Connector and control pattern change device, data change device and failed area determination device using this connector

• US 6,630,747 B1
• Filed: 06/23/1999
• Issued: 10/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Inventors: Koizumi, Hidenori, Kamada, Seiji, Nagira, Atsushi
• Primary Examiner(s): Sircus, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): DeBeradinis, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US09/338,868
• Time in Patent Office: 1,567 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/147, 439/218, 439/221
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 29/00 Coupling parts for selective co-operation with a counterpart in different ways to establish different circuits, e.g. for voltage selection, for series-parallel selection, programmable connectors

Abstract

A connection mode of connector members is changed so that a control signal for the same control direction (e.g. fore and back direction) of a control member is output from different terminals (a terminal for an arm drive signal) and (a terminal for a swing drive signal) of the connector member.

Claims

1. A connector comprising a first connector member having terminals each for receiving a power signal a GND signal and each input signal and a second connector member having terminals each for outputting the power signal, the GND signal and each output signal, the second connector member having electrodes identical in number with electrodes of the first connector member, the first connector member being connected with the second connector member, wherein

the power signal and the GND signal are branched and respectively connected with input terminals of the first connector member and the input signals are connected, without being branched, with input terminals of the first connector member,

the power signal and the GND signal are output from same terminals of the second connector member and a same input signal is output from different terminals of the second connector member by changing a connection mode of the first connector member and the second connector member.

2. A control pattern change device comprising control means for outputting control signals according to a control input, a first connector member having terminals each for receiving a control signal for each control direction of the control means, and a second connector member having terminals each for outputting a drive signal for each drive direction of an actuator, the actuator being driven in a drive direction according to a control direction of the control means by connecting each terminal of the first connector member and each terminal of the second connector member, wherein a control signal for a same control direction of the control means is output from different terminals of the second connector member to change a control pattern by changing a connection mode of the first connector member and the second connector member.

3. The control pattern change device according to claim 2, wherein the control pattern is changed by changing an insertion direction of the first connector member to the second connector member.

4. The control pattern change device according to claim 2, wherein the first connector member has a plurality of insertion faces for the second connector member, and the control pattern is changed by changing the insertion face of the first connector member.

5. The control pattern change device according to claim 2, wherein the control pattern is changed by changing the control input of the first connector member to the second connector member.

9. The control pattern change device according to claim 3, wherein the control pattern is changed by changing an insertion direction of the first connector member to the second connector member.

10. The control pattern change device according to claim 3, wherein the first connector member has a plurality of insertion faces for the second connector member, and the control pattern is changed by changing the insertion face of the first connector member.

11. The control pattern change device according to claim 3, wherein the control pattern is changed by changing the control input of the first connector member to the second connector member.

6. A data change device comprising a first connector member having terminals each for receiving a signal, and a second connector member having terminals each for outputting a control signal to a controller, data being input to the controller to change a data content by connecting each terminal of the first connector member and each terminal of the second connector member, wherein the data content to be input to the controller is changed by changing a connection mode of the first connector member and the second connector member.

7. The data change device according to claim 6, wherein at least two terminals of the first connector member are electrically connected, at least one terminal of the second connector member conducts electric signals at logic 1 level, which are output from the controller, and the content of digital data to be input to the controller is changed by changing the connection mode of the first connector member and the second connector member.

8. A control pattern change device comprising control means for outputting control signals according to control inputs, a first connector member having terminals each for receiving a control signal for each control direction of the control means, and a second connector member having terminals each for outputting a drive signal for each drive direction of an actuator, the actuator being driven in a drive direction according to a control direction of the control means by connecting each terminal of the first connector member and each terminal of the second connector member, wherein a plurality of terminals are provided in the first connector member as terminals for receiving control signals in a same control direction of the control means, and each one of the terminals for receiving the control signal in the same control direction of the first connector member is connected to a different terminal of the second connector member to change a control pattern by changing a connection mode of the first connector member and the second connector member.

12. A failed area determination device comprising a first connector member terminals each for receiving each input signal and a second connector member having terminals each for outputting a drive signal to each equipment, a failed area in case of driving a corresponding equipment being determined according to the input signal by connecting each terminal of the first connector member and each terminal of the second connector, wherein a same input signal is output from different terminals of the second connector member by changing the connection mode of the first connector member and the second connector member, and the failed area is determined based on the drive signal output from each terminal of the second connector member for each connection mode of the first connector member and the second connector member.

13. A drive actuator change device comprising control means for instructing control amounts to a plurality of actuators, a first connector member having a terminal for supplying a power signal to the respective control means and terminals each for receiving a control signal from each one of the control means, and a second connector member having terminals each for outputting a drive signal to each equipment, the second connector member having electrodes identical in number with electrodes of the first connector member, each actuator being driven by connecting each terminal of the first connector member and each terminal of the second connector member, wherein

a combination of each actuator associated with each control means is changed by changing a connection mode of the first connector member and the second connector member.

14. A control pattern change device comprising control means for outputting control signals, a first connector member having terminals each for receiving a control signal from each one of the control means, and a second connector member having terminals each for outputting a drive signal to each equipment, a corresponding equipment being driven according to the control of the control means by connecting each terminal of the first connector member and each terminal of the second connector member, wherein a plurality of terminals are provided in the first connector as terminals to receive the control signals of a same control means, and each one of the plurality of terminals to receive the control signal of the same control means of the first connector member is connected to a different terminal of the second connector member to change a control pattern by changing a connection mode of the first connector member and the second connector member.

15. A failed area determination device comprising control means for outputting control signals, a first connector member having terminals each for receiving a control signal from each one of the control means, and a second connector member having terminals each for outputting a drive signal to each equipment, a failed area in cased of driving a corresponding equipment according to the control of the control means being determined by connecting each terminal of the first connector member and each terminal of the second connector member, wherein a control signal of a same control means is output from different terminals of the second connector member by changing a connection mode of the first connector member and the second connector member, and the failed area is determined based on the drive signals output from each terminal of the second connector member for each connection mode of the first connector member and the second connector member.

16. A control pattern change device comprising control means for outputting control signals according to a control input, a first connector member having terminals each for receiving a power signal, a GND signal and a control signal for each control direction of the control means, and a second connector member having terminals each for outputting a drive signal for each drive direction of an actuator, the actuator being driven in a drive direction according to a control direction of the control means by connecting each terminal of the first connector member and each terminal of the second connector member, wherein

the power signal and the GND signal are branched and respectively connected with input terminals of the first connector member and the control signals are connected, without being branched, with input terminals of the first connector member,

the power signal and the GND signal are output from same terminals of the second connector member and a control signal for a same control direction of the control means is output from different terminals of the second connector member to change a control pattern by changing a connection mode of the first connector member and the second connector member.

17. A control pattern change device according to claim 16, wherein the control pattern is changed by changing an insertion direction of the first connector member to the second connector member.

18. A drive actuator change device comprising control means for instructing control amounts to a plurality of actuators, a first connector member having a terminal for supplying a power signal to each control means, a terminal for a GND signal and terminals each for receiving a control signal from each of the control means, and a second connector member having terminals each for outputting a drive signal to each equipment and having electrodes identical in number with electrodes of the first connector member, each actuator being driven by connecting each terminal of the first connector member and each terminal of the second connector member, wherein

the power signal and the GND signal are branched and respectively connected with input terminals of the first connector member and the control signals are connected, without being branched, with input terminals of the first connector member, and

the power signal and the GND signal are output from same terminals of the second connector member and a control signal for a same control direction of the control means is output from different terminals of the second connector member to change a combination of each actuator associated with each control means by changing a connection mode of the first connector member and the second connector member.