Vehicle harness mounting identifier

Abstract

A process and method for marking an identifier in an automotive wire harness for identification and installation. The process and method includes attaching a plurality of first identifier tags to a wire harness, wherein each of the plurality of first identifier tags identifies a section of the wire harness. The continuation and identification of the plurality of segments of the wire harness are completed based on the plurality of first identifier tags. The wire harness is prepared for assembly into an automotive chassis, wherein the preparing includes spreading, flipping, or pulling the wire harness segment by segment based on a plurality of first identifier tags. The process and method includes attaching a plurality of second identifier tags to the automotive chassis, wherein each of the plurality of second identifier tags identifies a corresponding socket area associated with the one or more first identifier tags.

Description

BACKGROUND

[0001] Vehicles are a necessity of daily life. Specialized cameras, microcontrollers, laser technology, and sensors can be used in many different applications for vehicles. Cameras, microcontrollers, and sensors can be used to enhance the automation architecture that provides the most advanced experience and service to customers, for example, in tasks such as automatic parking, parking assistance, body control, camera vision, information display, security, autonomous control, and the like.

[0002] With the advent of various electronic and control systems, the need to interconnect these systems becomes a constantly increasing complex task. This interconnection can take the form of a multi-strand wire harness with connection receptacles located throughout the body and frame of the vehicle. This harness can be comprised of multiple sections, cross connections, receptacles, fasteners, and connectors. In some cases, the wire harness can require a lengthy, time-consuming unrolling, flipping, and pulling in order to properly orient all of the different sections for installation into the vehicle. Therefore, it is desirable to create a method for attaching identifier tags, codes, or other types of electronic and physical identifiers to aid in the wire harness installation process. SUMMARY

[0003] Disclosed herein is a method for marking identifiers in an automotive wire harness for identification and installation. The automotive harness can also be applied to other forms of vehicles, for example, a type of airplane, boat, or stationary system wire harness. The method is applicable to identifying individual sections, branch nodes, ground terminals, tinned wire ends, or connectors of the wire harness, or other components known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Furthermore, references to wire harnesses, wiring harnesses, and harnesses are not limited to only electrical connections, but can also include optical, mechanical, or other types of components known to one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, a method can begin by attaching a plurality of first identifier tags to a wire harness, where each of the plurality of first identifier tags identifies a section of the wire harness. The method can continue to identify a plurality of sections of the wire harness based on the plurality of first identifier tags. The method can continue by preparing the wire harness for assembly into an automotive chassis, where the preparation can include unrolling, flipping, or pulling the wire harness section by section based on the plurality of first identifier tags. The method can then include attaching a plurality of second identifier tags to the automotive chassis, where each of the plurality of second identifier tags identifies a corresponding receptacle area associated with one or more of the first identifier tags.

[0004] Another aspect of the method can include attaching each of the plurality of first identifier tags at a connection point of the wire harness.

[0005] Another aspect of the method can include where each of the plurality of first identifier tags includes one or more visual fiducial tags, such as AprilTags.

[0006] Another aspect of the method can include where each of the plurality of first identifier tags includes an electronic tag.

[0007] Another aspect of the method can include where each of the plurality of first identifier tags includes a near field communication or ultra-wideband communication device.

[0008] Another aspect of the method can include where each of the plurality of second identifier tags is attached at a connection point of a corresponding receptacle of the vehicle chassis.

[0009] Another aspect of the method can include where each of the plurality of second identifier tags includes one or more visual fiducial tags.

[0010] Another aspect of the method can include where each of the plurality of second identifier tags includes an electronic tag.

[0011] Another aspect of the method can include where each of the plurality of second identifier tags includes a passive near field communication or active ultra-wideband communication device.

[0012] Another aspect of the method can include where each of the plurality of first identifier tags is of the same type as each of the plurality of second identifier tags.

[0013] Another aspect of the method can include where each of the plurality of first identifier tags is of a different type than each of the plurality of second identifier tags.

[0014] Disclosed herein is a method for preparing a wire harness for installation in a vehicle chassis. The method can begin with creating a plurality of first identifier tags on the vehicle chassis, where each of the plurality of first identifier tags identifies a receptacle area associated with one or more connectors of the wire harness. The method can continue by receiving the wire harness, where a plurality of second identifier tags are attached to the wire harness, where each of the plurality of second identifier tags identifies a connector of the wire harness, and where each of the plurality of second identifier tags is associated with a corresponding receptacle area of one or more first identifier tags in the vehicle chassis. The method can continue by preparing the wire harness for assembly onto the vehicle chassis, where the preparation includes unwinding, flipping, or pulling the wire harness in sections based on the plurality of second identifier tags.

