Device for detecting placement of electrical connector terminal

Abstract

Abstract The present invention provides an improved detection device for electrical terminal in a connector housing in such a way that its identical placement in a correct and specific cavity of an electrical connector housing is confirmed while complete insertion of the terminal and resulting stable lock within the cavity are both assured. To achieve the above objects the detection device of the present invention is designed to have the following characteristic features: (1) Placement of an electrical terminal in the cavity (33) with predetermined address is detected by making a contact of the electric terminal in the cavity (33) to a contact sensor probe (3a) located in an opposite side of the passway of the relevant cavity of the connector housing. (2) A locking mechanism (36) is provided in such a way that an opening on the bottom surface of the electrical terminal will make on locking engagement with a projection of resilient arm in a cavity floor of the terminal passway. (3) When the electrical terminal is inserted deep enough into the cavity and the opening in the bottom first meet with the lock projection, the front surface of the terminal make a contact to the contact sensor probe. (4) The terminal continues to move deeper into the cavity pushing the contact sensor probe compressedly until the terminal reaches a stopper on the passway of the cavity of the electrical housing causing contact of another end portion of the sensor proble to make another contact to an adjacent electrical contact point. (5) The second indication circuit is made with illumination of a lamp indiating completion of the terminal insertion accompanied by its locking engagement in the specific cavity member of the electrical connector housing.

Inventors

• 👤 Kengo Ohno

Bibliographic Details