Connector device, joint connector, and connector device manufacturing method

Abstract

To provide a connector device, a joint connector, and a connector device manufacturing method that can easily add a new function to a control system.SOLUTION: A connector device 1 comprises a first connector 2, a second connector 3 that can be fitted and connected to the first connector 2, and a joint connector 4 that can be fitted and connected to the first connector 2 at one end and can be fitted and connected to the second connector 3 at the other end, and is connected between the first connector 2 and the second connector 3. The first connector 2, the second connector 3, and the joint connector 4 constitute part of a control circuit 11 that causes a control system 10 to operate, and the joint connector 4 is configured to connect an additional circuit 12 for adding a function of the control system 10 to the control circuit 11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector device, a joint connector, and a method for manufacturing the connector device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, with regard to a connector device, a joint connector, and a method for manufacturing the connector device, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, there is known a connector device that has a male connector and a female connector connected to the ends of electric wires, and that connects the male connector and the female connector to form a vehicle control system. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2022-078921 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In such a connector device, there is room for improvement in that it is difficult to add new functions to the control system. For example, when installing an electronic device or electronic component to add a new function, it is considered that the electric wire corresponding to the added portion is cut and then the electronic device or the like is installed.

[0005] However, adding such new functions is not an easy task. For example, in a control system installed in a vehicle, connectors and electric wires are used as a wire harness. This wire harness is threaded through invisible gaps inside the vehicle, making it difficult to secure sufficient working space when cutting the electric wires. In addition, there is a lack of slack in the electric wires, making it difficult to add new functions to an existing control system.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENTS In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a connector device, a joint connector, and a method of manufacturing the connector device that enable new functions to be easily added to a control system. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] That is, the connector device of the present invention comprises a first connector, a second connector capable of engaging and connecting with the first connector, and a joint connector capable of engaging and connecting with the first connector at one end and the second connector at the other end, the joint connector being connected between the first connector and the second connector, the first connector, the second connector and the joint connector forming part of a control circuit that operates a control system, and the joint connector being configured to connect an additional circuit that adds functions to the control system to the control circuit. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the connector device, the joint connector, and the method for manufacturing the connector device of the present invention, new functions can be easily added to the control system. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector device and a joint connector according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of the electrical configuration of the connector device according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a connection between a first connector and a second connector in the connector device according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a method for manufacturing a connector device according to an embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a separation step in the method for manufacturing a connector device according to the embodiment. [Figure 6]FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a connecting step in the manufacturing method of the connector device according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. In addition, the components in the following embodiments include those that are replaceable and easy for a person skilled in the art, or those that are substantially the same.

[0011] [Embodiment] The present embodiment relates to a connector device, a joint connector, and a method for manufacturing the connector device. In the following description, of a first direction, a second direction, and a third direction that intersect with each other, the first direction is referred to as the "connection direction X", the second direction is referred to as the "width direction Y", and the third direction is referred to as the "height direction Z". Here, the connection direction X, the width direction Y, and the height direction Z are mutually perpendicular. The connection direction X corresponds to the connection direction of the connector. The width direction Y and the height direction Z intersect with the connection direction X. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, each direction used in the following description represents a direction in a state in which each part is assembled with each other. Note that orthogonal here includes substantially orthogonal.

[0012] As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the connector device 1 is a device including a plurality of connectors attached to the ends of electric wires, and is mounted on, for example, a vehicle for use. The connector device 1 is configured with a first connector 2, a second connector 3, and a joint connector 4. For convenience of explanation, Fig. 1 shows a state in which the first connector 2, the second connector 3, and the joint connector 4 are separated from each other. The first connector 2 is a connector connected to an end of an electric wire 21, and is, for example, a male connector. The first connector 2 is connected to a plurality of electric wires 21, and holds, for example, terminal fittings connected to the electric wires 21. The second connector 3 is a connector connected to an end of an electric wire 31, and is, for example, a female connector. The second connector 3 is connected to a plurality of electric wires 31, and holds, for example, terminal fittings connected to the electric wires 31.

[0013] The joint connector 4 is an intermediate connector that is connected between the first connector 2 and the second connector 3. This joint connector 4 is a connector that is installed in order to add a new function to the control system 10, and is not installed in the control system 10 before the new function is added (see FIG. 3).