[0015] Another aspect of the method can include where the plurality of first identifier tags includes a pattern or shape of pressed or raised channels in the vehicle chassis.

[0016] Another aspect of the method can include wherein each of the plurality of first identifier tags comprises one or more visual fiducial tags, such as AprilTags.

[0017] Another aspect of the method can include wherein each of the plurality of first identifier tags comprises an electronic tag.

[0018] Another aspect of the method can include wherein each of the plurality of first identifier tags comprises a near field communication or ultra-wideband communication device.

[0019] Another aspect of the method can include wherein each of the plurality of first identifier tags comprises one or more visual fiducial tags.

[0020] Another aspect of the method can include wherein each of the plurality of first identifier tags comprises an electronic tag.

[0021] Another aspect of the method can include wherein each of the plurality of first identifier tags is of the same type as each of the plurality of second identifier tags.

[0022] Another aspect of the disclosure can include a method for marking identifiers in an automotive wire harness for identification and installation. The method can include attaching a plurality of first identifier tags to the wire harness, wherein each of the plurality of first identifier tags identifies a section of the wire harness and is attached at a connection point of the wire harness. Further, the method can include wherein each of the plurality of first identifier tags comprises an identifier tag and the plurality of sections of the wire harness are identified based on the plurality of first identifier tags. The method can include preparing the wire harness for assembly into an automotive chassis, wherein the preparing comprises unspooling, flipping, or pulling the wire harness section by section based on the plurality of first identifier tags, and attaching a plurality of second identifier tags to the automotive chassis, wherein each of the plurality of second identifier tags identifies a corresponding receptacle area associated with one or more first identifier tags. Further, the method can include wherein each of the plurality of second identifier tags is attached at a connection point of the corresponding receptacle of the automotive chassis, and wherein each of the plurality of second identifier tags comprises a visual tag.

[0023] The disclosure also relates to the following arrangements.

[0024] Arrangement 1. A method for marking identifiers in an automotive wire harness for identification and installation, comprising:

[0025] attaching a plurality of first identifier tags to the wire harness, wherein each of the plurality of first identifier tags identifies a section of the wire harness;

[0026] identifying a plurality of sections of a wire harness based on a plurality of first identifier tags;

[0027] preparing a wire harness for assembly into an automotive chassis, wherein the preparing includes unwinding, flipping, or pulling the wire harness section by section based on the plurality of first identifier tags; and

[0028] attaching a plurality of second identifier tags to the automotive chassis, wherein each of the plurality of second identifier tags identifies a corresponding receptacle area associated with one or more of the first identifier tags.

[0029] Scheme 2. The method of Scheme 1, wherein each of the plurality of first identifier tags is attached at a connection point of the wire harness.

[0030] Scheme 3. The method of Scheme 1, wherein each of the plurality of first identifier tags includes one or more visual references.

[0031] Scheme 4. The method of Scheme 1, wherein each of the plurality of first identifier tags includes an electronic tag.

[0032] Scheme 5. The method of Scheme 1, wherein each of the plurality of first identifier tags includes a near field communication or ultra-wideband communication device.

[0033] Scheme 6. The method of Scheme 1, wherein each of the plurality of second identifier tags is attached at a connection point of a corresponding receptacle of the automotive chassis.

[0034] Scheme 7. The method of Scheme 1, wherein each of the plurality of second identifier tags includes one or more visual references.

[0035] Scheme 8. The method of Scheme 1, wherein each of the plurality of second identifier tags includes an electronic tag.

[0036] Scheme 9. The method of Scheme 1, wherein each of the plurality of second identifier tags includes a passive near field communication or active ultra-wideband communication device.

[0037] Scheme 10. The method of Scheme 1, wherein each of the plurality of first identifier tags is of the same type as each of the plurality of second identifier tags.

[0038] Scheme 11. The method of Scheme 1, wherein each of the plurality of first identifier tags is of a different type than each of the plurality of second identifier tags.

