Method for testing multicore cable, method for manufacturing multicore cable assembly, and multicore cable test device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10895607-B2
Application number	US-201816197465-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 21, 2018
Priority date	Feb 15, 2018
Publication date	Jan 19, 2021
Grant date	Jan 19, 2021

Abstract

A method for testing a multicore cable that includes a single common shield covering plural insulated wires. The testing method includes inputting a test signal, by capacitive coupling, to an end portion of the insulated wire under test among end portions of the insulated wires exposed at one end of the multicore cable, and measuring voltages of output signals output by capacitive coupling respectively from end portions of the insulated wires exposed at the other end of the multicore cable, and identifying the other end portion of the insulated wire under test based on the measured voltages. The voltages of output signals are measured in a state that an output variation reduction capacitive element is connected in series with a coupling capacitance generated by the capacitive coupling.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for testing a multicore cable that comprises a single common shield covering a plurality of insulated wires, the testing method comprising:
inputting a test signal, by capacitive coupling through an electrode arranged to partially cover the insulated wire, to an end portion of the insulated wire under test among end portions of the insulated wires exposed at one end of the multicore cable;
providing an output voltage variation reduction capacitive element connected in series with the electrode;
measuring voltages of output signals output by the capacitive coupling respectively from end portions of the insulated wires exposed at the other end of the multicore cable; and
identifying the other end portion of the insulated wire under test based on the measured voltages,
wherein the voltages of output signals are measured in a state that the output voltage variation reduction capacitive element is connected in series with the coupling capacitance generated by the capacitive coupling through the electrode.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the output variation reduction capacitive element is provided on an output-side processing circuit that processes the output signals.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the output-side processing circuit comprises an electrode substrate comprising a plurality of connection electrodes that are capacitively coupled to other end portions of the insulated wires, and the output variation reduction capacitive element is connected in series to the connection electrodes mounted on the electrode substrate.

4. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the output-side processing circuit comprises an amplifier circuit that amplifies the output signals.

5. A method for manufacturing a multicore cable assembly that comprises a multicore cable comprising a single common shield covering a plurality of insulated wires and connectors or circuit boards provided at both ends of the multicore cable, the manufacturing method comprising:
arranging wires;
stripping the insulated wires to expose conductors at end portions; and
connecting the exposed conductors to terminals of the connectors or electrode patterns of the circuit board,
wherein the arranging wire comprises identifying a corresponding end portion by identifying a correspondence relation between one end portion and the other end portion of the insulated wires exposed from both ends of the multicore cable and arranging end portions of the insulated wires exposed from the both ends of the multicore cable in desired order, the identifying a corresponding end portion comprises inputting a test signal, by capacitive coupling through an electrode arranged to partially cover the insulated wire, to an end portion of the insulated wire under test among end portions of the insulated wires exposed at one end of the multicore cable, providing an output voltage variation reduction capacitive element connected in series with the electrode; measuring voltages of output signals output by the capacitive coupling respectively from end portions of the insulated wires exposed at the other end of the multicore cable, and identifying the other end portion of the insulated wire under test based on the measured voltages, and the voltages of output signals are measured in a state that the output voltage variation reduction capacitive element is connected in series with the coupling capacitance generated by the capacitive coupling through the electrode.

6. A multicore cable test device for testing a multicore cable comprising a single common shield covering a plurality of insulated wires to identify a correspondence relation between one end portion and the other end portion of the insulated wires exposed from both ends of the multicore cable, the device comprising:
a test signal input means that inputs a test signal, by capacitive coupling through an electrode arranged to partially cover the insulated wire, to an end portion of the insulated wire under test among end portions of the insulated wires exposed at one end of the multicore cable;
a corresponding-end identifying unit that measures voltages of output signals output by the capacitive coupling respectively from end portions of the insulated wires exposed at the other end of the multicore cable, and identifies the other end portion of the insulated wire under test based on the measured voltages; and
an output voltage variation reduction capacitive element that is connected in series with the coupling capacitance generated by the capacitive coupling through the electrode.

Assignees

• Hitachi Metals Ltd

Inventors

• Shirakawa Yohei
• Ageishi Yoshitake

Classifications

• G01R31/60 Primary

  Identification of wires in a multicore cable · CPC title

• G01R31/59

  while the cable continuously passes the testing apparatus, e.g. during manufacture · CPC title

• G01R1/0416

  Connectors, terminals (G01R1/0425 and G01R1/0433 take precedence; with measurement function for battery poles G01R31/364) · CPC title

• H01B13/016

  for manufacturing co-axial cables (applying discontinuous insulation H01B13/20) · CPC title

• H01R43/28 Primary

  for wire processing before connecting to contact members, not provided for in groups H01R43/02 - H01R43/26 · CPC title