Wire harness

Abstract

To provide a wire harness that can improve fittability to a vehicle or the like.SOLUTION: A wire harness WH is provided with: a main line module 10 that has a plurality of flexible print wiring plates 11, a plurality of main line-side connectors 12, and a first arrangement material module 16 connecting the plurality of flexible print wiring plates 11 to each other; and a plurality of branch line modules 20 that have a plurality of branch line-side arrangement materials 21 and branch line-side connectors 22 provided at end parts of the plurality of branch line-side arrangement materials 21 and are connected to the main line-side connectors 12, respectively. The plurality of flexible print wiring plates 11 are respectively provided with wiring patterns 13 which include a plurality of conductor circuit parts 13a electrically connected to the plurality of branch line-side arrangement materials 21 respectively through the main line-side connectors 12 and the branch line-side connectors 22 to constitute a transmission path and joint parts 13b jointing at least two of the plurality of conductor circuit parts 13a to each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a wire harness. [Background technology]

[0002] As a conventional technology relating to wire harnesses, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a wire harness equipped with a trunk module having a flexible printed wiring board having flexibility and a plurality of trunk side connectors provided at an end of the flexible printed wiring board. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-150047 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the wire harness described in Patent Document 1 has room for further improvement in terms of, for example, improving the ease of assembly into a vehicle or the like.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a wire harness that can be easily installed in a vehicle or the like. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, a wire harness according to the present invention comprises a trunk module including a plurality of flexible printed wiring boards having flexibility, a plurality of trunk-side connectors provided at ends of the plurality of flexible printed wiring boards, and a first wiring material module including a plurality of conductive first trunk-side wiring materials connecting the plurality of flexible printed wiring boards, and a plurality of branch line modules each including a plurality of conductive branch line wiring materials and a branch line connector provided at ends of the plurality of branch line wiring materials and connected to the trunk line connector, wherein each of the plurality of flexible printed wiring boards is provided with a wiring pattern including a plurality of conductor circuit portions electrically connected to each of the plurality of branch line wiring materials via the trunk line connector and the branch line connector and constituting a transmission path, and a joint portion connecting at least two of the plurality of conductor circuit portions to each other. The plurality of flexible printed wiring boards include a first flexible printed wiring board provided at one end of the trunk module in the extension direction and connected to a first ECU via the trunk side connector, and a second flexible printed wiring board provided at the other end of the trunk module in the extension direction and connected to a second ECU via the trunk side connector. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] In the wire harness according to the present invention, the flexible printed wiring boards are each provided with a wiring pattern including a plurality of conductor circuit portions electrically connected to the plurality of branch line wiring members via the trunk line connector and the branch line connector to form a transmission path, and a joint portion connecting at least two of the plurality of conductor circuit portions to each other. With this configuration, the structure of the branch line module side of the wire harness can be further simplified by using the joint portion provided on the trunk line module side. As a result, the wire harness has the advantage of being easier to install in a vehicle, etc. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exemplary perspective view of a vehicle to which a wire harness according to an embodiment is applied. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exemplary schematic plan view of the wire harness according to the embodiment. [Figure 3]FIG. 3 is an exemplary schematic plan view of a part of a flexible printed wiring board of the wire harness according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an exemplary schematic plan view of a branch wire module of a wire harness according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an exemplary perspective view of a vehicle to which a wire harness according to a modified example is applied. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an exemplary schematic plan view of a wire harness according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments and modifications of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments and modifications. Furthermore, the components in the following embodiments and modifications include those that are easily replaceable by those skilled in the art, or those that are substantially identical.

[0010] Furthermore, the embodiments and modifications disclosed below include similar components. Therefore, in the following, the similar components are given the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted. Note that in this specification, ordinal numbers are used only to distinguish between parts, members, portions, positions, directions, etc., and do not indicate order or priority.

[0011] [Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle 100 to which a wire harness WH according to an embodiment is applied. In the following description, of the first, second, and third directions that intersect with one another, the first direction is referred to as the "extension direction Y," the second direction is referred to as the "depth direction X," and the third direction is referred to as the "height direction Z." Here, the extension direction Y, the depth direction X, and the height direction Z are approximately perpendicular to one another. The extension direction Y typically corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the trunk module 10 of the wire harness WH, the vehicle width direction, etc. The depth direction X corresponds to the lateral direction of the trunk module 10 of the wire harness WH, the vehicle front-rear direction, etc. The height direction Z corresponds to the thickness direction of the trunk module 10 of the wire harness WH, the vehicle up-down direction, etc. Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, the directions used in the following description will be described as directions in a state in which the wire harness WH is assembled to the vehicle 100.

