High contrast electrical connector with machine readable indicia

Abstract

The present disclosure proposes an electrical connector comprising a connector housing (100) in which a machine-readable mark (102) is printed on a surface thereof. The indicia (102) are bounded on the surface by a darker background (104), ensuring sufficient contrast for accurate reading by a digital scanner. This innovative design enhances readability and reliability of the marker (102), facilitating an efficient data capture and identification process.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit and priority of U.S. Application No. 18 / 776,738, filed on July 18, 2024, entitled “High-Contrast Electrical Connector with Machine Readable Indicia,” and further claims the benefit and priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 543,367, filed on October 10, 2023, entitled “Marking Indicia with Contrasting Background,” which further claims the benefit and priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 527,854, filed on July 20, 2023, entitled “Blacked Out Laser Mark for Contrast,” the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] The present disclosure relates to a method of marking a device, such as an electrical connector, that can be one of several acceptable shades / tints of a color, such that the marking is readable to a digital scanner regardless of the shade / tint of the color selected. Background Art

[0003] High voltage electrical connectors are typically formed of an orange material, such as an orange plastic resin. There are a variety of acceptable shades of orange, light tones, and dark tones approved by automotive manufacturers for use in the housings of high voltage electrical connectors. This creates variations in contrast between different orange connectors and identification markings (e.g., 2D barcodes) on the connectors. This variation in contrast makes it difficult to program many less complex and / or less expensive digital barcode readers to accurately read the markings on all acceptable orange connectors. This prohibits automotive manufacturers from reliably using digitally readable markings on electrical connectors unless more expensive digital code readers that can distinguish a wider range of contrast between the markings and the background are used.

[0004] Previous methods of marking electrical connectors typically involved using adhesive labels or embossed markings on the surface of the connector housing. These methods presented challenges in terms of durability, legibility, and ease of scanning by automated systems. Adhesive labels can peel over time, especially in harsh environments, and embossed markings may not provide enough contrast for accurate scanning by digital scanners. Additionally, embossed markings can be difficult to read in low-light conditions or from certain angles, leading to potential errors in scanning and data retrieval.

[0005] In some cases, connectors have been marked using laser etching or engraving techniques to create machine-readable markings. While these methods may provide a more permanent solution compared to adhesive labels, they may still lack the necessary contrast between the marking and the connector housing surface. This lack of contrast may lead to inaccuracies during scanning, particularly when the connector is located in a dimly lit area or when the scanner is at an angle to the surface. Therefore, there remains a need for an improved marking solution for electrical connectors that ensures accurate and reliable scanning of machine-readable markings under a variety of lighting and viewing conditions.

[0006] Additionally, attempts have been made to enhance the visibility and readability of markings on electrical connectors by using color contrast between the marking and the surface. However, achieving an optimal contrast level to enable accurate scanning by digital scanners has proven to be a challenge. Insufficient contrast can lead to misinterpretation of the encoded information, potentially causing errors in data transmission or retrieval. Therefore, there is a continuing need for electrical connector marking solutions that effectively address the contrast requirements of machine-readable markings, ensuring reliable and efficient data capture. However, none of these approaches provide a comprehensive solution that combines the features described in the present disclosure. Summary of the invention

[0007] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to an electrical connector that includes a connector housing, a machine-readable indicia printed on a surface of the connector housing, and a background printed on a surface immediately adjacent to the indicia. The background is darker than the indicia and provides sufficient contrast between the surface and the indicia to allow a digital scanner to accurately read the indicia.

[0008] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a method of marking a product, comprising printing a background onto a surface of the product using a laser printing method, and printing a machine-readable mark onto the background using a laser printing method, such that the background is immediately adjacent to the mark, the background is darker than the mark, and sufficient contrast is provided between the surface and the mark to allow a digital scanner to accurately read the mark.

[0009] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a printing device comprising: a laser configured to form a mark on a surface of a product; an electronic controller configured to control the operation of the laser; and a computer-readable non-volatile storage medium that communicates with the electronic controller and has data stored therein representing software executable by the electronic controller, the software including instructions for: printing a background onto the surface using the laser, printing a machine-readable mark onto the background using the laser so that the background is immediately adjacent to the mark, and printing the background darker than the mark to provide sufficient contrast between the surface and the mark to allow a digital scanner to accurately read the mark. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 The figure shows an indicia printed onto a product having a background immediately adjacent to the indicia, according to some embodiments.

[0011] Figure 2 A flow chart illustrating a method and process of marking a product according to some embodiments.

