Wire presence and identification system

• US 5,384,540 A
• Filed: 11/09/1992
• Issued: 01/24/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Molex Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Molex Incorporated
• Inventors: Dessel, Hugo V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Regan, Maura K.
• Application Number:
  US07/973,797
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 324/539, 324/540, 324/66, 324/67, 324/658, 324/690
• US Class Current: 324/539
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/60 Identification of wires in a multicore cable

Abstract

A system for detecting the presence of and/or identifying wires at the first end of a cable comprises a signal generator for selectively applying an electrical signal to one or more wires at the second end of the cable. At least one electrode is provided for detecting the electrical signal at the first end of the cable and electronic circuitry evaluates the signals coupled to the electrode. The signal generator is an ac generator for delivering an ac square-wave signal and the electrode comprises a conductive tube of a predetermined length for inserting a wire at the first end of the cable. The wire is electrically insulated from the electrode such that the ac signal is capacitively coupled to the electrode.

Claims

1. A system for detecting the presence of and/or identifying wires at first end of a cable, the system comprising a signal generator for selectively applying an electrical signal to one or more wires at the second end of the cable, at least one electrode for detecting the electrical signal at the first end of the cable and electronic circuitry connected to at least one electrode for evaluating the signal, wherein

the signal generator is an ac generator for delivering an ac signal and at least one electrode comprises a conductive tube of a predetermined length for inserting a wire at the first end of the cable, the wire being electrically insulated from the electrode, the ac signal being capacitively coupled to the electrode.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the ac signal is a square-wave signal having a frequency between 1 kHz and 50 kHz.

3. A system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a tube of insulating material is inserted into the conductive tube of the electrode.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein the tube of insulating material is a ceramic tube.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the conductive tube of the electrode and/or the tube of insulating material are closed at one end.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein a signal routing circuit it connected between the signal generator and the wires at the second end of the cable, the routing circuit being operable to selectively connect the signal generator to one or more wires.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the signal routing circuit grounds all wires which are not connected to the signal generator.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic circuitry comprises for each electrode a series connection of a bandpass filter for passing only signals having the frequency of the signal generator, an amplifier and a threshold circuit providing an output signal only in case that a wire is inserted into its corresponding electrode and is connected to the signal generator at the second end of the cable.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the circuitry includes a controller for receiving, interpreting and displaying the output signals of the threshold circuits and for generating selecting commands for the signal routing circuit.

10. A method for connecting the wires of a cable to contact members of a connector comprising a housing including a guide and locator member and a holding member for the contact members, the method comprising the steps:

a) pushing a predetermined number of wires at first end of the cable through corresponding individual holes of the guide and locator member,

b) detecting the presence of the wires and identifying their correct position in the individual holes of the guide and locator member by means of a system comprising a signal generator for selectively applying an electrical signal to one or more wires at the second end of the cable, at least one electrode for detecting the electrical signal at the first end of the cable and electronic circuitry connected to at least one electrode for evaluating the signal, wherein step b) comprises the following steps;

i. detecting the presence of the predetermined number of wires by connecting the signal generator at the second end of the cable to at least one of the wires and checking whether or not an ac signal is capacitively coupled to the electrodes arranged under the holes at the correct positions of the guide and locator member,

ii. identifying the individual wires of the predetermined number of wires by connecting the signal generator at the second end of the cable in sequence to the wires one at a time and detecting whether or not a strong ac signal is capacitively coupled to the electrode arranged under the hole at the correct position of the guide and locator member,

c) connecting the wires to their associated contact members, if in step b) the presence and correct positions were verified.