[0012] The wire harness WH of this embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is applied to a vehicle 100 and connects devices mounted on the vehicle 100 for power supply and signal communication. The wire harness WH of this embodiment is attached to, for example, a structural member 111 installed inside an instrument panel 110 of the vehicle 100. The instrument panel 110 is an interior panel disposed at the front of the vehicle interior along the extension direction Y so as to face the driver's seat and passenger seat of the vehicle 100. Note that in FIG. 1, the instrument panel 110 is indicated by a two-dot chain line. The structural member 111 is, for example, a reinforcement member formed of a hollow metal pipe and extending along the extension direction Y. Flanges 112 are joined to both ends of the structural member 111. One flange 112 is fixed to the left side of the body of the vehicle 100, and the other flange 112 is fixed to the right side of the body of the vehicle 100.

[0013] The wire harness WH includes, for example, a trunk module 10 and a plurality of branch line modules 20. The trunk module 10 is an in-instrument panel structural module disposed within an instrument panel 110 of a vehicle 100, more specifically, on a structural member 111 along an extension direction Y. The trunk module 10 includes, for example, a plurality of flexible printed circuit boards 11 (flexible printed circuits), a plurality of trunk line connectors 12 provided at ends of the flexible printed circuit boards 11, and a first wiring material module 16 connecting the plurality of flexible printed circuit boards 11 together. Here, each of the plurality of flexible printed circuit boards 11 is connected to an ECU 30 via one of the plurality of trunk line connectors 12, and is connected to the branch line module 20 via the other trunk line connectors 12. Note that the ECU 30 here is typically, but not limited to, a zone ECU that comprehensively controls devices in a peripheral area (zone) of the instrument panel 110.

[0014] The flexible printed wiring boards 11 include, for example, a first flexible printed wiring board 11A and a second flexible printed wiring board 11B. The first flexible printed wiring board 11A is provided at one end of the trunk module 10 in the extension direction Y and is electrically connected to the first ECU 30A of the ECU 30 via the trunk-side connector 12. The second flexible printed wiring board 11B is provided at the other end of the trunk module 10 in the extension direction Y and is electrically connected to the second ECU 30B of the ECU 30 via the trunk-side connector 12. The first flexible printed wiring board 11A and the second flexible printed wiring board 11B are spaced apart from each other along the extension direction Y and are electrically connected to each other via the first wiring material module 16. The first ECU 30A and the second ECU 30B are offset from each other in the height direction Z, which intersects with the extension direction Y, relative to both end portions 111a of the structural member 111.

[0015] The first flexible printed wiring board 11A includes, for example, a first portion 11c, a plurality of first folded portions 11d and 11e, and a second portion 11f. The first portion 11c is a portion of the first flexible printed wiring board 11A that is disposed on the structural member 111 and extends along the extension direction Y. The second portion 11f is a portion of the first flexible printed wiring board 11A that is connected to the first portion 11c via the plurality of first folded portions 11d and 11e and extends along the height direction Z toward the first ECU 30A. Here, the second portion 11f is folded back from the first portion 11c at the first folded portion 11d along the depth direction X, and is also folded back at the first folded portion 11e along the height direction Z toward the first ECU 30A. As a result, the main line side connector 12 (see Figure 2) provided at the end of the second part 11f is bent into a shape that can be connected (engaged) with the connector on the first ECU 30A side, and is electrically and mechanically connected to the connector on the first ECU 30A side.

[0016] The second flexible printed wiring board 11B includes, for example, a third portion 11g, a plurality of second folded portions 11h and 11i, and a fourth portion 11j. The third portion 11g is a portion of the second flexible printed wiring board 11B that is disposed on the structural member 111 and extends along the extension direction Y. The fourth portion 11j is a portion of the second flexible printed wiring board 11B that is connected to the third portion 11g via the plurality of second folded portions 11h and 11i and extends along the height direction Z toward the second ECU 30B. Here, the fourth portion 11j is folded back from the third portion 11g at the second folded portion 11h along the depth direction X, and is also folded back at the second folded portion 11i along the height direction Z toward the second ECU 30B. As a result, the main line side connector 12 (see Figure 2) provided at the end of the fourth portion 11j is bent into a shape that can be connected (engaged) with the connector on the second ECU 30B side, and is electrically and mechanically connected to the connector on the second ECU 30B side.