[0012] Figure 3 Figure illustrates a schematic diagram of a printing apparatus according to some embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] Figure 1 The figure shows a non-limiting example of a connector housing 100 of an electrical connector according to some embodiments of the present invention, the electrical connector being formed of a material having a dark orange hue with a marking 102 (such as a 2D bar code) preferably printed onto the surface of the connector housing 100 by a laser printer, because a background 104 printed around and adjacent to the marking 102 is readable by a digital scanner or code reader regardless of the dark hue of the connector housing 100.

[0014] according to Figure 1In the non-limiting example shown, the electrical connector includes a connector housing 100, a machine-readable mark 102 printed on a surface of the connector housing 100, and a background 104 printed on a surface immediately adjacent to the mark 102. The background 104 is darker than the mark 102, thereby providing sufficient contrast between the surface of the connector housing 100 and the mark 102 to allow a digital scanner to accurately read the mark 102. The background 104 may preferably be black. The background 104 preferably surrounds the mark 102 to provide a consistent contrast for the mark 102. The mark 102 may be a barcode, such as a 2D barcode. The 2D barcode may conform to established standards, such as the International Organization for Standardization / International Electrotechnical Commission (ISO / IEC) 15438, ISO / IEC 16022, ISO / IEC 24778, or ISO / IEC 18004 standards. The contrast ratio between the mark 102 and the background 104 may be at least 20%. The surface of the connector housing 100 on which the mark 102 and the background 104 are printed may have an orange color including light and dark shades of a color having a wavelength between 585-620 nanometers.

[0015] exist Figure 2 A non-limiting example of a method 200 for marking a product, such as an electrical connector, is shown in FIG. The method 200 includes a step 202 of printing a background 104 onto a surface of a product, such as a connector housing 100, using a laser printing method, and a step 204 of printing a machine-readable mark 102 onto the background 104 using a laser printing method, such that the background 104 is immediately adjacent to and preferably surrounds the mark 102. The background 104 is darker than the mark 102, and is preferably black, thereby providing sufficient contrast between the product surface and the mark 102 to allow a digital scanner to accurately read the mark 102. The mark 102 may be a barcode, such as a 2D barcode. The 2D barcode may conform to established standards, such as the International Organization for Standardization / International Electrotechnical Commission (ISO / IEC) 15438, ISO / IEC 16022, ISO / IEC 24778, or ISO / IEC 18004 standards. The contrast ratio between the mark 102 and the background 104 may be at least 20%. The surface on which the indicia 102 and background 104 are printed may have an orange color including light and dark shades of colors having wavelengths between 585-620 nanometers.

[0016] Such as Figure 1 A non-limiting example of the product of the connector housing 100 is shown by way of example Figure 2The process of the method 200 shown is formed, which includes a step 202 of printing a background 104 onto a surface of a product such as a connector housing 100 using a laser printing method and a step 204 of printing a machine-readable mark 102 onto the background 104 using a laser printing method, so that the background 104 is immediately adjacent to the mark 102 and preferably surrounds the mark 102. The background 104 is darker than the mark 102, thereby providing sufficient contrast between the surface of the product and the mark 102 to allow a digital scanner to accurately read the mark 102. The mark 102 can be a barcode, such as a 2D barcode. The 2D barcode can comply with established standards, such as the International Organization for Standardization / International Electrotechnical Commission (ISO / IEC) 15438, ISO / IEC 16022, ISO / IEC 24778, or ISO / IEC 18004 standards. The contrast ratio between the mark 102 and the background 104 can be at least 20%. The surface on which the indicia 102 and background 104 are printed may have an orange color including light and dark shades of colors having wavelengths between 585-620 nanometers.

[0017] Although the method 200 of forming the indicia 102 and background 104 described herein is performed using a laser printing method, alternative embodiments are contemplated in which other printing methods (eg, pad printing, screen printing, etc.) are used to form the indicia 102 and background 104 .

