US5264796A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fault detection and isolation in automotive wiring harness including dedicated test line
Assignee: NATION CENTER FOR MANUFACTURING SCIENCES (NCMS)
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Filing: 1990-04-03
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Granted: 1993-11-23
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Expires: 2010-04-03
Abstract
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.
Inventors
- 👤 David J. Klassen
- 👤 Edward G. Anderson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 05:51
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01R; G01R31/00; G01R31/08; G01R31/081; G01R31/086; G01R31/005; G01R31/006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
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.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
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.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electrical system of claim 1 wherein said dedicated test line includes a pair of test points having said termination conductor electrically in series therebetween.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The electrical system of claim 2 wherein said termination conductor extends to one of said test points, said test point being located on the exterior surface of said termination connector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electrical system of claim 2 wherein one test point of said pair of test points provides an origination for said dedicated test line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electrical system of claim 1 wherein said dedicated test line is comprised of electrical harness conductors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
The electrical system of claim 5 wherein said dedicated test line includes terminal contacts within said termination connector, said terminal contacts being the last of all contacts in said termination connector to make contact during interconnection of said termination connector and being the first of all said contacts to break contact during disconnection of said termination connector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrical system of claim 6 wherein said termination connector is locked together when said last-to-make and first-to-break contacts are in contact.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electrical system of claim 1 wherein said dedicated test line is comprised of optical harness conductors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The electrical system of claim 1 wherein said termination connector has a harness end and a device end, said termination conductor being integral with said device end and connected in series with a pair of said harness conductors via said harness end of said termination connector.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electrical system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of connectors further include at least one expansion connector having said dedicated test line passing therethrough.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
The electrical system of claim 10 wherein said dedicated test line includes terminal contacts within said expansion connector, said terminal contacts being the last of all contacts in said expansion connector to make contact during interconnection of said expansion connector and being the first of all said contacts to break contact during disconnection of said expansion connector.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The electrical system of claim 11 wherein said expansion connector is locked together when said last-to-make and first-to-break contacts are in contact.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electrical system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of connectors further include at least one junction block having said dedicated test line passing therethrough.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The electrical system of claim 1 including a plurality of termination connectors, each termination connector having a harness end and a device end and each termination connector having a test point located on the exterior surface of its device end.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
164 words
A method for testing the interconnection of an automotive electrical system comprising the steps of: 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.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
164 words
A method for testing the interconnection of an automotive electrical system comprising the steps of: 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.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said dedicated test line follows a path including a plurality of critical components in said electrical system.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said monitoring step determines electrical continuity between said test points.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said monitoring step determines optical transmissivity between said test points.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
159 words
A method for testing the interconnection of an automotive electrical system comprising the steps of: 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.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
159 words
A method for testing the interconnection of an automotive electrical system comprising the steps of: 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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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-11-22 | 1997-05-24 | 1997-11-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-11-22 | 2001-05-24 | 2001-11-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-11-22 | 2005-05-24 | 2005-11-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |