JP2012180025A - Relay connector, wiring harness structure, and identification information setting tool - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a relay connector which eliminates the need of product management for each ID and is miniaturized, a wiring harness structure having the relay connector, and an identification information setting tool for setting identification information on the relay connector.SOLUTION: When a setting signal is not input to setting terminal metal fittings T5, a CPU in a relay connector 33 adds an own ID to an incoming signal sent from an electronic device 10 through first terminal metal fittings T1 and sends the resultant signal to an ECU 20 through signal line terminal metal fittings T4, or carries out a communication operation for controlling the electronic device 10 through the first terminal metal fittings T1 in accordance with the incoming signal when the own ID is added to an incoming signal sent from the ECU 20 through the signal line terminal metal fittings T4. When a setting signal is input to the setting terminal metal fittings T5, the CPU in the relay connector 33 stops the communication operation and sets an ID corresponding to the incoming signal from the first terminal metal fittings T1.

Description

  The present invention relates to a relay connector, a wire harness structure, and an identification information setting jig, and in particular, enables communication between a plurality of electronic devices mounted on a vehicle and an electronic control device that controls the plurality of electronic devices. The present invention relates to a relay connector for connection, a wire harness structure including the relay connector, and an identification information setting jig for setting identification information for the relay connector.

  Vehicles such as passenger cars and freight cars are equipped with a wide variety of electronic devices such as air conditioners, wipers, and power windows. These electronic devices are electrically connected to an electronic control unit (ECU) constituted by a computer or the like, and electric power, control signals, and the like are transmitted between these electronic devices and the ECU.

  Conventionally, as an electronic control system for controlling the above-described electronic device, for example, a system as shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the electronic control system 1 includes one ECU 20 and a plurality of relay connectors 33 commonly connected to one second wire harness 32, and a plurality of electronic devices 10 respectively connected to the relay connectors 33. And.

  The second wire harness 32 includes three electric wires, that is, a power line L1, a ground line L2, and a signal line L3. The plurality of relay connectors 33 and the ECU 20 are commonly connected to the one power line L1, the ground line L2, and the signal line L3, respectively.

  The relay connector 33 exchanges signals with the ECU 20 via the signal line L3, and controls the operation of the electronic device 10 connected to the relay connector 33 according to the signal exchange. Each relay connector 33 includes a CPU (not shown) that controls the entire relay connector 33.

  As described above, each relay connector 33 is set with an ID as identification information in order to connect the ECU 20 and the plurality of relay connectors 33 to one signal line L3 to realize signal exchange. Each relay connector 33 transmits a signal by attaching a transmission destination ID and its own ID to the signal, and receives a signal with its own ID attached.

  If the ID is not set, it is impossible to exchange signals between the ECU 20 connected to one signal line L3 and the plurality of relay connectors 33. Therefore, setting the ID is indispensable. Conventionally, as the ID setting, for example, a plurality of ID setting switch groups are built in the housing of the relay connector 33 or stored individually in a nonvolatile memory (not shown) provided in the relay connector 33 at the time of manufacture. And so on.

  However, the ID setting method described above requires product management for each ID. Moreover, if the external appearance is the same, the relay connectors 33 cannot be distinguished from each other, so that they are erroneously connected, regular control cannot be performed, and a product may be defective. Therefore, for example, a plurality of ID setting terminal fittings are provided in the relay connector 33 in addition to the communication and power supply terminal fittings, and a plurality of ID setting terminal fittings are connected to the mating connector connected to the relay connector 33. It is also conceivable to provide a selector terminal connected to one corresponding to the ID (Patent Document 2). However, in this case, as described above, it is necessary to provide a plurality of ID setting terminal fittings separately from the terminal fittings for communication and power supply, and the size of the relay connector 33 is increased and the shape is complicated. There is.

JP 2008-225673 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-6748

  Therefore, the present invention does not require product management for each ID, and further, a relay connector with a reduced size, a wire harness structure provided with the relay connector, and identification for setting identification information on the relay connector It is an object to provide an information setting jig.

