WO2020090107A1

WO2020090107A1 - Connector

Info

Publication number: WO2020090107A1
Application number: PCT/JP2018/040830
Authority: WO
Inventors: 彩絵清水
Original assignee: 株式会社オートネットワーク技術研究所; 住友電装株式会社; 住友電気工業株式会社
Priority date: 2018-11-02
Filing date: 2018-11-02
Publication date: 2020-05-07

Abstract

A connector 10 provided in a vehicle interior comprises: a housing 11 comprising an insulator; a plurality of terminals 12 housed in the housing 11; a plurality of electric wires 13 connected to the plurality of respective terminals 12 and individually led out in the same direction from a plurality of openings 15 formed in an electric wire lead-out surface 16 which is a part of an outer surface of the housing 11; and a notification section 20 for notifying that water has adhered to the electric wire lead-out surface 16.

Description

connector

The present invention relates to a connector for a vehicle, which is provided especially in a passenger compartment.

Unlike the connectors provided outside the vehicle compartment such as the engine room, the connectors provided inside the vehicle compartment are rarely exposed to a large amount of rainwater, but they can be used by wet personnel, carry-on wet items, or drink beverages. A small amount of water may adhere due to spillage and the internal terminals may be corroded by water. Therefore, for example, in the connector disclosed in Patent Document 1, the entry portion of the electric wire from the housing is tape-wound to prevent water from entering through the opening of the housing through which the electric wire is led out.

JP, 2016-201299, A

The present inventor has examined measures other than preventing water from entering the housing as measures against water splashing in the vehicle interior connector.
An object of the present invention is to provide a connector capable of suppressing corrosion of internal parts.

A connector for solving the above-mentioned problems is a connector provided in a vehicle interior, wherein a housing made of an insulator, a plurality of terminals housed in the housing, and a plurality of terminals respectively connected to the plurality of terminals are provided on an outer surface of the housing. A plurality of electric wires led out in the same direction from a plurality of openings formed on the electric wire lead-out surface, which is a part of the electric wire lead-out surface, and an announcing unit for announcing that water adheres to the electric wire lead-out surface.

According to the above aspect, the occupant can immediately know that the connector has been flooded by the notification of the notification unit. Then, by taking appropriate measures such as wiping off the water adhering to the connector, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of corrosion in the terminals and the like in the housing, and as a result, it is possible to suppress the trouble in the vehicle circuit.

In the connector, the notification unit is a first detection line that is one of the plurality of electric wires and to which a voltage is applied, a second detection line that is one of the plurality of electric wires and is grounded, and the wire is derived. A conductive portion provided on the surface and having a conductivity, and a current detection portion for detecting a current flowing through the second detection line.

According to the above aspect, it is possible to detect the current flowing through the second detection line when the detection lines are electrically connected to the conductive portion due to the water, and to make a notification based on the detection.
In the connector, the conductive portion surrounds a first surrounding portion surrounding the opening where the first detection line is led out and a periphery of the opening where the second detection line is led out, 1 surrounding part and a 2nd surrounding part connected.

According to the above aspect, it is easy for the first detection line and the conductive part to be electrically connected to each other and the second detection line and the conductive part to be electrically connected to each other when exposed to water. Therefore, it becomes easy to detect the adhesion of water to the wire lead-out surface.

According to the connector of the present invention, it is possible to suppress corrosion of internal parts.

The perspective view of the connector of an embodiment. Sectional drawing of the connector of the same form.

An embodiment of the connector will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, for convenience of description, a part of the configuration may be exaggerated or simplified. Also, the dimensional ratio of each part may be different from the actual one.

As shown in FIG. 1, the connector 10 of the present embodiment is a connector provided in the vehicle interior, and is for electrically connecting various electric devices of the vehicle. The connector 10 is one of a pair of male and female connectors, and is connected to a mating connector (not shown).

The connector 10 includes a housing 11 made of an insulator, a plurality of terminals 12 housed in the housing 11, and a plurality of electric wires 13 connected to the plurality of terminals 12 and led out of the housing 11. Each terminal 12 is a crimp terminal which is made of, for example, copper or a copper alloy and is fixed to each electric wire 13 by crimping. At least one of the electric wires 13 is made of a metal (for example, aluminum or aluminum alloy) different in material from the terminal 12.