[0018] Figure 3A non-limiting example of a laser printing device 300 is shown in FIG. The device 300 includes a laser 302 configured to form a mark on a mark 102 and a background 104 on a surface of a product (such as a connector housing 100) and an electronic controller 304 configured to control the operation of the laser 302. A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium (memory 306) is in communication with the electronic controller 304 and contains data stored therein representing software executable by the electronic controller 304. The software includes instructions that cause the laser printing device 300 to use the laser 302 to print a background 104 onto the surface of the connector housing 100 and to use the laser 302 to print a machine-readable mark 102 onto the background 104 so that the background 104 is immediately adjacent to the mark 102. The software includes instructions that cause the laser 302 to print the background 104 darker than the mark 102, thereby providing sufficient contrast between the surface of the connector housing 100 and the mark 102 to allow a digital scanner to accurately read the mark 102. The software may further include instructions to print the tag 102 so that the background 104 surrounds the tag 102. The software may further include instructions to print the tag 102 as a barcode (such as a 2D barcode). The 2D barcode may conform to established standards, such as the International Organization for Standardization / International Electrotechnical Commission (ISO / IEC) 15438, ISO / IEC 16022, ISO / IEC 24778, or ISO / IEC 18004 standards. The contrast ratio between the tag and the background may be at least 20%.

[0019] The products, methods and devices presented herein provide the following benefits: • Due to the consistent contrast between the indicia 102 and the background 104, the need to use a higher cost barcode reader is eliminated. The need to form the markings 102 on the connector housing 100 using ink printing techniques is eliminated. Providing appropriate contrast to the indicia 102 with the background 104 , regardless of the dark tone of the material used to form the connector housing 100 . Prevents material waste and raw material rework because the dark tone of the material used to form the connector housing 100 does not need to be carefully controlled to provide the appropriate contrast for the indicia 102 . Eliminates the need for the manufacturing plant to adjust the contrast of the bar code reader due to different dark shades of the color of the connector housing 100.

[0020] Although the example embodiments provided herein relate to high voltage electrical connectors, other embodiments are envisioned in which the described methods are used to mark many other types of products having differently colored surfaces. Discussion of Possible Implementations

[0021] The following is a non-exclusive description of possible embodiments of the invention.

[0022] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to an electrical connector comprising a connector housing, a machine-readable indicia printed on a surface of the connector housing, and a background printed on a surface proximate to the indicia, the background being darker than the indicia and providing sufficient contrast between the surface and the indicia to allow a digital scanner to accurately read the indicia.

[0023] The connector of the preceding paragraph may optionally include (additionally and / or alternatively) any one or more of the following features / steps, configurations and / or additional components.

[0024] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to an electrical connector in which a background surrounds a marking.

[0025] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to an electrical connector wherein the marking is a bar code.

[0026] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to an electrical connector wherein the marking is a 2D barcode.

[0027] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to an electrical connector wherein the contrast ratio between the indicia and the background is at least 20%.

[0028] In some aspects, technology described herein relates to an electrical connector in which a surface has an orange color.

[0029] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a method of marking a product, comprising: printing a background onto a surface of the product using a laser printing method, and printing a machine-readable mark onto the background using a laser printing method, such that the background is immediately adjacent to the mark, the background is darker than the mark, and sufficient contrast is provided between the surface and the mark to allow a digital scanner to accurately read the mark.

[0030] The method of the preceding paragraph may optionally include (additionally and / or alternatively) any one or more of the following features / steps, configurations and / or additional components.

[0031] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a method in which an indicia is printed onto a background such that the background surrounds the indicia.

[0032] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a method wherein the label is a barcode.

[0033] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a method wherein the label is a 2D barcode.

[0034] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a method wherein the contrast ratio between the marking and the background is at least 20%.

[0035] In some aspects, technology described herein relates to a method wherein a surface has an orange color.

[0036] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a method in which the product is an electrical connector.

[0037] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a printing device comprising: a laser configured to form a mark on a surface of a product; an electronic controller configured to control the operation of the laser; and a computer-readable non-volatile storage medium that communicates with the electronic controller and has data stored therein representing software executable by the electronic controller, the software including instructions for: printing a background onto the surface using the laser, printing a machine-readable mark onto the background using the laser so that the background is immediately adjacent to the mark, and printing the background darker than the mark to provide sufficient contrast between the surface and the mark to allow a digital scanner to accurately read the mark.

[0038] The apparatus of the preceding paragraph may optionally include (additionally and / or alternatively) any one or more of the following features / steps, configurations and / or additional components.

[0039] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a printing device in which software includes instructions for printing an indicia such that a background surrounds the indicia.

[0040] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a printing device in which software includes instructions to print indicia as a barcode.

[0041] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a printing device wherein the indicia is a 2D barcode.

[0042] In some aspects, the technology described herein relates to a printing device, wherein the software includes instructions for printing indicia such that a contrast ratio between the indicia and a background is at least 20%.

