Breakout box for testing periscope cable connectors

Abstract

A device for testing the interface to periscope inboard electronics is provided with an enclosure having a cable connector for a plurality of cables from a periscope mast. Each cable includes electric wires, fiber optic lines, radio frequency lines, and video lines. A plurality of interface panels are mounted on the enclosure. Each interface panel is associated with a cable of the plurality of cables. Each interface panel has test points for each voltage conducting cable, video path, and fiber optic line for the associated cable and status indicators for the device and inboard electronics. A multi-position switch is mounted on the enclosure and can be selected for one of a plurality of periscope mast types.

Claims

1. A device for verifying that inboard electronics of a submarine are ready and safe to receive a periscope as well as verifying the integrity of the submarine periscope cables, said device compromising: an enclosure having cable connectors for a plurality of cables from a periscope mast, each of said plurality of cables from a group of voltage conducting wires, fiber optic lines, and video lines; a plurality of interface panels mounted on said enclosure, each said interface panel associated with one cable of said plurality of cables wherein each said interface panel includes test points for each voltage conducting wire, video path, and fiber optic line for the associated cable of said plurality of cables; and a multi-position switch mounted on said enclosure, said multi-position switch selectable for one of a plurality of periscope mast types wherein said multi-position switch inserts mast identifying loop-back jumpers and jumper resistors between pins for test setup according to the type of mast selected.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said multi-position switch provides resistive jumpers to the periscope Head Window Heater and Oil Heater sensors by providing voltage to appropriate test points to simulate a call for heat.

3. The device of claim 2, further comprising status indicator lights to provide feedback to an operator such that functions associated with said multi-position switch match a mast configuration.

4. The device of claim 3, further comprising warning lights to indicate an incorrect configuration of internal equipment.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said enclosure is powered by one of said cables.

6. The device of claim 5, further comprising a ground lug to connect said enclosure to ground.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said video conductors are tested by inserting a video stream at designated video test ports on said enclosure.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein an integrity of said fiber optic cable is verifiable at designated test points on said enclosure.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein an integrity of a ground voltage monitoring circuit is verifiable with status lights.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reference to the following description of the preferred embodiments and to the drawings, wherein corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings and wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a faceplate layout of a breakout box according to the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a chassis connector layout; and

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a breakout box with interface cable connectors according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) The Submarine High Data Rate (SHDR) dip loop cable is an outboard electrical cable linking a mast to an electrical hull fitting. During operations, the dip loop cable develops z-kinks in some of the conductors, which eventually lead to open circuit breaks and system failure.

(6) A breakout box is provided to improve the process of measuring voltages supplied by inboard electronics and to check the integrity of dip loop fiber optic and radio frequency cables in preparation for a photonics periscope installation. There should be no voltages coming from any inboard electronics that could damage a multi-million dollar mast when the mast connects to the cables.

(7) The breakout box of the present invention provides an easier and safer method of accessing the conductors in the dip loop cable by fanning such conductors out from the nested bundle inside the dip loop connector to a panel with an array of test points. The breakout box also provides access to the fiber optic cables at a remote connection point; thereby, ensuring the dip loop fibers are not touched when verifying integrity and continuity of the dip loop fibers.

(8) Video injection points are provided on the breakout box to test the video paths through the dip loop to internal electronics. The dip loop cable has four radio frequency conductors in each cable but the cables are not brought through to the breakout box. Instead, testing is done using separate conductors provided at an interface cable.

(9) FIG. 1 depicts a breakout box of the present invention. An enclosure 100 of the breakout box defines a box of approximately 10?13?2. The dimensions are tall enough to accommodate mounting connectors on at least one side and wide enough to accommodate test panels. The breakout box has a plurality of interface panels 102, 104, 106 (indicated for the dip loop J1, J2, and J3 cables) mounted on the face of the enclosure 100.

(10) As shown in FIG. 2, the enclosure 100 has connectors 108, 110, 112 (similarly indicated for the J1, J2, and J3 cables) for one or more cables from a periscope mast on a side of the enclosure. The connectors 108, 110, 112 align with the dip loop cables J1, J2, and J3. A ground lug 114 connects the enclosure 100 to ground. The connectors allow testing of all signals and connections at once for all of the dip loop cables.