[0017] The first wiring material module 16 is a wiring module having one end connected to the first flexible printed wiring board 11A and the other end connected to the second flexible printed wiring board 11B. The first wiring material module 16 includes, for example, a plurality of conductive main line side first wiring materials 16a and a pair of main line side first connectors 16b (see FIG. 2) provided at both ends of the plurality of main line side first wiring materials 16a and connected to the first flexible printed wiring board 11A and the second flexible printed wiring board 11B. The main line side first wiring material 16a is, for example, an electric wire having a conductor portion formed by twisting together a plurality of linear metal wires and an insulating coating covering the outside of the conductor portion.

[0018] In addition, the trunk module 10 may have a special electric wire 19 in addition to the first flexible printed wiring board 11A, the second flexible printed wiring board 11B, and the first wiring material module 16. The special electric wire 19 is an electric wire that transmits signals or power that are difficult to transmit properly using the first flexible printed wiring board 11A, the second flexible printed wiring board 11B, the first wiring material module 16, etc., and is used, for example, to transmit high-speed communication signals or large-current power. The special electric wire 19 is routed, for example, along the structural member 111.

[0019] Each of the branch line modules 20 is a wiring module having one end connected to the trunk line side connectors 12 of the first flexible printed wiring board 11A and the second flexible printed wiring board 11B and the other end connected to various electronic devices 40 in the vehicle 100. Each branch line module 20 includes a plurality of conductive branch line side wiring materials 21 (see FIG. 2 ), branch line side connectors 22 provided at one end of the plurality of branch line side wiring materials 21 and connected to each trunk line side connector 12, and branch line side connectors 23 provided at the other end of the plurality of branch line side wiring materials 21 and connected to various electronic devices 40 in the vehicle 100. The branch line modules 20 are each routed toward various electronic devices 40 arranged offset in a height direction Z that intersects with the extension direction Y relative to the first flexible printed wiring board 11A and the second flexible printed wiring board 11B.

[0020] Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of the wire harness WH, and Fig. 3 is a schematic plan view of a portion of a flexible printed wiring board 11. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the flexible printed wiring board 11 is a thin, flexible printed circuit board, and is configured to include, for example, a wiring pattern 13, a base film 14, and a coverlay. The multiple flexible printed wiring boards 11, i.e., the first flexible printed wiring board 11A and the second flexible printed wiring board 11B, have substantially the same configuration (specifications).

[0021] The base film 14 is a substrate that has excellent flexibility and determines the overall shape of the flexible printed wiring board 11. The base film 14 is formed, for example, from a polyimide resin that has excellent heat resistance. The wiring pattern 13 is laminated on the surface (mounting surface) of the base film 14 and constitutes a plurality of conductor circuit portions 13a (pattern layer). The wiring pattern 13 is formed, for example, from a conductive material such as copper foil, and is printed on the surface of the base film 14 as a printed circuit body. The coverlay is laminated over the entire surface of the base film 14, i.e., on the base film 14 or the wiring pattern 13, via an adhesive (not shown), and functions as a protective layer that protects the conductor circuit portions 13a and the like of the wiring pattern 13.

[0022] The flexible printed wiring board 11 is formed as a whole in a rectangular shape that is horizontally long in the extension direction Y. That is, the flexible printed wiring board 11 has a pair of first end portions 11a as long sides and a pair of second end portions 11b as short sides. The first end portions 11a are end portions on both sides of the flexible printed wiring board 11 in the depth direction X, and the second end portions 11b are end portions on both sides of the flexible printed wiring board 11 in the extension direction Y. In this embodiment, one or more of the multiple trunk line side connectors 12 are provided at each of the first end portion 11a and the second end portion 11b of the flexible printed wiring board 11.

