Patent Abstract:
A testing tool for testing an I/O port includes a cable and a testing card. The cable includes a port formed at one end thereof configured for being connected to the I/O port, and a first connector formed at an opposite end thereof. The testing card includes two testing circuits and a second connector connected to the first connector. The second connector includes a slider shiftable between a first position where the second connector and a testing circuit are interconnected, and a second position where the second connector and the other testing circuit are interconnected.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]    The present invention relates to testing tools for computer systems, more particularly to a testing tool including a testing card having different testing circuits. 
       DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART  
       [0002]    Normally, in a computer manufacturing process, testing is an important step to ensure reliability of a manufactured computer system. The testing includes both hardware and software testing for the computer system and its components. 
         [0003]    For example, for testing an I/O port, a plurality of different testing tools including different testing circuits is required to test the I/O port. It is time-consuming to link the I/O port to different testing tools. In addition, the I/O port may be damaged during the linking to different testing tools. 
         [0004]    It is therefore desirable to find a new testing tool which can overcome the above mentioned problems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    A testing tool for testing an I/O port includes a cable and a testing card. The cable includes a port formed at one end thereof configured for being connected to the I/O port, and a first connector formed at an opposite end thereof. The testing card includes two testing circuits and a second connector connected to the first connector. The second connector includes a slider shiftable between a first position where the second connector and a testing circuit are interconnected, and a second position where the second connector and the other testing circuit are interconnected. 
         [0006]    Other advantages and novel features will be drawn from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments with attached drawings, in which: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a testing tool in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, including a cable with a first connector, and a testing card shown a front and a rear aspects thereof; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a sketch view of a first structure of the first connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a sketch view of a second structure of the first connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a sketch view of a third structure of the first connector of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a sketch view of the testing card of  FIG. 1 , showing a front, a back, and a top aspects of the testing card; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a sketch view of another testing card of another embodiment of the present invention, showing a front, a back, and a top aspects of the another testing card; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a sketch view of a second connector of  FIG. 6  connected to more than one port. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a testing tool for testing ports of a computer system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, includes a cable  10  and a testing card  30 . 
         [0015]    The cable  10  includes a port  11  integrated at one end of the cable  10 . The port  11  is adapted to connect to an input/output (I/O) port (not shown) for testing. The port  11  is a serial port or a parallel port in accordance with the I/O port. A first connector  13  is integrated at the other end of the cable  10 . The first connector  13  is linked to the port  11  via the cable  10 . A type of the first connector  13  is in accordance with a type of the port  11 . If the port  11  is a serial port, the first connector  13  is a serial connector, and if the port  11  is a parallel port, the first connector  13  is a parallel connector. 
         [0016]    The first connector  13  may have different structures. Referring to  FIGS. 2-4 , three variations in the structure of the first connector  13  are shown as an example. Referring to  FIG. 2 , in the first structure of the first connector  13 , the first connector  13  is a 9 pin serial connector complying with the mechanical standard of a 9 pin serial port. Pins  1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 , and  5  are aligned in one line, and pins  6 ,  7 ,  8 , and  9  are aligned in another line. The pins  1  to  9  are electrically connected to the corresponding pins of the port  11 . Because the structure complies with the mechanical standard of the 9 pin serial port, it is convenient to test. 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , in the second structure of the first connector  13 ′, the pin  5  is omitted, and the pins  2 ,  3 ,  4 , and  6  are arranged in a row parallel to pins  7 ,  8 ,  9 , and  1  which are also arranged in a row. Because the pin  5  is used to connect to ground, it is omitted. The pins are aligned according to frequency of use of the pins in the test process. The pins aligned in this order can simplify a corresponding circuit on the testing card  30 . 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , in the third structure of the first connector  13 ″, the pins  1  to  4  and  6  to  9  are aligned in a row, and the pin  5  is omitted. The pins are aligned according to pin&#39;s sequence number, so it is easy to ascertain each pin and convenient to test. 
         [0019]    If the first connector  13  is a parallel connector, pins of the parallel connector can be aligned in different orders, such as complying with standard structure of the parallel connector, or according to the pin&#39;s sequence number, or according to frequency of use of the pins in the test process. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the testing card  30  includes two testing circuits  35  set thereon. These testing circuits  35  are used to test different aspects of the I/O port. The testing card  30  also includes a second connector  31  adapted to connect to the first connector  13 . 
         [0021]    The second connector  31  has a slider  33 , and a plurality of pads  315 . Each of the plurality of pads  315  is connected to a corresponding pin of the plurality of pins of the first connector  13 . The plurality of pads  315  are aligned in a same order as the pins  1  to  9  of the first connector  13 . 
         [0022]    The slider  33  is slidable between a first position and a second position. The slider  33  includes eighteen contact pieces  31   7  with one aspect of the slider  33  having ten contact pieces  317  and another aspect having eight contact pieces  317 . The eighteen contact pieces  317  are divided into two groups with each group having nine contact pieces  317 . Each group of contact pieces  317  is connected to one of the two testing circuits for testing different aspects of the I/O port. One group of contact pieces  317  is aligned alternately with the other group of contact pieces  317 . 
         [0023]    When the slider  33  slides to the first position, one group of contact pieces  317  contacts to the nine pads  315  for testing the I/O port by one testing circuit. When the slider  33  slides to the second position, the other group of the contact pieces  317  contacts to the nine pads  315  for testing the I/O port by the other testing circuit. By easily sliding the slider  33 , the I/O port is tested by different testing circuits. It is convenient to test the component without changing with another testing card and connecting the testing card to the component. 
         [0024]    In the above-mentioned embodiment, the slider  33  may also be configured to slide between three or more positions, to accommodate the addition of corresponding groups of contact pieces and testing circuits. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , another embodiment of a testing card  30 ′ is shown. The testing card  30 ′ includes a second connector  31 ′ connected to the first connector  13 . 
         [0026]    The second connector  31 ′ includes nine pads  315 ′ corresponding to pins  1  to  9  of the first connector  13  respectively. The pads  315 ′ are aligned in a same order as the pins  1  to  9  of the first connector  13 . 
         [0027]    The second connector  31 ′ further includes nine terminals  37 ′. Each of the terminals  37 ′ is connected to the corresponding pad  315 ′ respectively. 
         [0028]    When the I/O port needs to be tested, the nine terminals  37 ′ are connected in a variety of combinations to form a desired testing circuit to test a aspect of the I/O port. For example in  FIG. 6 , the second and third terminals  37 ′ are connected together, the fourth and sixth terminals  37 ′ are connected together, the seventh and eighth terminals  37 ′ are connected together, and other terminals  37 ′ are not connected to other terminal  37 . By changing the combination of the nine terminals  37 ′, different aspects of the I/O port can be tested. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , three connectors  51 ,  52 , and  53  are the same type connector as the second connector  31 ′. Each of the terminals  37 ′ of second connector  31 ′ is connected to corresponding terminal of the connectors  51 ,  52 , and  53  at the same time. The second connector  31 ′ is connected to a control I/O port (not shown), and each of the connectors  51 ,  52 , and  53  is connected to a testing I/O port (not shown). Pins of the testing I/O ports connected to the connectors  51 , 52 , and  53  are controlled by changing signals on pins of the control I/O port connected to the second connector  31 ′. It is convenient to testing a plurality of testing I/O port at the same time. 
         [0030]    It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of preferred embodiments, together with details of the structures and functions of the preferred embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6