  The invention according to claim 1 for solving the above-described problem is a first terminal fitting to which a first wire harness connected to an electronic device mounted on a vehicle is connected, and an electronic control device that controls the electronic device. A second terminal metal fitting connected to the second wire harness connected to the first terminal metal fitting, and a signal received from the electronic device via the first terminal metal fitting to add self-identification information via the second terminal metal fitting. If self-identification information is added to a signal transmitted to the electronic control device or received from the electronic control device via the second terminal fitting, the first terminal fitting is changed according to the received signal. And a communication control means for performing a communication operation to control the electronic device via the setting terminal fitting to which a setting signal for setting the identification information is input, and the setting terminal fitting. in front Identification information setting means for setting the identification information according to signals input from the plurality of first terminal fittings when a setting signal is inputted, and the communication control means includes the setting terminal fittings When the setting signal is input to the relay connector, the communication operation is stopped.

  The invention according to claim 2 is a wire harness structure for communicably connecting a plurality of electronic devices mounted on a vehicle and an electronic control device that controls the plurality of electronic devices. The plurality of relay connectors, the plurality of first wire harnesses connecting the first terminal fittings of the plurality of relay connectors and the electronic device, the second terminal fittings of the plurality of relay connectors, and the electronic control. The present invention resides in a wire harness structure including a second wire harness that connects the device.

  The invention described in claim 3 is an identification information setting jig for setting the identification information in the relay connector described in claim 1, and is for a first setting connected to the setting terminal fitting of the relay connector. A terminal metal fitting, a second setting terminal metal fitting connected to the plurality of first terminal metal fittings of the relay connector, a setting signal is transmitted to the first setting terminal metal fitting, and the second setting terminal metal fitting is identified. And an identification information setting jig characterized by comprising control means for transmitting information.

  As described above, according to the first and second aspects of the invention, when a setting signal is input to the setting terminal fitting, the communication control unit stops the communication operation, and the identification information setting unit includes a plurality of identification information setting units. Since the identification information corresponding to the signal input from the one terminal fitting is set, all the relay connectors are the same before being assembled to the wire harness, so that it is not necessary to manage the relay connector for each identification information. Further, since the identification information is set by switching the first terminal fitting with the setting terminal fitting, the relay connector can be miniaturized.

  According to the invention of claim 3, since the control means transmits the setting signal to the first setting terminal fitting and the identification information to the second setting terminal fitting, it is simple only by connecting the connector to the relay connector. Identification information can be set in the.

It is a block diagram which shows one Embodiment of the electronic control system incorporating the relay connector and wire harness structure of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the detail of the chip | tip which comprises the relay connector shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the state which attached the ID setting jig | tool to each relay connector shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the state which attached the inspection jig to the 1st wire harness shown in FIG. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process sequence of the ID setting jig | tool shown in FIG. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the process sequence of the inspection jig shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, a relay connector, a wire harness structure, and an identification information setting jig according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an electronic control system incorporating a relay connector and a wire harness structure according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing details of a chip constituting the relay connector shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram illustrating a state where an ID setting jig is attached to each relay connector illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram illustrating a state in which an inspection jig is attached to the wire harness structure illustrated in FIG. 1.

  An electronic control system 1 shown in FIG. 1 is mounted on a vehicle (not shown). The electronic control system 1 includes a plurality of electronic devices 10, an electronic control unit (hereinafter referred to as ECU) 20 that controls the electronic devices 10, and a wire harness structure for connecting the plurality of electronic devices 10 and the ECU 20 so that they can communicate with each other. 30.

The electronic device 10 is various devices controlled by the ECU 20, and examples thereof include various switches such as an air conditioner, a wiper, a power window, and a door switch. The ECU 20 is supplied with a power supply voltage V _B from an in-vehicle battery. The ECU 20 includes a microprocessor (MPU) 21 that controls the entire electronic control system 1 and an external connector 22 that is connected to a wire harness structure 30 and the like described later.