[0039] Scheme 12. A method for preparing an electrical wire harness for installation in an automotive chassis, comprising:

[0040] creating a plurality of first identifier tags in the automotive chassis, wherein each of the plurality of first identifier tags identifies a receptacle area associated with one or more connectors of an electrical wire harness;

[0041] receiving the electrical wire harness, wherein a plurality of second identifier tags are attached to the electrical wire harness, wherein each of the plurality of second identifier tags identifies a connector of the electrical wire harness, and wherein each of the plurality of second identifier tags is associated with a corresponding receptacle area of one or more first identifier tags in the automotive chassis; and

[0042] preparing the electrical wire harness for assembly into the automotive chassis, wherein the preparing comprises uncoiling, flipping, or pulling the electrical wire harness in sections based on the plurality of second identifier tags.

[0043] Scheme 13. The method of Scheme 12, wherein the plurality of first identifier tags comprises embossed or raised channels in a pattern or shape in the automotive chassis.

[0044] Scheme 14. The method of Scheme 12, wherein each of the plurality of second identifier tags comprises one or more visual fiducials.

[0045] Scheme 15. The method of Scheme 12, wherein each of the plurality of second identifier tags comprises an electronic tag.

[0046] Scheme 16. The method of Scheme 12, wherein each of the plurality of second identifier tags comprises a near field communication or ultra-wideband communication device.

[0047] Scheme 17. The method of Scheme 12, wherein each of the plurality of first identifier tags comprises one or more visual fiducial tags.

[0048] Scheme 18. The method of Scheme 12, wherein each of the plurality of first identifier tags comprises an electronic tag.

[0049] Scheme 19. The method of Scheme 12, wherein each of the plurality of first identifier tags is of the same type as each of the plurality of second identifier tags.

[0050] Scheme 20. A method for marking identifiers in an automotive electrical wire harness for identification and installation, comprising:

[0051] attaching a plurality of first identifier tags to the wire harness, wherein each of the plurality of first identifier tags identifies a section of the wire harness and is attached at a connection point of the wire harness, wherein each of the plurality of first identifier tags includes a visual tag;

[0052] identifying a plurality of sections of the wire harness based on the plurality of first identifier tags;

[0053] preparing the wire harness for assembly into the vehicle chassis, wherein the preparing includes unwinding, flipping, or pulling the wire harness section by section based on the plurality of first identifier tags; and

[0054] attaching a plurality of second identifier tags to the vehicle chassis, wherein each of the plurality of second identifier tags identifies a corresponding socket area associated with one or more first identifier tags, wherein each of the plurality of second identifier tags is attached at a connection point of a corresponding socket of the vehicle chassis, and wherein each of the plurality of second identifier tags includes a visual tag.

[0055] As used herein, the terms "vehicle" and "motor vehicle" can be used interchangeably and synonymously to include any relevant vehicle platform, such as passenger cars (ICE, HEV, FEV, fuel cell, fully and partially autonomous, etc.), commercial vehicles, industrial vehicles, tracked vehicles, off-road and all-terrain vehicles (ATV), motorcycles, agricultural equipment, aircraft, watercraft, spacecraft, e-bikes, etc. For non-automotive applications, the disclosed wire harness concepts can be implemented for any logically relevant use, including commercial and residential power plants, electric vehicle power supply equipment, photovoltaic systems, pumping equipment, wind turbine parks, server systems, etc.

[0056] The foregoing features and advantages of the present disclosure, as well as other features and attendant advantages of particular embodiments thereof, will be more fully understood and appreciated by reference to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0057] The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.

[0058] Figure 1 is an illustration of a wire harness assembly according to the present disclosure, the harness assembly having a plurality of connection points throughout the harness.

[0059] Figure 2 is an illustration of a wiring harness assembly according to the present disclosure having a cross-connect harness portion.

[0060] Figure 3 is an illustration of an automotive chassis according to the present disclosure having locations corresponding to wiring harness portions.

[0061] Figure 4 is an illustration of a connection fit of an electrical wiring harness to a vehicle chassis according to the present disclosure.

[0062] Figure 5 is an illustration of a fit of an electrical wiring harness portion to a vehicle chassis according to the present disclosure.

[0063] Figure 6 is an illustration of a visual reference tag located throughout an electrical wiring harness according to the present disclosure.

[0064] Figure 7 is an illustration of a visual reference tag located throughout a vehicle chassis according to the present disclosure.