[0023] Specifically, the first flexible printed wiring board 11A has, for example, four trunk side connectors 12. Here, two trunk side connectors 12 are provided at one of the pair of first end portions 11a at an interval in the extension direction Y, and one trunk side connector 12 is provided at each of the pair of second end portions 11b. Two of these trunk side connectors 12 are connected to the branch line module 20 via branch line side connectors 22, one is connected to the first ECU 30A via a connector on the first ECU 30A side, and the remaining one is connected to the first wiring material module 16 via the trunk side first connector 16b.

[0024] The second flexible printed wiring board 11B also has, for example, five trunk-side connectors 12. Here, two trunk-side connectors 12 are provided at one of the pair of first ends 11a, spaced apart from each other in the extension direction Y, one trunk-side connector 12 is provided at the other of the pair of first ends 11a, and one trunk-side connector 12 is provided at each of the pair of second ends 11b. Three of these trunk-side connectors 12 are connected to the branch line module 20 via branch-side connectors 22, one is connected to the second ECU 30B via a connector on the second ECU 30B side, and the remaining one is connected to the first wiring material module 16 via the trunk-side first connector 16b. Note that the specifications of the trunk-side connectors 12, such as the number of poles, and the arrangement of the trunk-side connectors 12, can be changed as appropriate to suit the installation position of the wire harness WH in the vehicle 100.

[0025] Furthermore, the multiple trunk line side connectors 12 are electrically connected to the wiring patterns 13 of the first flexible printed wiring board 11A and the second flexible printed wiring board 11B. The multiple conductor circuit portions 13a formed by the wiring patterns 13 can function as any of circuits such as a signal circuit, a signal GND circuit, or a power earth circuit. The signal circuit is a circuit that transmits communication signals between on-board devices such as the ECU 30 and various electronic devices 40 in the vehicle 100. The signal GND circuit is a circuit associated with the signal circuit that provides electrical continuity between on-board devices and adjusts the potentials that serve as the reference for circuit operation between the on-board devices. The power earth circuit is a circuit that grounds the power supply system of the on-board devices.

[0026] In this embodiment, the wiring pattern 13 is provided with joint portions 13b (see FIG. 3) that connect at least two of the plurality of conductor circuit portions 13a to each other. The joint portions 13b are formed simultaneously with the plurality of conductor circuit portions 13a, for example, when printing the wiring pattern 13, and connect the above-mentioned signal circuits to each other, signal GND circuits to each other, power ground circuits to each other, etc. The joint portions 13b connect at least two conductor circuit portions 13a that are located on the same layer among the plurality of pattern layers that make up the wiring pattern 13. In this embodiment, the wiring pattern 13 is provided with a plurality of joint portions 13b, and branching portions of the entire wire harness WH are concentrated at the joint portions 13b on the flexible printed wiring board 11. That is, the joint portions 13b include a joint portion 13b1 having a joint function that can be provided on the ECU 30 (first ECU 30A or second ECU 30B) side and a joint portion 13b2 having a joint function that can be provided on the branch line module 20 side.

[0027] FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a branch line module 20. As shown in FIG. 4, the branch line module 20 includes, for example, an I-shaped first branch line module 20A and a V-shaped second branch line module 20B. The first branch line module 20A is a branch line module 20 configured in a one-to-one relationship in which the number of branch line connectors 22 provided at one end of the plurality of branch line wiring materials 21 is the same as the number of branch line connectors 23 provided at the other end of the plurality of branch line wiring materials 21. On the other hand, the second branch line module 20B is a branch line module 20 configured in a one-to-plural relationship in which the number of branch line connectors 23 is plural to the number of branch line connectors 22. Here, the second branch line module 20B is provided with two branch line connectors 23. Note that the number of branch line connectors 23 in the second branch line module 20B is not limited to this example and may be, for example, three or more.

[0028] Such a first branch line module 20A and a second branch line module 20B are branch line modules 20 that can be manufactured by automation. That is, in the first branch line module 20A, all of the branch line-side routing materials 21 constituting the first branch line module 20A extend from the branch line-side connector 22 provided at one end to the branch line-side connector 23 provided at the other end without a branch (joint portion). Similarly, in the second branch line module 20B, all of the branch line-side routing materials 21 constituting the second branch line module 20B extend from the branch line-side connector 22 to the two branch line-side connectors 23 without a branch (joint portion). Therefore, compared to when a joint portion is provided in the branch line module 20, the configuration of the branch line module 20 can be simplified, and assembling to the vehicle 100 or the like can be improved.