The housing 11 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. A plurality of terminal accommodating portions 14 (see FIG. 2) that accommodate a plurality of terminals 12 are formed in the housing 11. A plurality of openings 15 through which the electric wires 13 connected to the terminals 12 are respectively led are formed at one end of each terminal accommodating portion 14. Each opening 15 is provided on the wire lead-out surface 16 which is one of the outer surfaces of the housing 11. The electric wires 13 are led out to the outside of the housing 11 through the openings 15 in the same direction. The wire lead-out surface 16 of the present embodiment has a substantially flat shape that is orthogonal to the lead-out direction of each wire 13. The openings 15 are provided in a grid pattern of four rows in the width direction of the connector 10 and two rows in the height direction of the connector 10, and a total of six openings 15 are provided.

Each electric wire 13 is a covered electric wire in which the core wire is covered with an insulating coating. The number of the electric wires 13 in the present embodiment is 6, and includes four mating connecting wires 13a and two sensing wires (first sensing wire 13b and second sensing wire 13c). In the present embodiment, the first detection line 13b and the second detection line 13c are set to be two lines arranged in the height direction at one end of the connector 10 in the width direction. The terminal 12 fixed to the end of each mating side connecting wire 13a is connected to the terminal (not shown) of the mating connector. The terminals 12 fixed to the ends of the first and

second detection lines

13b and 13c are not connected to the terminals of the mating connector and are in an open state when the connector 10 and the mating connector are connected. (See FIG. 2).

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the connector 10 includes a notification unit 20 for reporting that water has adhered to the wire lead-out surface 16 of the housing 11. The notification unit 20 supplies current to the first and

second detection wires

13b and 13c, the conductive portion 21 provided on the wire lead-out surface 16 of the housing 11 and having conductivity, and the first and

second detection wires

13b and 13c. It is provided with a current detection unit 22 for detecting that the current has flown, and a display lamp 23 for performing a display operation based on an input signal from the current detection unit 22. It is desirable that the indicator lamp 23 is provided at a location where it is easy for the occupant to visually recognize it, such as a meter panel of a vehicle or a rearview mirror.

A voltage is applied to the first detection line 13b from a power source (not shown). The second detection line 13c is grounded and connected to the current detection unit 22. The current detection unit 22 of this embodiment is included in the vehicle body ECU of the vehicle.

The conductive portion 21 is made of a conductive paste or conductive ink applied to almost the entire area of the wire lead-out surface 16. The conductive portion 21 includes a first surrounding portion 24 that surrounds the opening 15 through which the first detection line 13b is led out, and a second surrounding portion 25 that surrounds the opening 15 through which the second detection line 13c is led out. have. The first surrounding portion 24 and the second surrounding portion 25 are continuous with each other and electrically connected to each other.

The operation of this embodiment will be described.
The water W may adhere to the connector 10 provided in the vehicle compartment due to the entry of a wet person, the carry-in of a wet article, the spilling of a drink, or the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, when water W adheres to the wire lead-out surface 16 of the housing 11, the terminal 12 of the first detection line 13b and the conductive portion 21 are electrically connected via the water W. Further, the terminal 12 of the second detection line 13c and the conductive portion 21 are electrically connected via the water W. Then, due to the voltage applied to the first detection line 13b, a current flows between the first detection line 13b and the second detection line 13c via the conductive portion 21. The current detection unit 22 detects the current flowing through the second detection line 13c and outputs a signal based on the detection to the indicator lamp 23. The indicator light 23 is turned on based on a signal from the current detector 22. When the indicator light 23 is turned on, the occupant is notified that the water W has adhered to the wire lead-out surface 16 of the connector 10.

The effects of this embodiment will be described.
(1) The connector 10 includes a notifying unit 20 for notifying that water has adhered to the wire lead-out surface 16 of the housing 11. Therefore, the notification from the notification unit 20 allows the occupant to immediately recognize that the connector 10 has been flooded. Then, by appropriately taking measures such as wiping off the water adhering to the connector 10, it is possible to suppress the progress of electrolytic corrosion that may occur between the terminal 12 and the electric wire 13 made of different metals, and as a result, the vehicle circuit can be prevented. It is possible to suppress the trouble. Further, according to the notification unit 20 of the present embodiment, each terminal 12 of the first and

second detection lines

13b and 13c and the conductive unit 21 are not wet with not only a large amount of water such as flooding but also a small amount of water. If it is conducted, it can be notified.