  When the switch ON information is input from the relay connector 33 described later, the MPU 21 receives the ID of the electronic device 10 corresponding to the operation switch and the ID (identification information) of the relay connector 33 to which the electronic device 10 is connected. A control signal added as destination information is output.

The external connector 22 is connected to the MPU 21. The external connector 22 incorporates a communication interface corresponding to a predetermined communication protocol (for example, LIN (Local Interconnect Network)) for performing multiplex communication with a plurality of relay connectors 33 described later. Further, the external connector 22, a power supply terminal, the power supply voltage of V _B to the + side of the power supply voltage V _B output - signal control signal side is connected to the ground terminal and the communication interface output is an output terminal ( Neither is shown).

  The wire harness structure 30 includes a plurality of first wire harnesses 31, a second wire harness 32, and a plurality of relay connectors 33.

Each of the plurality of first wire harnesses 31 includes a plurality of electric wires that connect each electronic device 10 and the relay connector 33. As electric wires constituting the first wire harness 31, in addition to signal lines for transmitting control signals addressed to the respective electronic devices 10, power lines and ground lines for supplying the power supply voltage V _B to the respective electronic devices 10. However, in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the power supply line and the ground line, and the terminal fitting of the relay connector 33 to be described later connected to the power supply line and the ground line are omitted.

  In the second wire harness 32, a power line L1 connected to the power terminal of the external connector 22, a ground line L2 connected to the ground terminal, and a control signal connected to the signal terminal and addressed to each relay connector 33 are multiplexed. It consists of three electric wires of the signal line L3 to be transmitted (serial).

  A connection connector 32a is provided at one end of the second wire harness 32. When the connection connector 32a is connected to the external connector 22, the power terminal of the external connector 22 is connected to the power line L1, and the ground terminal is grounded. The signal terminal is connected to the signal line L3. In addition, a plurality of relay connectors 33 described later are attached to the second wire harness 32.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the relay connector 33 is a connector that connects the first wire harness 31 and the second wire harness 32. The relay connector 33 includes an outer housing 34 indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 1 and a control circuit package 35 accommodated in the outer housing 34. The outer housing 34 is formed in a flat box shape using an insulating synthetic resin, and integrally includes a cylindrical hood portion 34a and a control circuit package housing chamber 34b connected to the hood portion 34a. ing.

  The control circuit package 35 includes, for example, eight first terminal fittings T1 connected to terminals of signal lines constituting the first wire harness 31, and power lines L1 and ground lines L2 constituting the second wire harness 32, respectively. A power supply terminal fitting T2, a ground terminal fitting T3, a signal line terminal fitting T4 (= second terminal fitting) connected to the signal line L3, and a setting terminal to which a setting signal for setting an ID is input. A metal fitting T5 and a sealing body 36 are provided.

  The first terminal fitting T1 and the setting terminal fitting T5 are made of a conductive metal, one end of which is inserted into a sealing body 36 to be described later, and the other end is a pair of the sealing body 36 facing each other. Each protrudes from one of the faces. A male tab terminal is formed at the other end of the first terminal fitting T1 and the setting terminal fitting T5 that protrudes to the outside, and is accommodated in the hood portion 34a in the outer housing 34.

  The male tab terminal formed on the first terminal fitting T1 is electrically connected to the female terminal fitting in the connector when a connector (not shown) attached to the end of the first wire harness 31 is fitted. . Thereby, each electronic device 10 is connected to each of the 1st terminal metal fitting T1 via the 1st wire harness 31. FIG. On the other hand, the setting terminal fitting T5 is not connected to the first wire harness 31 and is in an open state.