[0029] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the flexible printed wiring board 11 is provided with the joint portion 13b, which has the advantage of further simplifying the configuration of the ECU 30. Specifically, if the ECU 30 were provided with a joint function, there would be many circuits within the ECU 30, which could increase the number of poles (connecting connectors) between the ECU 30 and the trunk side connector 12 and increase the product number of the ECU 30. In this regard, according to this embodiment, the trunk module 10 is provided with the joint portion 13b, which further simplifies the configuration of the ECU 30, thereby reducing the number of poles (connecting connectors) between the ECU 30 and the trunk side connector 12 and reducing the product number of the ECU 30.

[0030] In addition, in this embodiment, the trunk module 10 of the wire harness WH is configured to include multiple flexible printed wiring boards 11. Therefore, the trunk module 10 configured with multiple flexible printed wiring boards 11 is lighter than a typical trunk made of various types of bundled electric wires. Here, when the above-mentioned wire harness WH is installed in a vehicle 100, it is expected that the length of the trunk module 10 will be approximately 1000 mm. If a trunk of such length were configured entirely of electric wires, the weight of the trunk itself, and therefore the entire wire harness WH, may increase. In this regard, according to this embodiment, the trunk module 10 is configured to include multiple flexible printed wiring boards 11, so that it is possible to accommodate an increase in the size of the wire harness WH while suppressing an increase in the overall weight of the trunk module 10 or the wire harness WH.

[0031] Furthermore, when the wire harness WH is installed in the instrument panel 110 of the vehicle 100, it includes many branch line modules 20 corresponding to various electronic devices 40 such as meters, air conditioners, and audio equipment, and is therefore heavier than wire harnesses WH installed in other parts of the vehicle 100. In addition, in such a large wire harness WH, some of the branch line modules 20 may have connectors such as joint connectors that are not actually used. In contrast, the wire harness WH according to this embodiment can connect appropriate branch line modules 20 having only the necessary branch line connectors 22, 23, thereby further simplifying the configuration of the branch line modules 20 and thereby suppressing an increase in the overall weight of the wire harness WH.

[0032] Furthermore, in general, in a large wire harness WH having a trunk module 10 in which various electric wires are bundled, it may be structurally difficult to employ thin branch-side wiring materials 21 with an allowable current value of about several mA as branch module 20. In contrast, in this embodiment, the trunk module 10 is thin overall and is composed of a plurality of flexible printed wiring boards 11 including fine wiring patterns 13, which has the advantage of making it easier to employ a structure for connecting branch modules 20 made of thin branch-side wiring materials 21 that are defined by the above current range.

[0033] Generally, a wire harness WH having a trunk module 10 in which various electric wires are bundled is manually manufactured by an operator. In contrast, a flexible printed wiring board 11 can be manufactured automatically. Therefore, by configuring the trunk module 10 with a flexible printed wiring board 11, the number of steps required to manufacture the trunk module 10 can be reduced, and therefore the number of steps required to manufacture the wire harness WH can also be reduced.

[0034] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the branch line modules 20 are connected to the trunk module 10 via the branch line-side connectors 22, and therefore can be attached to and detached from the trunk module 10. Therefore, in the final process of manufacturing the wire harness WH, a worker simply connects a plurality of pre-prepared branch line modules 20 to the trunk module 10. For example, a worker can assemble the entire wire harness WH by first attaching the trunk module 10, before the branch line modules 20 are connected, to the structural member 111, and then connecting each branch line module 20 to the trunk module 10. In other words, this can contribute to reducing the number of steps required to design the wire harness WH and facilitating the manufacturing process of the vehicle 100 employing the wire harness WH.

[0035] Furthermore, with the trunk module 10 and wire harness WH of this embodiment, only the branch line modules 20 can be replaced for one trunk module 10. Therefore, if a problem occurs with one branch line module 20, only that branch line module 20 can be easily replaced. On the other hand, by standardizing the trunk module 10 and appropriately changing only the desired branch line module 20, various wire harnesses WH can be easily configured, each employing a different type or length of branch line modules 20. Furthermore, the trunk module 10 can provide an expandable function as an add-on, i.e., a function that was not set in the wire harness WH when it was assembled to the vehicle 100 can be newly added after assembly. Note that when the trunk module 10 formed by the flexible printed wiring board 11 is attached to the structural member 111, it may be attached via a protector that covers and protects the entire trunk module 10.

