals including said acknowledge signal, thereby controlling said communication interface;

a separating device provided with a plurality of signal lines for transferring a plurality of I/O signals of said controlling device respectively, a plurality of said signal lines including an output signal line for outputting said acknowledge signal and an acknowledge signal line for receiving said acknowledge signal, said separating device being also used for separating each of a plurality of said signal lines into a plurality of signal lines, thereby forming a plurality of signal line groups corresponding to a plurality of said I/O signals of said controlling device, a potential dropping device being added to each of said separated acknowledge signal lines;

a plurality of relaying devices for relaying each of a plurality of said signal line groups of said separating device to an external device; and

a connecting device for connecting a first terminal to be connected to an input signal line of said first signal line group separated by said separating device and a second terminal to be connected to an output signal line of said second signal line group to at least two of said relaying devices serially.

6. The wrap tool for testing said communication interface unit according to claim 5 wherein said connecting device forms a first connecting device including said first terminal and to be connected to a first relaying device connected to an input signal line of said first signal line group and a second connecting device including said second terminal and to be connected to a second relaying device connected to an output signal line of said second signal line group independently of each other, said connecting device being provided with a connection cable for relaying said first connecting device to said second connecting device formed respectively as described above.

7. A method for testing said communication interface unit, comprising the steps of:

outputting an acknowledge signal and receiving said acknowledge signal so as to test the operation of a communication interface used for a computer and controlling a plurality of I/O signals including said acknowledge signal, thereby controlling said communication interface;

separating each of a plurality of signal lines for transferring a plurality of I/O signals into a plurality of signal lines groups, each of said signal line groups including an output signal line for outputting said acknowledge signal and an acknowledge signal line for receiving said acknowledge signal;

connecting said acknowledge signal transferred through an input signal line of said separated first signal line group to said acknowledge signal line of said second signal line group; and

dropping the potential of each acknowledge signal transferred through said acknowledge signal line.

8. A program storage device readable by machine tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine for performing a method for testing a communication interface unit of a computer, said method comprising the steps of;

outputting an acknowledge signal and receiving said acknowledge signal so as to test the operation of a communication interface used for a computer and controlling a plurality of I/O signals including said acknowledge signal, thereby controlling said communication interface;

separating each of a plurality of signal lines for transferring a plurality of I/O signals into a plurality of signal lines groups, said signal line groups each comprising at least an output signal line for outputting said acknowledge signal and an acknowledge signal line for receiving said acknowledge signal;

connecting said acknowledge signal transferred through an input signal line of said separated first signal line group to said acknowledge signal line of said second signal line group; and

dropping the potential of each acknowledge signal transferred through said acknowledge signal line.