  The power terminal fitting T2, the ground terminal fitting T3, and the signal line terminal fitting T4 are made of conductive metal, and one end is inserted into a sealing body 36, which will be described later, and the other end is a sealing body. Projecting from the other of the pair of surfaces facing each other. In addition, a pressure contact terminal is formed on the other end of the power supply terminal fitting T2, the ground terminal fitting T3, and the signal line terminal fitting T4, and the power contact line L1 and the ground line are respectively connected to the pressure contact terminals. L2 and the signal line L3 are in pressure contact.

  The sealing body 36 is resin-sealed in a state where a chip 37 incorporating a control circuit and one end of the terminal fittings T1 to T5 are connected by wire bonding. As shown in FIG. 2, the chip 37 in the sealing body 36 includes a communication interface 37a, an input / output port 37b, a memory 37c, and a CPU 37d as communication control means and identification information setting means. .

  The communication interface 37a is an interface corresponding to a predetermined protocol for performing multiplex communication with the ECU 20 described above. In the input / output port 37b, the ID of the electronic device 10 connected to each of the plurality of first terminal fittings T1 is stored as an address assigned to each first terminal fitting T1. The memory 37c is a non-volatile memory, and the ID of the relay connector 33 is stored. The CPU 37d is a central processing unit that controls the entire relay connector 33.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the CPU 37d includes a communication control unit 37d-1, an input / output control unit 37d-2, and an ID control unit 37d-3. The communication control unit 37d-1 receives the control signal transmitted from the ECU 20 via the signal line terminal fitting T4, and when the ID of the relay connector 33 included in the received control signal is not its own ID The control signal is discarded, and when the ID of the relay connector 33 included in the received control signal is its own ID, the control signal is output to the input / output control unit 37d-2 described later. When the input / output control unit 37d-2 receives the control signal from the communication control unit 37d-1, the input / output control unit 37d-2 receives the control signal from the first terminal fitting T1 connected to the ID of the electronic device 10 added to the control signal. Send.

  When the input / output control unit 37d-2 receives a control signal from the electronic device 10 via the first terminal fitting T1, the input / output control unit 37d-2 sends the ID of the electronic device 10 assigned to the first terminal fitting T1 to the sender information. And supplied to the communication control unit 37d-1. When the communication control unit 37d-1 receives the control signal from the input / output control unit 37d-2, it further adds the ID of its own relay connector 33 as source information to the ECU 20 via the signal line terminal fitting T4. Send.

  The ID control unit 37d-3 reads an ID corresponding to a signal input from the plurality of first terminal fittings T1 when an H level setting signal is inputted to the setting terminal fitting T5, and the read ID Is set as the ID of the relay connector 33 and stored in the memory 37c. Specifically, the ID control unit 37d-3 includes an ID reading unit 37d-31, a selector 37d-32, and an ID reading enable 37d-33.

  The ID reading unit 37d-31 inserts the ID corresponding to the signal input from the first terminal fitting T1 into the memory 37c as the ID of the relay connector 33. That is, if the first terminal fitting T1 has 8 terminals, the ID is “0” when it is “00000000”, the ID is “1” when it is “00000001”, and the ID is “2” when it is “00000010”. "

  The selector 37d-32 switches the input from the first terminal fitting T1 between the input / output control unit 37d-2 and the ID reading unit 37d-31. The ID reading enable 37d-33 detects the input of a setting signal to the setting terminal fitting T5. When the setting signal is detected, the ID reading enable 37d-33 enables the function of the ID reading unit 37d-31 and the selector 37d-32 causes the first terminal fitting T1. The input is switched to the ID reading unit 37d-31 side. By this switching, the communication operation between the ECU 20 and the electronic device 10 by the input / output control unit 37d-2 and the communication control unit 37d-1 is stopped, and the ID setting by the ID reading unit 37d-31 is performed.

  On the other hand, the ID reading enable 37d-33 invalidates the function of the ID reading unit 37d-31 and inputs / outputs the input from the first terminal fitting T1 by the selector 37d-32 when the input of the setting signal is not detected. Switch to the control unit 37d-2 side. By this switching, an ID setting operation by the ID reading unit 37d-31 is not performed, and a communication operation between the ECU 20 and the electronic device 10 is performed by the input / output control unit 37d-2 and the communication control unit 37d-1.

