WO2001003251A1

WO2001003251A1 - Method for connecting data processing units

Info

Publication number: WO2001003251A1
Application number: PCT/DE2000/001886
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ralf Rieken; Hans Josef Hoffmann; Roelof Popken
Original assignee: Fujitsu Siemens Computers Gmbh
Priority date: 1999-06-30
Filing date: 2000-06-09
Publication date: 2001-01-11
Also published as: WO2001003251A8; DE19930142A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for connecting data processing units, whereby, the display elements assigned to the connections of the data processing units can be controlled by pairs by means of a link program. A user is signaled which connections should be electrically contacted with the end of a connecting line. The device according to the invention enables safe and reliable cabling of data processing units.

Description

Device for connecting data processing units

The invention relates to a device for connecting data processing units, in particular

Computer units with at least one connecting line, which has a first plug at one free end for connection to a connection of a first

Data processing unit and at a different free end a second connector for connection to a

Has connection of a second data processing unit.

It is common for a data processing device to consist of a plurality of data processing units, such as a computer unit, printer unit, etc. To operate the data processing device, the

Data processing units are electrically connected to one another by means of one or more connecting lines in accordance with a predetermined linking rule. In particular, in the event that the free ends of the connecting lines each have a similar plug or the connections to which the respective plug is to be connected are of the same design, plug errors can occur during the assembly of the data processing device. It is known to provide the connectors or the connections with mechanical codes to avoid such connection errors. However, these only make it easier to insert the plug, but if plugs with the same mechanical coding are present, they cannot be mixed up.

The object of the present invention is therefore to develop a device for connecting data processing units in such a way that a faulty connection

(Cabling) of the data processing units to one another is avoided in a simple and safe manner. To achieve this object, the invention in connection with the preamble of claim 1 is characterized in that the connections of the data processing units are each assigned a display element which can be controlled such that reference is made to the respective connections to be connected by means of the connecting line.

The particular advantage of the invention is that the assignment of display elements to a respective connection of the data processing unit makes it possible to identify the connections, and in this way the function of the connections with regard to the connection to a further data processing unit can be pointed out. This enables a clear, easy-to-use and reliable electrical connection between two or more data processing units.

According to a special embodiment of the invention, the display elements are designed as optical display elements and are arranged adjacent to the respective connections. Because of the local proximity to the connections, there is a clear assignment of the display elements to the respective connections. In addition, the connections can be uniquely identified by the different colors of the display elements or the different activation thereof.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a link control unit is provided which controls the optical display elements as a function of a predetermined link rule. The link control unit can be advantageous for complex

Data processing devices, which preferably consist of a plurality of computer units, are used, the display elements characterizing the connections to be connected being driven in pairs and in succession. This will help assemble the

Data processing device or the reconfiguration of a plurality of computing units forming the data processing device is simplified, since after starting the linking process, the operator only has to concentrate on connecting the ends of a connecting line to the connections identified by the display elements. After the connection has been made, further display elements light up automatically, which indicate the location of the connection of a next connecting line. By coupling the linking rule stored in electronic form with the display elements assigned to the connections, the operator is provided with an automatic linking requirement which considerably simplifies the correct connection of the data processing units.

According to a development of the invention, the

Linkage control unit for checking means by means of which a warning signal can be generated if, despite signaling the connections to be connected by means of a connecting line, an incorrect assignment has occurred. In such a case, the operator can be made aware of the faulty connection immediately, so that after the faulty connection cable has been disconnected, the linking process can be continued properly. In this way, a correction can be made immediately after the error occurs, which has a time-saving effect, in particular in the case of complex data processing devices which are composed of a large number of computer units.

According to a development of the invention, the data processing device consists of a plurality of computer units which are in a common housing are summarized. A power supply unit assigned to the computer units and an I / O control unit are also arranged in the housing. The display elements are combined on a rear side of the housing in a display bar, the display bar being assigned to a computer unit. Due to the regular arrangement of the connection strips or the display strips specified by means of the housing, the connecting lines can have a fixed and identical length.

An embodiment of the invention is explained below with reference to the drawings.

Show it:

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a data processing device combined in a housing and having computer units connected to one another in a ring,

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of computer units of three data processing devices according to FIG. 1 connected to one another to form a ring,

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged illustration of a connection and display bar assigned to a computer unit,

Figure 4 is a block diagram of a

Linkage control unit connected to a plurality of optical display elements and

Figure 5 is a flow chart for one in the

Linking control unit implemented linking program. The device according to the invention is used to connect any data processing units, for example between a central computer unit and one or more peripheral units, such as printers, etc. The device is preferably used to connect a plurality of data processing units, in particular computer units in complex servers.

