Electrical function group for a vehicle

• US 4,927,382 A
• Filed: 09/21/1988
• Issued: 05/22/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Huber, Anton
• Primary Examiner(s): Abrams, Neil
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHIEM M
• Application Number:
  US07/249,763
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 439/315, 439/489, 439/490, 439/488, 439/188, 439/189, 439/43, 439/49, 439/52, 439/924, 340/686, 340/687
• US Class Current: 439/490
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement

Abstract

In an electrical function group, a useful circuit having electrical module units is electrically connected via a plug-type connector. The plug-type connector is equipped with a longer and with a shorter contact pin, so that the shorter contact pin separates first when the plug-type connector comes apart. The longer contact pin is a useful contact that closes the useful circuit and the shorter contact pin is a signal contact that closes a signal circuit. The signal circuit contains a monitoring arrangement that generates an alarm when the signal circuit is parted by the signal contact. As a result thereof, an incipient parting event of the plug-type connector is recognized before the useful circuit is separated.

Claims

1. An electrical function group for a vehicle comprising a useful circuit that contains at least two electrical module units that are connected via a plurality of electrical plug-type connectors each comprising a plug part and a socket part whereby said plug part has at least one useful contact comprising a longer contact pin and at least one signal contact comprising a shorter contact pin, and said socket part has at least two contact sleeves for frictional acceptance of said contact pins, and further comprising a signal circuit being conducted serially through said plurality of electrical plug-type connectors that contains a monitoring means being conducted via the signal contact, said monitoring means generating an alarm given an interruption of said signal circuit due to a parting of the signal contact in any one of said plug-type connectors.

2. An electrical function group according to claim 1, wherein said monitoring means comprises a microprocessor.

3. An electrical function group for a vehicle comprising:

a useful circuit containing at least two modules connected by a plurality of plug-type connectors;

said connectors each having a plug part with a long useful circuit pin and a short signal pin and a socket part with a contact sleeve for frictionally receiving each of said pins;

a signal circuit containing a monitoring means and a reference potential connected serially by said plurality of plug-type connectors, and

an alarm means operated by said signal circuit upon a detection by said monitoring means of a break in the connection between said monitoring means and said reference potential.

4. An electrical arrangement for a vehicle comprising at least one useful circuit connecting two electrical module units via a respective electrical plug-type connector, the plug-type connector comprising a plug part and a socket part, said plug part having two spaced signal contacts and at least one useful contact disposed between said signal contacts, said useful contact comprising a longer contact pin and said two signal contacts each comprising a shorter contact pin, and said socket part having at least three contact sleeves for frictional acceptance of said contact pins, said arrangement further comprising a signal series circuit including a monitoring means for generating an alarm and said signal contacts and the respective sleeves in which said signal contacts are accepted, said monitoring means generating an alarm given an interruption of said signal series circuit due to a parting of either of said signal contacts.