(11) Each cable includes copper conductors, fiber optic lines, radio frequency (RF) lines, and video lines. A multi-position switch 116 mounts on the enclosure 100. The multi-position switch 116 is selectable to accommodate one of a plurality of periscope mast types, such as the Mast Technical Insertion (MTI) Mast TI-16, the Integrated Submarine Imaging System (ISIS) Augmented System Low Profile Mast (IAS), the Low Profile Photonics Mast (LPPM), and a Type 20A/20B.

(12) The interface panel 102 includes status indicator lights 118 at the section labeled UMS Connection Status at J1. Warning lights indicate an incorrect configuration of the internal equipment. Voltage monitoring circuitry monitors voltage on four ground connections for operator safety as well as the integrity of the internal equipment. A ground fault indicator 120 will light if the voltage monitor detects more than approximately 0.5 volts. A lamp test position of the multi-position switch 116 can verify the integrity of the lamps. A pattern of voltage test points 122 on the enclosure 100 is shown with the pattern modifiable to accommodate extra space.

(13) The enclosure 100 includes sixty-five copper test points 122 and two fiber optic conductors 124 for each connector (J1, J2, and J3). The J1 cable attaches to the connector 108 and is associated with the interface panel 102. The J2 cable attaches to the connector 110 and is associated with the interface panel 104. The J3 cable attaches to the connector 112 and is associated with the interface panel 106.

(14) FIG. 3 shows the dip loop cables J1, J2, and J3 connected to the enclosure 100. The three cables (J1, J2, and J3) are identical and are used for operation. The J1 cable provides power to the enclosure 100; the J2 cable provides power to a Mission Critical Camera (MCC) and MCC Heater Head Window Sensor resistor jumper for the MTI mast; and the J3 cable has the mast identifying loop-back jumpers and the Oil Heater sensor resister jumper.

(15) Each dip loop cable J1, J2, J3 has sixty-five copper conductors, two single-mode fiber optic connections, and four radio-frequency conductors. As illustrated in the figure, with respect to cable J1, the radio frequency conductors are not brought through to the enclosure 100. Instead, testing is done using separate conductors 128 provided at the J1 interface cable.

(16) The breakout box conducts voltage checks and verifies the integrity of imaging system conductors in the dip loop cables J1, J2, J3 for each time that a mast is changed. These checks verify the continuity and the configuration of the inboard electronics and proper voltage levels before connecting the mast to a submarine ship. Since the dip loop cables connect to the enclosure 100; the video conductors are tested by injecting a video stream at video test ports 126, indicated at points 23/24, 61/66, and 59/67 to test that video path. Integrity of the fiber optic cable can be verified at the fiber optic connectors points 124, labeled A and B, for each connector.

(17) When the multi-position switch 116 is set to the mast type, jumper wires that identify the mast type and the resistor-jumper connections (shown in Table 1) are established.

(18) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 CONNECTOR SELECT SWITCH POSITION MAST SW J1 J2 J3 MTI Power at pin 6 300? resistor Loopback pins 21 from Sensor pin 2 to 3 and 22 Unit contact MCC + 15 900? resistor pin VDC 15 to 16 IAS Power at pin 6 300? resistor Loopback pins 21 from Sensor pin 2 to 3 to 49 Unit contact 900? resistor pin 15 to 16 LPPM Power at pin 6 No Contact Loopback pins 22 from Sensor to 49 and 21 to 49 Unit contact TYPE No Contact No Contact No Contact 20/24 (future use) (future use) (future use) OFF No Contact No Contact No Contact

(19) The multi-position switch 116 is a multi-wafer, six-position switch with one wafer for each cable (J1, J2, and J3), a switch position for each mast type, a Lamp Test position, and OFF. The multi-position switch 116 selects the mast type that will interface with the Universal Mast System (UMS) when doing the voltage checks. The switch performs two functions at each mast position. One function is providing loop-back connections that identify the mast to the UMS and provides resistive jumpers to the Heater Head Window and Oil Heater sensors in order to simulate a call for heat that will provide voltage to these test points.

(20) Conductors not used (when the mast type is selected) are carried through to the interface panels 102, 104, 106 as a test point. For example, when in the LPPM position, J1 conductors 1/39 and 1/40 (which are used for MTI and LAS but not for LPPM) are available for testing at the interface panel 102. Similarly, for J2, pins 2/3 and for J3, pins 21/22, 15/16, and 21/49 (which are not used for LPPM) are available for testing at the interface panels 104 and 106, respectively.