[0036] Another advantage is that, because the branch line modules 20 can be attached to and detached from the trunk line module 10, the trunk line module 10 and the multiple branch line modules 20 can be managed by their own unique product numbers. For example, as a comparative example, if there are multiple general wire harnesses WH in which the only difference is the length of a certain branch line module 20, the multiple wire harnesses WH are managed by being assigned different product numbers. In contrast, with the wire harness WH of this embodiment, a product number is assigned to each branch line module 20 of a different length, while the common trunk line module 10 is managed by being assigned a single product number. This makes it possible to easily increase the variety of changes to the branch line modules 20 and contributes to simplifying the management of man-hours involved in changing the configuration of the wire harness WH.

[0037] Furthermore, a large wire harness WH having a trunk module 10 in which various electric wires are bundled generally has difficulties in transportation due to its weight. In contrast, the wire harness WH of the present embodiment allows the trunk module 10 and the branch module 20 to be transported separately, which has advantages, for example, shortening the number of days required to manufacture the wire harness WH itself or the vehicle 100 using the wire harness WH, and reducing the need for limited manufacturing locations. Furthermore, the wire harness WH of the present embodiment allows the branch module 20 to be manufactured independently of the trunk module 10, and therefore may be manufactured by an automatic machine rather than by manual labor by a worker. In other words, the wire harness WH of the present embodiment allows both the trunk module 10 formed by the flexible printed wiring board 11 and the branch module 20 formed by the branch-side wiring material 21, i.e., the entire wire harness WH, to be manufactured by an automatic machine, which is advantageous, for example, in reducing costs.

[0038] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the flexible printed wiring board 11 is flexible, so that the trunk module 10 and the wire harness WH can be easily adapted to various mounting locations within the vehicle 100. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the multiple trunk-side connectors 12 are provided at least one each at the first end 11a and the second end 11b, so that the trunk module 10 can connect multiple branch line modules 20 from opposite sides to each other. Therefore, when such a wire harness WH is installed within the vehicle 100, the trunk module 10 can increase the number of branch line modules 20 that can be connected and increase the variety of configurations of the wire harness WH.

[0039] As described above, in the wire harness WH of this embodiment, the multiple flexible printed wiring boards 11 are each provided with a wiring pattern 13 including multiple conductor circuit portions 13a that are electrically connected to the multiple branch line wiring materials 21 via the trunk line connector 12 and the branch line connector 22 (i.e., in a one-to-one relationship) to form a transmission path, and joint portions 13b that interconnect at least two of the multiple conductor circuit portions 13a. With this configuration, the wire harness WH can further simplify the configuration on the branch line module 20 side by using the joint portions 13b provided on the trunk line module 10 side, for example. In other words, branch portions of the entire wire harness WH can be consolidated into the joint portions 13b on the multiple flexible printed wiring boards 11. As a result, the wire harness WH can be easily assembled into the vehicle 100, etc.

[0040] Here, if the trunk module 10 of the wire harness WH were configured with a single long flexible printed wiring board 11 extending along the extension direction Y, there is a risk that the effort and cost required to manufacture the wire harness WH would increase. In this regard, according to the present embodiment, the trunk module 10 is configured to include a plurality of flexible printed wiring boards 11 and a first wiring material module 16 that connects the plurality of flexible printed wiring boards 11, so that the length of each flexible printed wiring board 11 can be suppressed, thereby reducing the effort and cost required to manufacture the wire harness WH. Furthermore, the trunk module 10 can be folded, for example, at the portion of the first wiring material module 16 that connects the plurality of flexible printed wiring boards 11, so that the packability and transportability of the wire harness WH can be improved.

[0041] Furthermore, in the wire harness WH of this embodiment, the multiple flexible printed wiring boards 11 are arranged at intervals from one another along the extension direction Y of the trunk module 10, and the multiple branch line modules 20 are routed toward the electronic device 40 that is arranged offset in the height direction Z that intersects with the extension direction Y relative to the multiple flexible printed wiring boards 11. With this configuration, the wire harness WH can, for example, more efficiently arrange the multiple flexible printed wiring boards 11 and the multiple branch line modules 20, thereby suppressing an increase in the overall weight of the wire harness WH and an increase in the size of the wire harness WH.