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the joint connector 4 includes a housing 41 that can be fitted to, for example, the first connector 2 and the second connector 3. The housing 41 accommodates a bus bar 415 therein and electrically connects to the first connector 2 and the second connector 3. The joint connector 4 shown in FIG. 2 is a schematic example, and the number of the bus bars 415 and the connection configuration are not limited to those shown in FIG. 2. The housing 41 has a first fitting portion 411 formed at one end, and the first connector 2 is fitted into the first fitting portion 411 to perform connection. The first fitting portion 411 is a female fitting portion that fits into the first connector 2, which is a male connector. The housing 41 has a second fitting portion 412 formed at the other end, and the second connector 3 is fitted into the second fitting portion 412 to perform connection. The second fitting portion 412 is a male fitting portion that fits into the second connector 3, which is a female connector. The other end is an end of the housing 41 opposite to the one end.

[0015] The first connector 2, the second connector 3, and the joint connector 4 function as a part of a control circuit 11 that operates the control system 10. The control system 10 is a control system mounted on a vehicle, and is used as a system that operates an electric device 112 mounted on the vehicle by an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 111, for example. Specifically, the control system 10 corresponds to an audio system, an electronically controlled brake system, etc. The control system may be a control system other than the above. The ECU 111 is a main control unit for operating the control system 10. The control circuit 11 is configured such that the electric device 112 is connected to the ECU 111 via the first connector 2, the second connector 3, and the joint connector 4. The electric device 112 is a control target controlled by the control system 10.

[0016] The joint connector 4 connects an additional circuit 12 that adds a function to the control system 10 to the control circuit 11. The additional circuit 12 is a circuit that adds a new function to the control system 10, and is connected to, for example, a sub-ECU 121. The sub-ECU 121 may be connected to an electric component or a sensor. For example, if the control system 10 is an audio system, the newly added function corresponds to an AM radio receiving function. Also, if the control system 10 is an electronically controlled brake system, the newly added function corresponds to an automatic brake function or a brake assist function. Also, depending on the type of the control system 10, the newly added function may be another function.

[0017] For example, the additional circuit 12 is connected to the outside of the joint connector 4. The housing 41 of the joint connector 4 forms a third fitting portion 413 and a fourth fitting portion 414. The third fitting portion 413 is fitted and connected to the third connector 5, and the fourth fitting portion 414 is fitted and connected to the fourth connector 6. The third connector 5 is connected to the sub-ECU 121 through an electric wire 51, and the fourth connector 6 is connected to the sub-ECU 121 through an electric wire 61. This allows the additional circuit 12 to be connected to the control circuit 11 via the joint connector 4, making it possible to add a new function to the control system 10. Note that the additional circuit 12 may not be provided with the sub-ECU 121. Also, the additional circuit 12 may be built into the joint connector 4.

[0018] As shown in Fig. 3, the second connector 3 is configured to be able to fit and connect with the first connector 2. Fig. 3 shows a state before a new function is added to the control system 10, and the additional circuit 12 is not connected to the control circuit 11. The first connector 2 and the second connector 3 can be fitted and connected without the joint connector 4. When the first connector 2 and the second connector 3 are connected, they form a part of the control circuit 11 and enable the control system 10 to operate. In other words, the control system 10 does not have a new function, but can operate and control the electric device 112 to be controlled.

[0019] Next, a method for manufacturing the connector device according to this embodiment will be described.

[0020] 4, the manufacturing method of the connector device 1 is performed by disconnecting the first connector 2 and the second connector 3 that are connected, and then disposing and connecting the joint connector 4 between the first connector 2 and the second connector 3. The manufacturing method of the connector device 1 is performed, for example, when adding a new function to the control system 10, and is performed manually by an operator.

[0021] In the manufacturing method of the connector device 1, first, a disconnection process is performed in step S10 (hereinafter, simply referred to as "S10"; the same applies to steps after S10) in FIG. 4. The disconnection process is a process of disconnecting the first connector 2 and the second connector 3 in the control circuit 11 of the control system 10. As shown in FIG. 3, before the disconnection process, the first connector 2 and the second connector 3 are engaged and connected. Then, the control circuit 11 is configured in the control system 10, and the electric device 112 is in an operable state. In contrast, as shown in FIG. 5, the first connector 2 and the second connector 3 are disconnected by the disconnection process. In this case, the connection between the ECU 111 and the electric device 112 can be cut off by only releasing the engagement between the first connector 2 and the second connector 3 without cutting the electric wire 21 or the electric wire 31.

[0022] Then, the process proceeds to S12 in Fig. 4, where the connecting process is performed. The connecting process is a process of connecting the joint connector 4 between the first connector 2 and the second connector 3 that have been separated, as shown in Fig. 6. For example, in the connecting process, the first connector 2 and the second connector 3 are fitted and connected to the joint connector 4. An additional circuit 12 is connected to the joint connector 4, and by connecting the joint connector 4 between the first connector 2 and the second connector 3, the additional circuit 12 can be connected to the control circuit 11 of the control system 10. In Fig. 6, the joint connector 4 is connected between the first connector 2 and the second connector 3 in a state where the third connector 5 and the fourth connector 6 are connected to the joint connector 4 in advance, but the third connector 5 and the fourth connector 6 may be connected to the joint connector 4 after the joint connector 4 is connected between the first connector 2 and the second connector 3.