(21) The status indicator lights 118 provide feedback to the operator such that the functions associated with the loop-back jumper pattern of the multi-position switch 116 match the mast configuration at UMS.

(22) The GND (Ground) FAULT light 120 monitors the ground integrity of the UMS Ground Fault, Electro-Optic (E/O) Safety Ground Fault, ESM (Electronic Warfare Support Measure) Safety RTN Ground Fault, and the Configuration RTN Ground Fault on the UMS to verify voltage level readings at the test points and are based on a zero voltage ground reference. The light will be lit if there is a trace voltage on the ground plane from these power sources. That is, the GND FAULT light 120 illuminates when a ground line voltage is greater than approximately 0.5 Volts. The ground reference locations for the Azimuth Power Drawer (APD), Sensor Power Drawer (SPD), and Mast Interface Controller (MIC) are shown in Table 2.

(23) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 J1 J2 J3 UMS Ground pin 43 (APD) CONFIG RTN E/O Safety Return at pin (pin 13 MIC) 49 (SPD) ESM Safety Return at pin 51 (SPD)

(24) MTI/IAS LIGHT: a status is provided when the dip loop cable connects to J1 and J3, the Mast Selector Switch is set to MTI or IAS, and the Sensor Unit powers on at the Mast Tab. Conductors at pins 6 and 7 on J1 normally provide 15 VDC to the High Definition Color Camera (HDCC) camera but are used here for power to the breakout box circuitry.

(25) LPPM LIGHT: a status is provided when the breakout box is connected to J1 and J3, the Mast Selector Switch is set to LPPM, and the Sensor Unit is powered on at the Mast Tab. Conductors at pins 6 and 7 RTN of J1 normally provide a 28 VDC Power Bus B1 to the LPPM but are used for Breakout Box power.

(26) TYPE 20/24 LIGHT: a status light to support future TI-20 and TI-24 masts.

(27) MISMATCH: The MISMATCH light will illuminate if the mast selected at the multi-position switch 116 does not match the configuration at the UMS. When the ISIS Operator turns on the Sensor Unit at the Mast Tab GUI (Graphic User Interface), the following two conditions will cause a MISMATCH. First, if 28 VDC is present when the multi-position switch 116 is in the MTI or IAS position and second, if 15 VDC is present when the multi-position switch 116 is in the LPPM position. A mismatch condition at the UMS is indicated with blinking status lights. This mismatch happens when the multi-position switch 116 is OFF or if mast identification is not provided (i.e., loop back jumpers are not installed).

(28) Some of the advantages of the present invention include a panel layout that provides ease of access to test conductors without restrictions. The test points 122 on the interface panels 102, 104, 106 are insulated to protect from pin-to-pin shorts during measurement. Previously, measurements inside the densely populated connector had a high risk of contact with adjacent pins; thereby, potentially causing a short circuit. Operator safety is provided by interaction with the breakout box test panel rather than with the exposed voltage-carrying pins inside the connector.

(29) Furthermore, the periscope cable connector has fiber optic conductors that are frail and easily damaged by a sideways force during testing. That is, the fiber test points on the panel remove the risk of damage to the dip loop cable from operator interaction. If the pins are damaged, the breakout box rather than the dip loop is repaired. By testing the fiber optic conductors at the panel of the breakout box and if a fiber pin breaks; the breakout box is sent for repair rather than the periscope cable.

(30) The breakout box enables improved cable testing. A periscope cable consists of three different types of conductors. Each conductor type requires a different type of verification test. These tests were previously done separately.

(31) The breakout box allows testing of the copper, fiber optic, and radio frequency (RF) conductors using the one device and set of interface cables, such that the three dip loop connectors can be tested with one setup; thereby, reducing test time. The multi-position switch 116 allows the device to be used with three different photonics mast types and automatically inserts jumper wires and jumper resistors between pins for test setup according to the type of mast selected.

(32) The invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments. While particular values, relationships, materials, and steps have been set forth for purposes of describing concepts of the present disclosure, it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the disclosed embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the basic concepts and operating principles of the invention.