[0042] In the wire harness WH of this embodiment, the multiple flexible printed wiring boards 11 include a first flexible printed wiring board 11A provided at one end of the trunk module 10 in the extension direction Y and connected to the first ECU 30A via the trunk-side connector 12, and a second flexible printed wiring board 11B provided at the other end of the trunk module 10 in the extension direction Y and connected to the second ECU 30B via the trunk-side connector 12. With this configuration, the first flexible printed wiring board 11A and the second flexible printed wiring board 11B can further simplify the configurations of the first ECU 30A side and the second ECU 30B side of the wire harness WH and further reduce its height, for example.

[0043] In the wire harness WH of this embodiment, the first flexible printed wiring board 11A has a first portion 11c extending in the extension direction Y along the structural member 111 and a second portion 11f connected to the first portion 11c via a plurality of first folded portions 11d and 11e and extending in the height direction Z toward the first ECU 30A, and the second flexible printed wiring board 11B has a third portion 11g extending in the extension direction Y along the structural member 111 and a fourth portion 11j connected to the third portion 11g via a plurality of second folded portions 11h and 11i and extending in the height direction Z toward the second ECU 30B. With this configuration, the wire harness WH can connect the first flexible printed wiring board 11A and the second flexible printed wiring board 11B arranged on the structural member 111 in a state where they are folded toward the first ECU 30A side and the second ECU 30B side, respectively.

[0044] [Variations] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a vehicle to which a wire harness WH according to a modified example is applied, and Fig. 6 is a schematic plan view of the wire harness WH according to the modified example. The wire harness WH shown in Figs. 5 and 6 has a configuration similar to that of the wire harness WH according to the above embodiment. Therefore, the wire harness WH can obtain the same functions and effects as those of the above embodiment based on the similar configuration.

[0045] 5 and 6, the trunk module 10 differs from the above embodiment in that it includes a first flexible printed wiring board 11A, a second flexible printed wiring board 11B, and a third flexible printed wiring board 11C. The third flexible printed wiring board 11C is provided in the center of the trunk module 10 in the extension direction Y and is electrically connected to the first flexible printed wiring board 11A and the second flexible printed wiring board 11B via a first wiring material module 16. In this modification, the length of the third flexible printed wiring board 11C in the extension direction Y is longer than the lengths of the first flexible printed wiring board 11A and the second flexible printed wiring board 11B in the extension direction Y. In addition, in this modification, a pair of first wiring material modules 16 is provided on both sides of the third flexible printed wiring board 11C in the extension direction Y.

[0046] In this modification, the first flexible printed wiring board 11A has, for example, three trunk side connectors 12. Here, one trunk side connector 12 is provided at one of the pair of first end portions 11a, and one trunk side connector 12 is provided at each of the pair of second end portions 11b. One of these trunk side connectors 12 is connected to the branch line module 20 via the branch line side connector 22, one is connected to the first wiring material module 16 via the trunk line first connector 16b, and the remaining one is connected to the second wiring material module 17 via the trunk line second connector 17b described later.

[0047] The second flexible printed wiring board 11B also has, for example, four trunk side connectors 12. Here, one trunk side connector 12 is provided at each of the pair of first end portions 11a, and one trunk side connector 12 is provided at each of the pair of second end portions 11b. Two of these trunk side connectors 12 are connected to the branch line module 20 via branch line side connectors 22, one is connected to the first wiring material module 16 via the trunk side first connector 16b, and the remaining one is connected to the third wiring material module 18 via the trunk side third connector 18b described below.

[0048] The third flexible printed wiring board 11C also has, for example, four trunk side connectors 12. Here, two trunk side connectors 12 are provided at one of the pair of first end portions 11a, spaced apart from each other in the extension direction Y, and one trunk side connector 12 is provided at each of the pair of second end portions 11b. Two of these trunk side connectors 12 are connected to the branch line module 20 via branch line side connectors 22, and the remaining two are connected to the first wiring material module 16 via trunk line side first connectors 16b.