[0065] Figure 8 is a flowchart of a method for marking identifiers for identification and installation in an automotive electrical wiring harness according to the present disclosure.

[0066] The drawings are not necessarily to scale and can present a somewhat simplified representation of various preferred features of the present disclosure disclosed herein, including, for example, specific dimensions, orientations, locations and shapes. Details associated with these features will be determined in part by the intended application and use environment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0067] The present disclosure allows for many different forms of embodiments. Representative examples of the present disclosure are shown in the drawings and described in detail herein as non-limiting examples of the disclosed principles. To that end, elements described in the Abstract, Introduction, Summary, and Detailed Description sections but not expressly set forth in the claims should not be incorporated by implication, inference or otherwise into the claims by implication, inference or otherwise, alone or in combination.

[0068] For the purposes of this specification, unless specifically stated otherwise, the use of the singular includes the plural, and vice versa, the use of the terms "and" and "or" as conjunctive and disjunctive should be taken to be the conjunctive and disjunctive, and the use of the words "including," "containing," "comprising," "having," and the like, should be taken to mean "including, but not limited to." Additionally, approximating language, such as, by way of example, "approximately," "substantially," "generally," "about," "roughly," and the like, can be used in this specification to mean "within 5% or 10% of" or "within off-set / variation of + / - 0-5% or 0-10% of" or "within acceptable manufacturing tolerances" or "within a range that is acceptable for the application at hand" or a like logical grouping of terms. As used herein, components "configured to" perform a particular function and / or "configured to" perform a particular function are deemed to be specifically configured to carry out the particular function "as such" without necessarily having to be "further modified" to perform the particular function. In other words, the described hardware is specifically selected, created, implemented, utilized, programmed, and / or designed to perform the particular function for the purposes of carrying out the particular function.

[0069] With reference to the appended drawings, the left-most digit(s) of each reference number identifies the first figure in which that reference number appears (e.g., the reference number '310' appears in the left-most column of the first figure with which this drawing set is associated, namely, figure 3). So, for example, the reference number '110' in figure 1 can mean '110' in figure 1, '110' in figure 2, '110' in figure 3, '110' in figure 4, and '110' in figure 5, but is not to be construed as an actual reference to righthand column of figure 1 specifically. Figure 3 In addition, elements having the same reference number with a prime or other differentiating letter or symbol (e.g., 'a' and 'b') indicate elements that can be the same in structure, operation, or form but are distinguished from one another by being located in different places in space or repeated at different points in time (e.g., the reference numbers '110a' and '110b' can indicate two different input devices that can be the same in function but can be located at different points in a simulated venue).

[0070] Vehicles have become advanced in computing and are equipped with multiple microcontrollers, sensors, processors, radars, lidars, cameras, and control systems, including, for example, autonomous vehicles and advanced driver assistance systems (AV / ADAS), such as adaptive cruise control, automatic parking, automatic brake hold, automatic braking, evasive steering assist, lane keep assist, adaptive headlights, back-up assist, blind spot detection, cross traffic alert, local hazard warning, and rear automatic braking, which can all depend on information obtained from cameras and sensors on the vehicle. Such systems can also provide a wealth of information about the vehicle, including, for example, location, automatic assistance sensors, occupancy data, motion sensors, and last mile dead reckoning, among others. These systems can also provide detailed data about the vehicle's operation and location. Such systems require interconnections for power, communication, and control, such as using wire harnesses installed within the vehicle chassis.

[0071] Figure 1is an illustration of a wire harness assembly 100 having a plurality of connection points throughout the harness according to embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown, a wire harness 105 can include a plurality of areas or sections that identify where each group of connections is placed within a vehicle chassis location. The connections can be one or more types of connectors, wires, terminal connectors, etc. The wire harness 105 illustrates a harness having ten different areas or sections. Section 110 is located at the front left, section 112 is located at the front right, section 114 is located near the front left, section 116 is located near the front right, section 118 is located at the middle left, section 120 is located at the middle right, section 122 is located near the rear left, section 124 is located near the rear right, section 126 is located at the rear left, and section 128 is located at the rear right. In one embodiment, each section of the wire harness can include one or more connectors, such as including male or female connectors, terminals or bare wires, or other types of connectors known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The wire harness can include a plurality of sections or areas and still be within the scope of the present disclosure. Further, the wire harness can be for a type of vehicle or system, including but not limited to a motor vehicle, an airplane, a boat, or even a stationary system wire harness for a piece of equipment, machinery, appliance, or other type of device.

