VEHICULAR WIRING SYSTEM

• US 20180358750A1
• Filed: 12/13/2016
• Published: 12/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Electric Industries Limited (Sumitomo Corporation), Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Miyamura, Tetsuya, Takeda, Kazuaki, Tabata, Masaaki, Omori, Yasuo
• Granted Patent: US 10,644,452 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0207 Wire harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07 with integrated circuit chips
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/465 Identification means, e.g. labels, tags, markings H01R9/2475, H01R9/2683 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6272 comprising a single latching arm
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/639 Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/645 by exchangeable elements on case or base
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/26 for vehicles

Abstract

A wiring system includes a plurality of connectors (C1 to C9). Each connector includes a first connector housing (10), a second connector housing (20) and a connector identifying member (30). The first connector housing (10) includes an identifying member holding portion for holding the connector identifying member (30). The second connector housing (20) includes a restraint releasing portion for releasing the restraint of the connector identifying member (30) only when the first and second connector housings (10, 20) are connected properly. Each connector identifying member (30) holds identification information for distinguishing the connector to which the connector identifying member belongs.

Claims

1. A vehicular wiring system to be provided in a vehicle, comprising a plurality of connectors, wherein:

each connector includes a first connector housing, a second connector housing to be electrically connected to the first connector housing and a connector identifying member to be held in the first connector housing;

the first connector housing includes an identifying member holding portion for holding the connector identifying member, and the identifying member holding portion includes a restraining portion for restraining the connector identifying member to prevent the separation of the connector identifying member from the first connector housing;

the second connector housing includes a restraint releasing portion for releasing the restraint of the connector identifying member by the restraining portion to allow the separation of the connector identifying member only when the first and second connector housings are connected properly and not releasing the restraint when the first and second connector housings are not connected properly; and

the connector identifying member includes an identification information holding portion for holding identification information for distinguishing the connector, to which the connector identifying member belongs.

2. The vehicular wiring system of claim 1, further comprising a wiring harness to be routed in the vehicle, wherein the connectors are provided at locations different from each other in the wiring harness.

3. The vehicular wiring system of claim 2, wherein the identification information holding portion includes an IC chip for storing the identification information as electronic information.

4. The vehicular wiring system of claim 2, wherein the identification information holding portion is shaped to correspond to the identification information to be held and shaped to be different from the identification information holding portions of the other connector identifying members.

5. A management method, comprising:

preparing the vehicular wiring system of claim 1;

causing the restraining portion of the identifying member holding portion of the first connector housing to restrain the connector identifying member in each of the plurality of connectors included in the vehicular wiring system;

collecting the connector identifying member having the restraint by the restraining portion released through the connection of the first and second connector housings in each connector and released from the identifying member holding portion of the first connector housing; and

specifying the connector, in which the first and second connector housings are not properly connected, out of the plurality of connectors based on the identification information held in the identification information holding portion of each collected connector identifying member.

6. The vehicular wiring system of claim 1, wherein the identification information holding portion includes an IC chip for storing the identification information as electronic information.

7. The vehicular wiring system of claim 1, wherein the identification information holding portion is shaped to correspond to the identification information to be held and shaped to be different from the identification information holding portions of the other connector identifying members.