(2) The notification unit 20 is a first detection line 13b that is one of the plurality of electric wires 13 and to which a voltage is applied, a second detection line 13c that is one of the plurality of electric wires 13 and is grounded, and an electric wire lead The surface 16 includes a conductive portion 21 having conductivity and a current detection portion 22 that detects a current flowing through the second detection line 13c. According to this aspect, the current flowing through the second detection line 13c is detected by the conduction of the first detection line 13b and the second detection line 13c and the conductive portion 21 due to the water, and a notification based on the detection is given. It will be possible.

(3) The conductive portion 21 of the notification unit 20 surrounds the first surrounding portion 24 surrounding the opening 15 from which the first detection line 13b is led out and the periphery of the opening 15 from which the second detection line 13c is led out. It has an enclosure and a second enclosure 25 that is connected to the first enclosure. According to this aspect, conduction between the first detection line 13b and the conductive portion 21 and conduction between the second detection line 13c and the conductive portion 21 when water is wet are likely to occur. Therefore, it becomes easy to detect the adhesion of water to the wire lead-out surface 16.

(4) The first and

second detection lines

13b and 13c are respectively led out from the two adjacent openings 15. As a result, even if the water is covered in a narrow range, conduction between the first detection line 13b and the conductive portion 21 and conduction between the second detection line 13c and the conductive portion 21 are likely to occur, and the connection to the wire lead-out surface 16 is facilitated. It becomes easier to detect water adhesion.

The present embodiment can be modified and implemented as follows. The present embodiment and the following modified examples can be implemented in combination with each other within a technically consistent range.
The material of each terminal 12 is not limited to copper or copper alloy, and other metal material may be used. Further, the material of the electric wire 13 is not limited to aluminum or aluminum alloy, and other metal material may be used.

-The lead-out positions of the first detection line 13b and the second detection line 13c (which opening 15 is set) are not limited to those in the above-described embodiment, and may be, for example, in the central portion of the connector 10 in the width direction. The first and

second detection lines

13b and 13c may be led out from the opening 15 located. Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the 1st and

2nd detection lines

13b and 13c were taken out from the adjacent opening part 15, it is not restricted to this, 1st and

2nd detection lines

13b and 13c adjoin. It may be configured to be led out from the opening 15 that is not provided.

The constituent material of the conductive portion 21 is not limited to the conductive paste or the conductive ink, and may be appropriately changed as long as it is a material provided on the wire lead-out surface 16 and having conductivity.
In the above-described embodiment, the conductive portion 21 is provided in substantially the entire area of the wire lead-out surface 16, but other than this, for example, the conductive portion is provided only around the opening 15 where the first and

second detection lines

13b and 13c are led out. 21 may be provided (that is, the conductive portion 21 may include only the first and second surrounding portions 24 and 25).

The notification operation of the notification unit 20 based on the current detection by the current detection unit 22 is not limited to the display operation of the indicator lamp 23, and the notification operation is performed by an alarm sound generated based on the current detection by the current detection unit 22. You can go.

The notification unit 20 of the above embodiment is configured to detect the electrical continuity of the water W attached to the housing 11, but the configuration is not limited to this. For example, a material that causes some visual change (for example, change in shape or color) due to water adhesion may be provided on the wire lead-out surface 16, and the visual change of the material may be used to notify personnel of water exposure. ..

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the technical idea thereof. For example, some of the components described in the embodiment (or one or more aspects thereof) may be omitted, or some components may be combined. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which the claims are entitled.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Connector 11 ... Housing 12 ... Terminal 13 ... Electric wire 13b ... 1st detection wire 13c ... 2nd detection wire 15 ... Opening part 16 ... Electric wire derivation surface 20 ... Notification part 21 ... Conductive part 22 ... Current detection part 24 ... 1st Surrounding portion 25 ... Second surrounding portion

Claims

A connector provided in the passenger compartment,
A housing made of an insulator,
A plurality of terminals housed in the housing,
A plurality of electric wires respectively connected to the plurality of terminals and led out in the same direction from a plurality of openings formed in an electric wire lead-out surface that is a part of the outer surface of the housing,
A connector for notifying that water has adhered to the wire lead-out surface.
The notification unit is provided on the wire lead-out surface, a first detection wire that is one of the plurality of electric wires and to which a voltage is applied, a second detection wire that is one of the plurality of electric wires and is grounded. The connector according to claim 1, further comprising: a conductive portion having conductivity, and a current detection portion that detects a current flowing through the second detection line.
The conductive portion surrounds a periphery of the opening from which the first detection line is led out, and a periphery of the opening from which the second detection line is led out, and the first surrounding portion. The 2nd surrounding part which connects, The connector of Claim 2 which has.