[0072] Figure 2 is an illustration of a wire harness assembly 100' having a plurality of connection points throughout the harness according to embodiments of the present disclosure, highlighting the cross-connected harness sections. The wire harness assembly 100' includes a wire harness 105 having additional cross-connected harness sections 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, and 280. Further, as shown, each section can be labeled or highlighted with various visual or electronic markers to identify each section. For example, each section can be labeled with a different reflective solution such that by viewing the wire harness 105, each section can be identified. This observation can also be done by a mechanical device such as a robotic device with imaging capabilities. Figure 2

[0073] Figure 3 is an illustration of a vehicle chassis assembly 300 according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The vehicle chassis assembly 300 can include a wire harness assembly 100 having a plurality of connection points throughout the harness, as described above. Figure 1 and Figure 2 ​The illustrated wire harness linkages correspond to areas or portions. For example, the vehicle chassis 305 can include the following portions or areas, including a left front socket portion 310, a right front socket portion 312, a left front near socket portion 314, a right front near socket portion 316, a left middle socket portion 318, a right middle socket portion 320, a left rear near socket portion 322, a right rear near socket portion 324, a left rear socket portion 326, and a right rear socket portion 328. The vehicle chassis 305 can include locations for cross-linking harness portions, for example, cross-linking harness portion socket locations 330, 340, 350, 360, 370, and 380. Further, the term socket is not intended to imply a particular type of connector, for example, female or male, but rather a corresponding connection.

[0074] Figure 3 Also illustrated is the concept of labeling or highlighting portions of the vehicle chassis with corresponding visual or electronic markers to identify each portion of the vehicle chassis with its wire harness assembly. For example, the dark horizontal bar of the cross-linking harness portion location 340 can be associated with the cross-linking harness portion 342. Similarly, the dark horizontal bar of the cross-linking harness portion location 350 can be associated with the cross-linking harness portion 352. Figure 2The cross-connect harness portion 240 of the wire harness 105 shown is identical. Such corresponding visual or electronic markers can provide guidance to a person or automated system regarding the intended placement of the wire harness 105 with the vehicle chassis 305. Either end of the harness or vehicle chassis can be marked with an identifier tag that can also include a visual, fiducial, or electronic tag. Examples of the identifier tag can include a small visual fiducial tag containing position and orientation information, such as AprilTags (originally developed by the University of Michigan under open source), which can be strategically attached to connectors, brackets, or other rigid sections on the wire harness, which can also include mating connectors or corresponding tags on the body surface or chassis. Further, the corresponding body surface or chassis can include matching shapes, where the wiring harness can include shaped or marked areas that match similar shaped or marked areas in the body bottom, chassis, or body surface. Further, the identifier tag can include a reflective or infrared identifier, which can include a single or patterned reflective target tag that can provide position information and have proper contrast under varying lighting or shadow conditions, the retro-reflective target can identify a branch within the wire harness or a socket location within the chassis. Further, the identifier tag can include an active transmission device using short-range communication, such as Bluetooth or radio frequency identification (RFID) that can be based on ultra-wideband (UWB), or a passive transmission using near-field communication. Further, the corresponding marked channels in the vehicle chassis or body bottom can exist in the form of: (1) plastic channels with codes that are provided with the wiring harness and attached to the body bottom studs; (2) stamped metal channels in the body bottom; (3) uniquely shaped holes or clips in the body bottom to match corresponding portions of the wiring harness.

[0075] Figure 4 is an illustration of the mating map 400 of the connections of the corresponding socket areas in the wire harness and chassis according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Figure 4 illustrates Figure 1 the wire harness discussed in Figure 4 illustrates the wire harness 105 with its ten different areas or portions, where, for example, portion 110 is located at the left front, portion 112 is located at the right front, portion 114 is located near the left front, portion 116 is located near the right front, portion 118 is located at the left middle, portion 120 is located at the right middle, portion 122 is located near the left rear, portion 124 is located near the right rear, portion 126 is located at the left rear, and portion 128 is located at the right rear. Figure 4Also illustrated is a vehicle chassis 305, where in another embodiment, the vehicle chassis 305 can comprise a vehicle, an airplane, a watercraft, or a stationary system of one type of chassis or mounting surface with wire harnesses. Figure 4 Illustrated is a vehicle chassis with corresponding receptacle areas corresponding to the illustrated wire harness sections, for example, including a left front receptacle section 310, a right front receptacle section 312, a left front near receptacle section 314, a right front near receptacle section 316, a left middle receptacle section 318, a right middle receptacle section 320, a left rear near receptacle section 322, a right rear near receptacle section 324, a left rear receptacle section 326, and a right rear receptacle section 328.