FIG. 1 shows a data processing device 2 combined in a housing 1, which consists of three computer units 3, an I / O computer unit 4, a link control unit 5 and a power supply unit 6 as data processing units.

The power supply unit 6 is connected via a power supply line 7 to a connection field (not shown) of the I / O computer unit 4 or the

Linking control unit 5 connected, from which the computer units 3 are supplied with electrical current. The computer units 3 are each of the same design and each consist of a plurality of microprocessors. The computer units 3 serve to form a local network.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, the computer units 3 of a housing 1 are interconnected in a ring via connecting lines 13. For this purpose, each computer unit 3 is assigned a terminal strip 9, preferably fastened to the housing 1, which has four similar connections 10, 10, 11, 11 '. The I / O computer unit 4, in which the linkage control unit 5 is preferably integrated, is on the input side via a multi-core I / O connecting line 12 to the connection 10 of the computer unit 3 and via one multi-core I / O connecting line 12 ^λ connected to the connection 10 ^{λ on the} output side.

The connection 11 of the computer unit 3 serves as an output for connection to a further computer unit 3 by means of a multi-core connection line 13. The connection 11 ^x serves as an input for connection by means of the connection line 13 to a further computer unit 3. The connection lines 13 and preferably the I / O - Connection lines 12 are of identical design and each have the same connector 14, by means of which the connection lines 12, 13 are plugged into the connections 10, 10 11, 11 ^λ .

As can be seen from Figure 1, an input terminal 11 ^λ of the upper computer unit 3 to the output terminal 11 of the lower computer unit 3 connected to the output terminal 11 is the top computer unit 3 to the input terminal 11 of the central processing unit 3 and the output terminal ^v 11 of the central Computer unit 3 connected to the input terminal 11 'of the lower computer unit 3.

To enable correct cabling or connection of the data processing units, in particular the computer units 3, a display bar 15 is arranged directly adjacent to the connection bar 9. The display bar 15 consists of three optical display elements 16 each associated with a connection 10, 10, 11, 11 ^1. The display elements 16 are as

LEDs are formed and have a different color. A first display element 17 makes it possible to display whether the computer units 3 which have been put into operation function properly. A second display element 18 can signal an error in the operating state of the computer unit 3. A third display element 19 is used to display a link signal that an operator during the assembly of the data processing device or when the computer units 3 are reconfigured, which connections 11, 11 are connected to one another by connecting lines 13.

As can be seen from FIG. 4, the third and the second display elements 19 and 18 can be controlled as part of the display bar 15 via an I / O interface 20 by a microprocessor 21 of the linkage control unit 5. The microprocessor 21 is connected to a memory 22 in which a link program is stored.

The linking program, the flowchart of which is shown schematically in FIG. 5, contains all the essential information which is necessary to ensure a correct linking or connection of the computer units 3 to one another. To obtain a ring connection between the computer units 3 of the housing 1 to a common single data processing device 2 according to FIG. 2, the presence or the number of the housing 1 is checked when the housing 1 is switched off. This is made possible by a bus (Ethernet), not shown, which connects the housing 1. As a result, the number of housings 1, the number 24 of the computer units 3 and the step 25 the positioning of the computer units 3 m of the housing 1 can be determined in a step 23. Once the computer units 3 to be connected have been determined, the link rule 26 can be generated depending on a given topology (ring, star, etc.), according to which the display elements 19 are controlled in pairs. By driving the display elements 19 in pairs, the operator is signaled with which connections 11, 11 ′ of the computer units 3 they are to connect the plugs 14 of the two ends of the connecting line 13. This control 27 of the display elements 19 takes place in pairs sequentially after plugging in each connecting line 13 until all connections 11, 11 'are assigned corresponding plugs 14.

As shown in Figure 2, this can

Linking program can be used to interconnect the computer units 3 housed side by side in housings 1 in a ring. To link an upper computer unit 3 of the left housing 1 with a middle computer unit 3 of the middle housing 1, for example, in a first step, a display element 19 assigned to the connection 11 'of the upper computer unit 3 and a display element 19 assigned to the output connection 11 of the middle computer unit 3 would be used simultaneously come on. After these connections 11, 11 'have been occupied by the connecting line 13', the display element 19 assigned to the output connection 11 of the upper computer unit 3 of the left housing 1 and the display element 19 assigned to the input connection 11 'of the middle computer unit 3 of the left housing 1 light up simultaneously on. The operator can now insert the ends of the connecting line 13 ″ into the connections 11, 11 ′. This signaling process and the subsequent linkage continues until all connections 11, 11 'of the computer units 3 are connected in accordance with the predetermined linkage rule.

