Fault detection and isolation in automotive wiring harness including dedicated test line
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An automotive electrical system comprising:
- a plurality of electrical devices including at least one termination device; and
a wiring harness system interconnecting said electrical devices and including a plurality of harness conductors interconnected by a plurality of connectors, one of said connectors being a termination connector connected to said termination device;
said wiring harness system including a dedicated test line comprising a termination conductor disposed in said termination connector and comprising more than one of said harness conductors, said dedicated test line providing a separate continuous path when said termination connector is properly interconnected;
said dedicated test line further comprising at least one test point for testing the interconnection of said termination conductor.
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Abstract
An automotive electrical system including a wiring harness incorporates a dedicated test line passing through critical connectors and components for allowing detection and isolation of improperly connected connectors. The dedicated test line can feed through expansion connectors, termination connectors, and junction blocks. Connector fault detection and isolation can be performed as a test after final assembly and during vehicle servicing. A large number of expensive and inconvenient vehicle quits and tow-in'"'"'s are avoided that would otherwise occur.
32 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An automotive electrical system comprising:
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a plurality of electrical devices including at least one termination device; and a wiring harness system interconnecting said electrical devices and including a plurality of harness conductors interconnected by a plurality of connectors, one of said connectors being a termination connector connected to said termination device; said wiring harness system including a dedicated test line comprising a termination conductor disposed in said termination connector and comprising more than one of said harness conductors, said dedicated test line providing a separate continuous path when said termination connector is properly interconnected; said dedicated test line further comprising at least one test point for testing the interconnection of said termination conductor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for testing the interconnection of an automotive electrical system comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of electrical components including at least one termination device; interconnecting said electrical components using a wiring harness system including a plurality of harness conductors interconnected by a plurality of connectors, one of said connectors being a termination connector connected to said termination device; providing a dedicated test line in said wiring harness system comprising a termination conductor disposed in said termination connector and comprising more than one of said harness conductors, said dedicated test line providing a separate continuous path when said termination connector is properly interconnected; providing a pair of test points in said dedicated test line, said test points having said termination conductor in series therebetween; injecting a test signal at one of said test points; and monitoring the other of said test points to receive said test signal as an indication of proper interconnection of at least a portion of said electrical system. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for testing the interconnection of an automotive electrical system comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of electrical components including at least one termination device; interconnecting said electrical components using a wiring harness system including a plurality of harness conductors interconnected by a plurality of connectors, one of said connectors being a termination connector connected to said termination device; providing a dedicated test line in said wiring harness system comprising a termination conductor disposed in said termination connector and comprising more than one of said harness conductors; providing a pair of test points in said dedicated test line, said test points having said termination conductor in series therebetween; injecting a time-varying test signal across said test points; tracing said dedicated test line with an inductive pickup to sense said time-varying signal; and indicating a fault in said electrical system at a location of said test line where said time-varying signal is not sensed by said inductive pickup.
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Specification