  Next, an ID setting jig 40 as an identification information setting jig for setting an ID in each relay connector 33 constituting the wire harness structure 30 having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the ID setting jig 40 is a connector connected to each relay connector 33 instead of a connector (not shown) provided at the terminal of the first wire harness 31, and the number of relay connectors 33 is the same. Is provided. In each ID setting jig 40, an ID corresponding to the relay connector 33 connected to the connector is stored in a memory (not shown).

  The ID setting jig 40 is attached to the female first setting terminal fitting T6 that is fitted and connected to the setting terminal fitting T5 of the relay connector 33, and the plurality of first terminal fittings T1 of the relay connector 33. The female second setting terminal fitting T7 to be connected by fitting, the CPU 41 as the control means connected to the first setting terminal fitting T6 and the second setting terminal fitting T7, and these are accommodated. And a connector housing 42.

  The CPU 41 is a central processing unit that controls the entire ID setting jig 40. The CPU 41 transmits an H level setting signal to the first setting terminal fitting T6 and stores it in the second setting terminal fitting T7 in the memory. The transmitted ID is transmitted. The connector housing 42 is made of an insulating synthetic resin or the like, and is provided with a hood portion 42a that fits into the hood portion 34a of the relay connector 33. The hood portion 42a includes the first setting terminal fitting T6 and the first terminal fitting T6. A 2-setting terminal fitting T7 is accommodated. When the hood portion 34a of the relay connector 33 is fitted to the hood portion 42a of the ID setting jig 40, the first setting terminal fitting T6 is connected to the setting terminal fitting T5, and the second setting fitting is connected to the first terminal fitting T1. Terminal fitting T7 is connected.

  Next, an inspection jig 50 for inspecting whether each relay connector 33 constituting the wire harness structure 30 having the above-described configuration is correctly set with ID and can perform regular communication will be described below with reference to FIG. explain. The inspection jig 50 includes an external connector 51 that is connected to the connection connector 32a, and a CPU 52 that controls inspection of the entire inspection jig 50 connected via the connection connector 32a.

An ID setting procedure and an inspection procedure using the ID setting jig 40 and the inspection jig 50 having the above-described configuration will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the processing procedure of the ID setting jig shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the processing procedure of the inspection jig shown in FIG. First, the power supply terminal fitting T2, the ground terminal fitting T3, and the signal line terminal fitting T4 of the relay connector 33 are attached to the second wire harness 32 by pressure contact. Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the ID setting jig 40 is attached to each relay connector 33 attached to the second wire harness 32. Thereafter, the power supply of the ID setting jig 40 is turned on and the power supply voltage V _B is supplied to each relay connector 33 through the connection connector 32a.

  When the power is turned on, the CPU 41 in the ID setting jig 40 outputs an H level setting signal to the setting terminal fitting T5 of the relay connector 33 via the first setting terminal fitting T6 and the second setting terminal fitting T6. The ID stored in the memory is output to the first terminal fitting T1 of the relay connector 33 via the setting terminal fitting T7.

  On the other hand, when the power is supplied, the CPU in the relay connector 33 starts operation as shown in FIG. 5, first detects the state of the setting terminal fitting T5, and determines whether or not the setting signal is input. Is detected (step S11). If the setting signal is input (Y in step S11), the CPU 37d reads the ID input to the first terminal fitting T1 (step S12), and stores the read ID as its own ID in the memory 37c. (Step S13), the process ends. On the other hand, if the setting signal has not been input (N in step S11), the CPU starts the normal communication operation process (step S14), and ends the process. With the above operation, when the ID setting jig 40 is connected to the relay connector 33, the ID of the relay connector 33 is set.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the ID setting jig 40 is removed from the relay connector 33, and the inspection jig 50 is connected to the connection connector 32 a instead of the ECU 20. Accordingly, the inspection jig 50 is turned on and the relay connector 33 is turned on. When the power is turned on, as shown in FIG. 6, the CPU 52 of the inspection jig 50 sequentially transmits a command attached with the ID to all the relay connectors 33 via the signal line L3 (step S21). .