The device according to the invention is preferably suitable for complex computer systems. If an incorrect assignment occurs due to the large number of computer units 3 to be connected, it can be provided that the

Linkage control unit 5 controls the second display element 18 to signal an incorrectly assigned connection 11, 11 '. In this way, the corresponding connection 11, 11 'can be located immediately and a corresponding correction can be carried out. The display element 18 is preferably already controlled with the error detection, so that the operator can correct it immediately after the faulty connection. Alternatively, this warning or error signal output to the display element 18 can also be transmitted to a central display (not shown) for displaying the incorrect assignment. The faulty connections 11, 11 'can then be identified in this display.

The link control unit 5 can advantageously be suitable for storing a modified link program. This implementation of the

Linking program can be done for example by means of a portable data storage device (floppy disk) or by means of a data network.

The computer units 3 are detachably mounted in separate compartments of the housing 1 in the same. This storage enables a flexible use of a different number of computer units 3. A reconfiguration of the computer units 3 is simplified. Because the display and connection strips are arranged on a common rear side of the housing, the electrical connection of the computer units 3 can be done in a time-saving manner.

Claims

Claims:

1. Device for connecting data processing units, in particular computer units, to at least one

Connection line, which has a first plug at one free end for connection to a connection of a first data processing unit and a second plug at another free end for connection to a connection of a second

Has data processing unit, characterized in that the connections (11, 11 ') of the data processing units (3) are each assigned a display element (19) which can be controlled such that the respective connection line (13, 13', 13 '') Connections (11, 11 ') to be pointed out.

2. Device according to claim 1, so that the display elements (19) are designed as optical display elements (19) which are each arranged adjacent to the connections (11, 11 ').

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that a link control unit (5) is provided which generates control signals for controlling the display elements (19) as a function of a link rule (26).

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the linkage control unit (5) has a microprocessor (21), a linkage (26) having memory (22) and an I / O interface (20) for connection to the data processing units (3).

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, d a - d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that the

Data processing units are each designed as computer units (3) which can be electrically connected to one another by means of a plurality of connecting lines (13, 13 ', 13' ') in accordance with the linking rule (26).

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, since - characterized in that the link control unit (5) has means such that the display elements (19) characterizing the connections to be connected (11, 11 ') are driven in pairs sequentially, so that in each case the two plugs (14) of a connecting line (13, 13 ', 13' ') can be connected to the corresponding connections (11, 11').

7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, since - characterized in that the link control unit (5) has means such that the indicating elements (19) pointing to the connections (11, 11 ') to be connected are only activated until the corresponding plugs (14) of the connecting line (13, 13 ', 13' ') are electrically contacted with the connections (11, 11').

8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the link control unit (5) has checking means such that a warning signal is generated when the connector (14) is incorrectly assigned to a connecting line (13, 13 ', 13'').

9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, d a - d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that the warning signal to the connections to be connected (11, 11 ') indicating display elements (19) or to a central display is transmitted to indicate the incorrect assignment.

10. The device according to one of claims 1 to 9, that the computer units (3) each have a terminal strip (9) with a number of connections (10, 10 ', 11, 11') arranged in a row.

11. The device according to one of claims 1 to 10, d a - d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that the

Terminal strip (9) of a first computer unit (3) on the one hand connections (11, 11 ') for connection to connections (11, 11') of at least one second computer unit (3) and on the other hand connections (10, 10 ') for connection to a a plurality of

Computer units (3) assigned I / O computer unit (4).

12. Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, d a - d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that a

A plurality of computer units (3) together with a power supply unit (6) and the I / O computer unit (4) are combined in a common housing (1), the housing (1) having separate slots for receiving the computer units (3).

13. Device according to one of claims 1 to 12, - characterized in that the terminal strips (9) of the computer units (3) are arranged on a common side of the housing (1).

14. Device according to one of claims 1 to 13, that the connection strips (9) of adjacent housings (1) run in a common plane.

15. Device according to one of claims 1 to 14, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that the terminal block (9) one with several display elements

(17, 18, 19) provided display bar (15) is assigned.

16. The device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, that the optical display element (17, 18, 19) is designed as a light-emitting diode.