Branching device for transmission line and monitoring apparatus using the same

• US 7,362,214 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2005
• Issued: 04/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Mizutani, Tsutomu
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US11/092,666
• Publication Number:
  US 20060226965A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: 340/2.8, 340/439, 340/438, 340/425.5, 340/310.11, 340/310.16, 340/286.02, 307/10.1, 701/33, 701/29, 701/36, 707/102, 700/275, 700/276, 621/33
• US Class Current: 340/12.32
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/007 using microprocessors or computers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/00 Registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus, other than vehicles

Abstract

A branching device for a transmission line, including a main transmission line including at least two signal lines and having respective connectors provided at either end; a first branch transmission line which branches from the signal lines and which has a branch-use connector at an end; a second branch transmission line which branches from the signal lines and which has a branch-use terminal block at an end; a terminating resistor having one end connected to one of the signal lines; and a selection switch that switches the other end of the terminating resistor between connecting with an other one of the signal lines, and forming an open circuit.

Claims

1. A branching device for a transmission line, comprising:

a main transmission line including at least two signal lines and having respective connectors provided at either end;

a first branch transmission line comprising a branch-use connector at an end, and at least two branch wires, each branch wire branching from a respective signal line;

a second branch transmission line comprising a branch-use terminal block at an end, and at least two branch wires, each branch wire branching from a respective signal line;

a terminating resistor having one end connected to one of the signal lines that branches into both the first branch transmission line and the second branch transmission line; and

a selection switch that is operated to connect the other end of the terminating resistor with an other one of the signal lines that branches into both the first branch transmission line and the second branch transmission line.

2. The branching device for a transmission line according to claim 1, wherein the terminating resistor is provided as a plurality of terminating resistors, and the selection switch is operated to connect the other end of any one of the terminating resistors with the other one of the signal lines that branches into both the first branch transmission line and the second branch transmission line.

3. The branching device for a transmission line according to claim 1, wherein the main transmission line includes separate parallel signal lines without branches, and the parallel signal lines and the signal lines are connected between the connectors in a single bundle.

4. The branching device for a transmission line according to claim 2, wherein the main transmission line includes separate parallel signal lines without branches, and the parallel signal lines and the signal lines are connected between the connectors in a single bundle.

5. The branching device for a transmission line according to claim 1, wherein the signal lines are used to perform vehicle-use controller area network communication, and the terminating resistor has a resistance of one hundred and twenty kilo ohms which is suitable for vehicle-use controller area network communication.

6. The branching device for a transmission line according to claim 3, wherein the signal lines are used to perform vehicle-use controller area network communication, and the terminating resistor has a resistance of one hundred and twenty kilo ohms which is suitable for vehicle-use controller area network communication.

7. The branching device for a transmission line according to claim 2, wherein the signal lines are used to perform vehicle-use controller area network communication, and at least one of the plurality of terminating resistors has a resistance of one hundred and twenty kilo ohms which is suitable for vehicle-use controller area network communication.

8. The branching device for a transmission line according to claim 4, wherein the signal lines are used to perform vehicle-use controller area network communication, and at least one of the plurality of terminating resistors has a resistance of one hundred and twenty kilo ohms which is suitable for vehicle-use controller area network communication.

9. A monitoring apparatus including the branching device for a transmission line according to claim 5, wherein one of the branch-use connector and the branch-use terminal block is used to monitor information transmission of the main transmission line performed using vehicle-use controller area network communication, and to send commands.

10. A monitoring apparatus including the branching device for a transmission line according to claim 6, wherein one of the branch-use connector and the branch-use terminal block is used to monitor information transmission of the main transmission line performed using vehicle-use controller area network communication, and to send commands.

11. A monitoring apparatus including the branching device for a transmission line according to claim 7, wherein one of the branch-use connector and the branch-use terminal block is used to monitor information transmission of the main transmission line performed using vehicle-use controller area network communication, and to send commands.

12. A monitoring apparatus including the branching device for a transmission line according to claim 8, wherein one of the branch-use connector and the branch-use terminal block is used to monitor information transmission of the main transmission line performed using vehicle-use controller area network communication, and to send commands.

13. A device for monitoring or testing components, comprising:

a first line;

a second line;

a ground line;

a plurality of signal lines;

a first connector connected at one end of the first, second, ground and signal lines;

a second connector connected at an opposite end of the first, second, ground and signal lines;

a plurality of resistors, one end of each resistor connected to the first line;

a rotary switch having a connection for each resistor at each resistor'"'"'s opposite end and an open position, a fixed end of the rotary switch connected to the second line; and

at least two branch transmission lines, each branch transmission line having three lines, a line connected at one end to each of the first, second and ground lines, and an opposite end of the three lines connected to a terminal block.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein one resistor of the plurality of resistors is a one hundred and twenty kilo ohm resistor.

15. The device according to claim 13, further comprising a relay unit containing the plurality of resistors, the rotary switch, and the at least two branch transmission lines, wherein the first, second, ground and signal lines form a main transmission line passing through the relay unit.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein one of the at least two branch transmission lines has a terminal for each of the three lines to comprise the terminal block.