[0043] Although the present invention has been described with reference to (one or more) exemplary embodiments, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and its elements may be replaced by equivalents without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, various modifications may be made to adapt specific circumstances or materials to the teachings of the present invention without departing from its main scope. Therefore, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the disclosed (one or more) embodiments, but will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

[0044] As used herein, “one or more” includes a function performed by one element, a function performed by more than one element (e.g., in a distributed fashion), several functions performed by one element, several functions performed by several elements, or any combination of the above.

[0045] It should also be understood that, although in some instances, the terms "first", "second", etc. are used to describe various elements in this article, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element. For example, without departing from the scope of each of the embodiments, the first contact can be referred to as the second contact, and similarly, the second contact can be referred to as the first contact. Both the first contact and the second contact are contacts, but they are not the same contact.

[0046] The terms used in the specification of various described embodiments herein are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments, and are not intended to be restrictive. As used in the specification of various described embodiments and in the appended claims, the singular forms "one", "an" and "the" are intended to include plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates other situations. It will also be understood that the term "and / or" as used herein refers to and covers any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms "comprising", "comprising", "including" and / or "including" when used in this specification indicate the existence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and / or components, but do not exclude the existence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and / or their groups.

[0047] As used herein, the term "if" is optionally interpreted to mean "when" or "upon" or "in response to determining" or "in response to detecting," depending on the context. Similarly, the phrase "if it is determined" or "if it is detected that "[the condition or event]" is optionally interpreted to mean "upon determination" or "in response to determining" or "upon detecting [the condition or event]" or "in response to detecting [the condition or event]," depending on the context.

[0048] In addition, although the terms of regulations or orientation may be used herein, these elements should not be limited by these terms. Unless otherwise specified, all regulations or orientations are used to distinguish one element from another element, and unless otherwise specified, do not represent any particular order, order of operation, direction or orientation.

Claims

1. An electrical connector, comprising: A connector housing (100); a machine-readable indicia (102) printed on a surface of the connector housing (100); and A background (104) is printed on the surface adjacent to the indicia (102), the background (104) being darker than the indicia (102) and providing sufficient contrast between the surface and the indicia (102) to allow a digital scanner to accurately read the indicia (102).

2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein: The background (104) surrounds the mark (102).

3. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein: The label (102) is a barcode.

4. The electrical connector according to claim 3, characterized in that: The label (102) is a 2D barcode.

5. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein: The contrast ratio between the marking (102) and the background (104) is at least 20%.

6. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein: The surface has an orange color.

7. A method (200) of marking a product, the method (200) comprising: Printing a background (104) onto a surface of a product using a laser (302) printing method (200); as well as The laser (302) printing method (200) prints the machine-readable indicia (102) onto the background (104) such that the background (104) is immediately adjacent to the indicia (102), the background (104) is darker than the indicia (102), and sufficient contrast is provided between the surface and the indicia (102) to allow a digital scanner to accurately read the indicia (102).

8. The method (200) according to claim 7, characterized in that The mark (102) is printed onto the background (104) such that the background (104) surrounds the mark (102).

9. The method (200) according to claim 7, characterized in that: The label (102) is a barcode.

10. The method (200) according to claim 9, characterized in that The marking (102) is a 2D barcode.

11. The method (200) of claim 7, wherein: The contrast ratio between the marking (102) and the background (104) is at least 20%.

12. The method (200) of claim 7, wherein: The surface has an orange color.

13. The method (200) of claim 7, wherein: The product is an electrical connector.

14. A printing device, comprising: a laser (302) configured to form a mark on a surface of a product; an electronic controller (304) configured to control the operation of the laser (302), a computer-readable non-transitory storage medium in communication with the electronic controller (304) and having stored therein data representing software executable by the electronic controller (304), the software including instructions for: printing a background (104) onto the surface using the laser (302); printing a machine-readable indicia (102) onto the background (104) using the laser (302) such that the background (104) is immediately adjacent to the indicia (102); as well as The background (104) is printed darker than the indicia (102) to provide sufficient contrast between the surface and the indicia (102) to allow a digital scanner to accurately read the indicia (102).

15. The printing device according to claim 14, characterized in that: The software includes instructions for printing the indicia (102) such that the background (104) surrounds the indicia (102).

16. The printing device according to claim 14, characterized in that: The software includes instructions for printing the indicia (102) as a bar code.

17. The printing device according to claim 16, characterized in that: The marking (102) is a 2D barcode.

18. The printing device according to claim 14, characterized in that: The software includes instructions for printing the indicia (102) such that a contrast ratio between the indicia (102) and the background (104) is at least 20%.

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