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the power is supplied to the relay connector 33 with the ID setting jig 40 removed, N is obtained in step S11 of FIG. 5, and the normal operation process is started. Therefore, when receiving a command from the inspection jig 50, the CPU 37d in each relay connector 33 transmits a response attached with its own ID as source information.

  Next, the CPU 52 in the inspection jig 50 determines whether or not there is a response from each relay connector 33 for command transmission (step S22), and if there is a response from all the relay connectors 33 (step S22). And Y), the fact of normality is notified (step S23), and the process is terminated. On the other hand, if there is no response from all the relay connectors 33 (N in step S22), the relay connector 33 that is a test NG and has no response is notified (step S24), and the process is terminated.

  Thereafter, the first wire harness 31 is attached to the relay connector 33 determined to be normal by the inspection, and the wire harness structure 30 is completed.

  According to the relay connector 33 described above, when a setting signal is input to the setting terminal fitting T5, the CPU 37d stops the communication operation and sets an ID corresponding to the signals input from the plurality of first terminal fittings T1. Therefore, since all the relay connectors 33 are the same before being assembled to the wire harnesses 31 and 32, it is not necessary to manage the relay connectors 33 for each ID. Further, since the ID is set by switching the first terminal fitting T1 with the setting terminal fitting T5, the relay connector 33 can be downsized.

  Further, according to the above-described embodiment, the CPU 41 in the ID fixing jig 40 transmits the setting signal to the first setting terminal fitting T6 and also transmits the ID to the second setting terminal fitting T7. The ID can be easily set only by connecting the connector 33.

  Further, the above-described embodiments are merely representative forms of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. That is, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

10 Electronic Equipment 20 ECU (Electronic Control Device)
30 wire harness structure 31 first wire harness 32 second wire harness 33 relay connector 37d CPU (communication control means, identification information setting means)
40 ID setting jig (identification information setting jig)
41 CPU (control means)
T1 First terminal fitting T4 Signal line terminal fitting (second terminal fitting)
T5 Setting terminal fitting T6 First setting terminal fitting T7 Second setting terminal fitting

Claims (3)

A first terminal fitting to which a first wire harness connected to an electronic device mounted on a vehicle is connected, and a second terminal fitting to which a second wire harness connected to an electronic control device that controls the electronic device is connected. And adding its own identification information to the signal received from the electronic device via the first terminal fitting and transmitting the signal to the electronic control device via the second terminal fitting, or the second terminal fitting Communication control means for performing a communication operation for controlling the electronic device via the first terminal fitting according to the received signal if the identification information is added to the signal received from the electronic control device via In the relay connector with
A setting terminal fitting to which a setting signal for setting the identification information is input;
Identification information setting means for setting the identification information according to signals input from the plurality of first terminal fittings when the setting signal is inputted to the setting terminal fittings,
The relay connector, wherein the communication control means stops the communication operation when the setting signal is input to the setting terminal fitting. A wire harness structure for communicably connecting a plurality of electronic devices mounted on a vehicle and an electronic control device that controls the plurality of electronic devices,
A plurality of relay connectors according to claim 1;
A plurality of first wire harnesses connecting the first terminal fittings of the plurality of relay connectors and the electronic device;
A second wire harness that connects the second terminal fitting of the plurality of relay connectors and the electronic control unit;
A wire harness structure comprising: An identification information setting jig for setting the identification information in the relay connector according to claim 1,
A first setting terminal fitting connected to the setting terminal fitting of the relay connector;
A second setting terminal fitting connected to the plurality of first terminal fittings of the relay connector;
Control means for transmitting a setting signal to the first setting terminal fitting and transmitting identification information to the second setting terminal fitting;
An identification information setting jig characterized by comprising:

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