Method, computer program and system for designing a wiring harness assembling table

• US 6,970,755 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2002
• Issued: 11/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Imai, Masahiro, Nakamura, Tsutomu, Sakakura, Kouichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAO, SHEELA S
• Application Number:
  US10/171,157
• Publication Number:
  US 20030023947A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,265 Days
• Field of Search: 700/97, 703/8, 716/12
• US Class Current: 700/97
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0207 Wire harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2113/16 Cables, cable trees or wire harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/15 Vehicle, aircraft or watercraft design
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/18 Network design, e.g. design based on topological or interconnect aspects of utility systems, piping, heating ventilation air conditioning [HVAC] or cabling circuit design at the physical level G06F30/39; network planning tools for wireless communication networks H04W16/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/00 3D [Three Dimensional] image rendering
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 43/28 for wire processing before connecting to contact members, not provided for in groups H01R43/02 - H01R43/26

Abstract

An electronic information on a wire layout path is obtained based on an information on the shape of a wiring harness developed in a 2D plane; assisting jigs suited to the wire layout path are selected; an assembling table suited to the wire layout path is selected; and a 3D shape data of the assisting jigs 32 is read and located on an assembling table 23 together with 3D shapes of a wiring harness 19 and accessories 20, 21 in a virtual 3D space defined in a computer.

Claims

1. A wiring harness assembling table designing method for designing an arrangement of an assembling table used to assemble a wiring harness and jigs for supporting a group of wires laid along a specified wire layout path above the assembling table, comprising the steps of:

obtaining design information of the wiring harness comprising wire diameter information of the wiring harness,

setting a virtual wiring harness, having a virtual thickness based on the design information of the wiring harness and the wire diameter information included in the design information,

relating the set virtual wiring harness to 3D data of accessories based on the design information, and

selecting optimal jigs for receiving the wires to be laid and making an optimal virtual arrangement of the jigs on the assembling table using a computer.

2. The wiring harness assembling table designing method of claim 1, wherein the obtained design information of the wiring harness is developed in a 2D plane.

3. The wiring harness assembling table designing method of claim 1, further comprising selecting an assembling table, and the wire layout path is developed and the jigs are virtually arranged on the selected assembling table.

4. The wiring harness assembling table designing method of claim 1, wherein a visual representation of the virtual wiring harness corresponding to the type of the accessories is made based on data on the accessories included in the design information.

5. The wiring harness assembling table designing method of claim 1, wherein the design information includes at least information on the coordinates of nodes in the wire layout path on the assembling table and an information on spans between the nodes.

6. The wiring harness assembling table designing method of claim 1, wherein a coordinate axis extending in a normal direction to a 2D plane of the wire layout path on the assembling table is added to coordinate systems of the 2D plane, and a value of a height at which the wiring harness is supported by the assisting jigs on the assembling table is set in the normal direction, thereby arranging the wire layout path in a 3D space.

7. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium, having thereon computer program code means, when said program is loaded, to make the computer execute a wiring harness assembling table designing method according to claim 1.

8. A computer-readable storage medium storing thereon a computer program, which comprises computer-readable program means for causing a computer to control an execution of a wiring harness assembling table designing method according to claim 1.

9. A wiring harness assembling table designing system for designing an arrangement of an assembling table used to assemble a wiring harness and jigs for supporting a group of wires laid along a specified path above the assembling table, comprising:

data retrieving means for retrieving design information of the wiring harness comprising a wire diameter information of the wiring harness,

computing means

for setting a virtual wiring harness, having a virtual thickness based on a the design information of the wiring harness developed in a 2D plane and the wire diameter information included in the design information, and

for relating the set virtual wiring harness to a 3D data of accessories based on the design information, and

wherein the computing means selects optimal jigs for receiving the wires to be laid and making an optimal virtual arrangement of the jigs on the assembling table using a computer.

10. A wiring harness assembling table designing system according to claim 9, wherein the computing means develops the obtained design information of the wiring harness in a 2D plane.