[0076] As Figure 4 illustrated, the left front wire harness section 110 corresponds to the left front receptacle section 310 of the vehicle chassis 305. In the same manner, the right front wire harness section 112 corresponds to the right front receptacle section 312 of the vehicle chassis 305, the left front near wire harness section 114 corresponds to the left front near receptacle section 314 of the vehicle chassis 305, the right front near wire harness section 116 corresponds to the right front near receptacle section 316 of the vehicle chassis 305, the left middle wire harness section 118 corresponds to the left middle receptacle section 318 of the vehicle chassis 305, the right middle wire harness section 120 corresponds to the right middle receptacle section 320 of the vehicle chassis 305, the left rear near wire harness section 122 corresponds to the left rear near receptacle section 322 of the vehicle chassis 305, the right rear near wire harness section 124 corresponds to the right rear near receptacle section 324 of the vehicle chassis 305, the left rear wire harness section 126 corresponds to the left rear receptacle section 326 of the vehicle chassis 305, and the right rear wire harness section 128 corresponds to the right rear receptacle section 328 of the vehicle chassis 305.

[0077] Similar to Figure 4 the concept, Figure 5 illustrated is a mating process 500 of a cross-connect harness section of a wire harness and corresponding receptacle areas in a chassis according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Figure 5 Illustrated is a wire harness 105 with cross-connect harness sections 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, and 280 and cross-connect harness section receptacle locations 330, 340, 350, 360, 370, and 380. As Figure 5As shown, cross-connect harness portion 230 corresponds to cross-connect harness portion receptacle location 330, cross-connect harness portion 240 corresponds to cross-connect harness portion receptacle location 340, cross-connect harness portion 250 corresponds to cross-connect harness portion receptacle location 350, cross-connect harness portion 260 corresponds to cross-connect harness portion receptacle location 360, cross-connect harness portion 270 corresponds to cross-connect harness portion receptacle location 370, and cross-connect harness portion 280 corresponds to cross-connect harness portion receptacle location 380.

[0078] Figure 6 Figure illustrates the use of visual fiducial tags 600 located throughout a wire harness, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. As discussed, the use of identifier tags can include the use of visual fiducial tags, including position and orientation information, such as AprilTags, which can be strategically attached to connectors, brackets, or other rigid sections on a wire harness, which can also include mating connectors or corresponding tags on a vehicle body surface or chassis. Further, the corresponding vehicle body surface or chassis can include matching shapes, where the wiring harness can include shaped or marked areas that match similar shaped or marked areas in the vehicle body bottom, chassis, or vehicle body surface. Further, the identifier tags can include reflective or infrared identifiers, which can include single or a pattern of reflective target tags that can provide position information and have proper contrast under varying lighting or shadow conditions, the retro-reflective targets can identify branches within the wire harness or receptacle locations within the chassis. Further, the identifier tags can include active transmission devices using short-range communication, such as Bluetooth or radio frequency identification (RFID) that can be based on ultra-wideband (UWB), or passive transmission using near-field communication. Figure 6 Figure illustrates an example of fiducial tags attached at different points on a wire harness 105. In particular, in this example, tags are attached to specific points that identify each portion of the wire harness 105, as discussed in Figure 1 and Figure 4 . In particular, in this example, fiducial tags 610, 612, 614, 616, 618, 620, 622, 624, 626, and 628 are placed in each region or portion, as illustrated in Figure 1 and Figure 4 . For example, the exact location of each fiducial tag can be placed as needed and / or required during the manufacturing and installation process, as appropriate.