[0023] After completing the connection step of S12, as shown in Fig. 2, the joint connector 4 is connected between the first connector 2 and the second connector 3, and the manufacture of the connector device 1 is completed. In the control system 10, the control circuit 11 and the additional circuit 12 are connected through the first connector 2, the second connector 3, and the joint connector 4. As a result, a new function based on the additional circuit 12 is added to the control system 10.

[0024] Such a manufacturing method for the connector device 1 is useful when adding a new function to the control system 10 of the vehicle. For example, a new function can be added to the vehicle by connecting the joint connector 4 to the existing first connector 2 and second connector 3 used in the vehicle control system 10. Therefore, the manufacturing method for the connector device 1 makes it possible to easily add a new function to the vehicle. In other words, the manufacturing method for the connector device 1 does not require cutting or soldering of electric wires, and the work is performed by disconnecting and connecting the connectors, so that the work can be performed smoothly and easily. In addition, the manufacturing method for the connector device 1 can prevent mistakes in connecting the wiring, and the work can be performed appropriately.

[0025] As described above, the connector device 1 and the manufacturing method of the connector device according to the present embodiment can easily provide the additional circuit 12 to the control system 10 by connecting the joint connector 4 between the first connector 2 and the second connector 3 and connecting the additional circuit 12 to the control circuit 11. Therefore, the connector device 1 and the manufacturing method of the connector device according to the present embodiment can easily add a new function to the control system 10.

[0026] Furthermore, in the connector device 1 according to this embodiment, the first connector 2 and the second connector 3 can be connected to each other without the joint connector 4, and constitute part of the control circuit 11, enabling the operation of the control system 10. Therefore, in the connector device 1 according to this embodiment, by connecting the joint connector 4 between the first connector 2 and the second connector 3 and connecting the additional circuit 12 to the control circuit 11, the additional circuit 12 can be provided to the existing control system 10, thereby adding a new function.

[0027] The joint connector 4 according to this embodiment can easily provide an additional circuit 12 to the control system 10 by being connected between the first connector 2 and the second connector 3. Therefore, the joint connector 4 according to this embodiment makes it possible to easily add a new function to the control system 10.

[0028] The connector device, joint connector, and connector device manufacturing method according to the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. The connector device 1, joint connector 4, and connector device manufacturing method according to the present embodiment may be configured by appropriately combining the components of the above-described embodiment and modified examples.

[0029] For example, in the above-described embodiments, the connector device 1, the joint connector 4 and the connector device manufacturing method have been described as being applied to a connector mounted on a vehicle, but the connector device, the joint connector and the connector device manufacturing method of the present invention may also be applied to a connector that is not mounted on a vehicle. [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] 1: Connector device 2: First connector 3: Second connector 4: Joint connector 10: Control system 11: Control circuit 12: Additional circuit 41: Housing 411: First fitting part 412: Second fitting part 415: Busbar

Claims

1. A first connector; a second connector that can be fitted and connected to the first connector; a joint connector having one end portion adapted to be fitted and connected to the first connector and having the other end portion adapted to be fitted and connected to the second connector, the joint connector being connected between the first connector and the second connector; the first connector, the second connector and the joint connector form part of a control circuit that operates a control system; The joint connector connects an additional circuit that adds a function of the control system to the control circuit. Connector device.

2. The first connector and the second connector are connected to each other without the joint connector to constitute a part of the control circuit and to operate the control system. The connector device of claim 1 .

3. A housing that accommodates the busbars; a female first fitting portion provided at one end of the housing and capable of fitting and connecting with a first connector which is a male connector; a male second fitting portion provided at the other end of the housing and capable of fitting and connecting with a second connector which is a female connector; The first connector and the second connector are adapted to be fitted together and connected to each other, the first connector and the second connector are each connected to the housing and form part of a control circuit for operating a control system; the housing couples additional circuitry to the control circuitry to add functionality to the control system; Joint connector.

4. a disconnection process in which the first connector and the second connector which are mated and connected are disconnected; a connecting step of disposing a joint connector between the first connector and the second connector which have been separated, fitting and connecting the joint connector and the first connector, and fitting and connecting the joint connector and the second connector, thereby electrically connecting the first connector and the second connector via the joint connector, the first connector, the second connector, and the joint connector are connected to each other by the connecting step to form a part of a control circuit that operates a control system; The joint connector connects an additional circuit that adds a function of the control system to the control circuit. A method for manufacturing a connector device.

Images