[0079] The placement of identifier tags, such as fiducial tags, can be accomplished in a variety of types or manners. For example, during the assembly or manufacturing process of a wire harness, the identifier tags can be positioned and attached manually or automatically, such as by a robotic system. The same approach can be used for a vehicle chassis, or other type of chassis or structure, to which the identifier tags can be attached. For example, during the manufacturing process of the chassis or structure, the tags can be affixed to different locations as appropriate. Further, as some identifier tags are location, position, and orientation specific, the identifier tags can need to be placed in the appropriate location and orientation to allow for the correct installation process. In some embodiments, there can be multiple identifier tags at a single location, for example, to facilitate manual or automatic positioning and identification of various portions of the wire harness from multiple angles, and further to facilitate accurate retrieval and placement of the wire harness during installation.

[0080] Further, the placement of identifier tags on a wire harness can also facilitate the manufacturing process, for example, after the wire harness has been manufactured and is ready for installation into a vehicle chassis or other structure. In some embodiments, the wire harness can be folded, compressed, wound, etc. into a compact state. Thus, without the identifier tags, preparing the wire harness for assembly can involve a time consuming and laborious process of identifying the various portions or regions of the wire harness, and how to unroll and orient the various portions for installation into the vehicle chassis. With the identifier tags, preparing the wire harness for assembly can facilitate, based on the identification and location of the identifier tags, manually or automatically, via, for example, robotic techniques, guiding the unrolling, flipping, or pulling of the wire harness into an acceptable layout or position for installation.

[0081] Figure 7 FIG. illustrates the use of visual fiducial tags 700 located throughout a vehicle chassis 705, in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. As discussed, the use of identifier tags can include the use of visual fiducial tags, including position and orientation information, such as AprilTags, which can be strategically attached on connectors, brackets, or other rigid sections on a vehicle chassis or other structure, which can also include corresponding tags on equivalent mating connectors of a wire harness. Further, the corresponding body surface or chassis can include matching shapes, where the wiring harness can include shaped or marked regions that match similar shaped or marked regions in the body bottom, chassis, or body surface. For example, identifier tags 710, 712, 714, 716, 718, 720, 722, 724, 726, and 728 on chassis 705 can correspond to and / or be associated with their respective counterparts in a wiring harness, such as Figure 6The reference tags 610, 612, 614, 616, 618, 620, 622, 624, 626, and 628 are shown. Thus, the identifier tag 710 on the chassis 705 can be associated with the reference tag 610 of the wiring harness. In a similar manner, the tag 712 can be associated with the tag 612, the tag 714 can be associated with the tag 614, the tag 716 can be associated with the tag 616, the tag 718 can be associated with the tag 618, the tag 720 can be associated with the tag 620, the tag 722 can be associated with the tag 622, the tag 724 can be associated with the tag 624, the tag 726 can be associated with the tag 626, and the tag 728 can be associated with the tag 628.

[0082] Further, the identifier tags can include reflective or infrared identifiers that can include a single or a pattern of reflective targets that can provide location information and have proper contrast under varying lighting or shadow conditions, the retro-reflective targets can identify the location of the receptacle within the chassis. Further, the identifier tags can include active transmission devices using short-range communication, such as Bluetooth or radio frequency identification (RFID) that can be based on ultra-wideband (UWB), or passive transmission using near field communication.

[0083] In one embodiment, the use of identifier tags on a vehicle chassis or other structure can take the form of a cast or stamped pattern. In another embodiment, the identifier tags can take the form of one or more pressed or raised channels, or other methods known to those of ordinary skill in the art

[0084] Figure 8 An exemplary embodiment of a method 800 for marking identifiers for identification and installation in an automotive wire harness in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. The method 800 begins at step 805, attaching a plurality of first identifier tags to the wire harness, wherein each of the plurality of first identifier tags identifies a section of the wire harness. As discussed above, the wire harness assembly 100 can have a plurality of connection points through the harness. Figure 1 As discussed above, the wire harness assembly 100 can have a plurality of connection points through the harness. Figure 1FIG. illustrates a wire harness 105 having multiple regions or sections. The wire harness 105 illustrates a harness having ten different regions or sections. Section 110 is located at the front left, section 112 is located at the front right, section 114 is located near the front left, section 116 is located near the front right, section 118 is located at the middle left, section 120 is located at the middle right, section 122 is located near the back left, section 124 is located near the back right, section 126 is located at the back left, and section 128 is located at the back right. In one embodiment, each section of the wire harness can include one or more connectors, such as male or female connectors, terminals or bare wires, or other types of connectors known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The wire harness can include multiple sections or regions and still be within the scope of the present disclosure. Further, the wire harness can be for a type of device, including but not limited to a motor vehicle, an aircraft, a watercraft, or even a stationary system wire harness for a piece of equipment, machinery, appliance, or other type of device.

[0085] As Figure 6 illustrated, Figure 1 the wire harness 105 is shown using visual fiducial tags, containing position and orientation information, such as AprilTags, which can be strategically attached to connectors, brackets, or other rigid sections on the wire harness. The tags can also include retro-reflective targets, which can identify branches within the wire harness, and can also include active transmission devices using short-range communication, such as Bluetooth or radio frequency identification (RFID) that can be based on ultra-wideband (UWB), or passive transmission using near-field communication.

[0086] At step 810, the method can include identifying a plurality of sections of the wire harness based on the plurality of first identifier tags. As Figure 6 discussed in

[0087] Step 815 can include preparing the wire harness for assembly into the vehicle chassis, where preparing includes unspooling, flipping, or pulling the wire harness by section based on the plurality of first identifier tags. As mentioned above, preparing the wire harness for installation can be a difficult and time consuming task without the identifier tags. Further, without the use of identifier tags, it can be infeasible to use automated systems to prepare the wire harness for installation. However, with the use of identifier tags, such as visual or fiducial tags, preparing the wire harness for assembly can facilitate manually or automatically (via, for example, robotics) guiding the plurality of sections of the wire harness for identification in order to facilitate unspooling, flipping, or pulling the wire harness into an acceptable layout or position for installation based on the identification and location of the identifier tags.

[0088] Step 820 can include attaching a plurality of second identifier tags to the vehicle chassis, where each of the plurality of second identifier tags identifies a corresponding receptacle region associated with one or more of the first identifier tags. As discussed in Figure 7 Step 820 can include attaching a plurality of second identifier tags to the vehicle chassis, where each of the plurality of second identifier tags identifies a corresponding receptacle region associated with one or more of the first identifier tags. As discussed in

[0089] Method 800 can then end.

[0090] The specification and abstract are submitted to the Patent and Trademark Office as part of the disclosure of this application. The abstract is not intended to be limiting.

[0091] Embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above with the aid of functional building blocks illustrating the implementation of specified functions and relationships of the mentioned components. The boundaries of the functional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined herein for the convenience of the description. Alternate boundaries can be defined so long as the specified functions and relationships of the components are appropriately performed.

[0092] The foregoing description of certain implementations will so fully reveal the general nature of the disclosure that others can modify and / or adapt for various applications such specific implementations without departing from the general concept thereof as disclosed. Therefore, it is contemplated to be within the scope of the disclosure mentioned herein that present teachings and / or suggestions can be employed in various and / or more general contexts. Accordingly, the language used is merely intended to be illustrative of the present teachings and / or suggestions and not restrictive.

[0093] The breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by the above-described exemplary implementations.

[0094] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been presented. The present disclosure is not limited to these examples. These examples are presented herein for illustrative purposes only and are not limiting. Alternatives (including equivalents, extensions, variations, deviations, etc. to those described herein) will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the relevant art based on the teachings and guidance presented herein. Such alternatives fall within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A method for marking identifiers in automotive wiring harnesses for identification and installation, comprising: A plurality of first identifier labels are attached to the wire harness, wherein each of the plurality of first identifier labels identifies a segment of the wire harness; Multiple segments of the wire harness are identified based on multiple first identifier tags; Preparing a wire harness for assembly into an automotive chassis, wherein the preparation includes unfolding, flipping, or pulling the wire harness section by section based on the plurality of first identifier labels; and Multiple second identifier labels are attached to the vehicle chassis, wherein each of the multiple second identifier labels is associated with a corresponding socket area of ​​one or more first identifier labels.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, Each of the plurality of first identifier tags is attached to the connection point of the wire harness.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of first identifier labels includes one or more visual references.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of first identifier tags comprises an electronic tag.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein, Each of the plurality of first identifier tags includes a near-field communication or ultra-wideband communication device.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein, Each of the plurality of second identifier tags is attached to the connection point of the corresponding socket on the vehicle chassis.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of second identifier labels includes one or more visual references.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of second identifier tags comprises an electronic tag.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of second identifier tags comprises a passive near-field communication or an active ultra-wideband communication device.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The type of each of the plurality of first identifier labels is the same as the type of each of the plurality of second identifier labels.

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