[0049] Furthermore, the plurality of main line-side connectors 12 are electrically connected to wiring pattern 13 of first flexible printed wiring board 11A, wiring pattern 13 of second flexible printed wiring board 11B, and wiring pattern 13 of third flexible printed wiring board 11C, respectively. A plurality of conductor circuit portions 13a (see FIG. 3) formed by wiring patterns 13 can function as any of circuits such as a signal circuit, a signal GND circuit, or a power earth circuit. In this modification, each of wiring pattern 13 of first flexible printed wiring board 11A, wiring pattern 13 of second flexible printed wiring board 11B, and wiring pattern 13 of third flexible printed wiring board 11C is provided with joint portions 13b that connect at least two of the plurality of conductor circuit portions 13a to each other.

[0050] 6, the trunk module 10 includes, for example, a second wiring module 17 and a third wiring module 18. The second wiring module 17 is a wiring module having one end connected to the first flexible printed wiring board 11A and the other end connected to the first ECU 30A. The second wiring module 17 includes, for example, a plurality of conductive trunk-side second wiring materials 17a and a pair of trunk-side second connectors 17b provided at both ends of the plurality of trunk-side second wiring materials 17a and electrically connected to the first flexible printed wiring board 11A and the first ECU 30A, respectively. The trunk-side second wiring material 17a is, for example, an electric wire having a conductor portion formed by twisting together a plurality of linear metal wires and an insulating coating covering the outside of the conductor portion. The second wiring module 17 is routed from the first flexible printed wiring board 11A arranged on the structural member 111 toward the first ECU 30A arranged offset in the height direction Z relative to the structural member 111.

[0051] The third wiring module 18 is a wiring module having one end connected to the second flexible printed wiring board 11B and the other end connected to the second ECU 30B. The third wiring module 18 includes, for example, a plurality of conductive trunk-side third wiring materials 18a and a pair of trunk-side third connectors 18b provided at both ends of the plurality of trunk-side third wiring materials 18a and electrically connected to the second flexible printed wiring board 11B and the second ECU 30B, respectively. The trunk-side third wiring material 18a is, for example, an electric wire having a conductor portion formed by twisting together a plurality of linear metal wires and an insulating coating covering the outside of the conductor portion. The third wiring module 18 is routed from the second flexible printed wiring board 11B arranged on the structural member 111 toward the second ECU 30B arranged offset in the height direction Z relative to the structural member 111.

[0052] As described above, in the wire harness WH of this modified example, the trunk module 10 has the second wiring material module 17 and the third wiring material module 18. With this configuration, the wire harness WH can, for example, more easily connect the first flexible printed wiring board 11A arranged on the structural member 111 and the first ECU 30A arranged offset in the height direction Z with respect to the structural member 111 by the second wiring material module 17, and can also more easily connect the second flexible printed wiring board 11B arranged on the structural member 111 and the second ECU 30B arranged offset in the height direction Z with respect to the structural member 111 by the third wiring material module 18.

[0053] In the above embodiment and modified example, the wire harness WH is applied to the vehicle 100, but the present invention is not limited to this example and may be applied to devices, equipment, etc. other than the vehicle 100. Even with such a wire harness, it is possible to facilitate manufacturing, similar to the wire harness WH according to the above embodiment and modified example.

[0054] While the above describes exemplary embodiments and modifications of the present invention, these are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The above embodiments and modifications can be implemented in a variety of other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, combinations, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, the specifications of each configuration, shape, and the like (structure, type, direction, format, size, length, width, thickness, height, number, arrangement, position, material, etc.) can be modified as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 10 Trunk Module 11 Flexible printed wiring board 11A First flexible printed wiring board 11B Second flexible printed wiring board 11c Part 1 11d, 11e First folded part 11f 2nd part 11g 3rd part 11h, 11i Second fold 11j Part 4 12 Main line connector 13 Wiring Pattern 13a Conductor circuit section 13b Joint 16a Main line side first wiring material 16 First wiring module 17a Main line side 2nd wiring material 17 Second wiring module 18a Main line side 3rd wiring material 18 Third wiring module 20 Branch Line Module 21 Branch line side wiring material 22 Branch line connector 30A 1st ECU 30B 2nd ECU 40 Electronic equipment 100 vehicles 111 Structural members WH Wire Harness Y extension direction Z height direction (direction intersecting with extension direction)

Claims

1. a main line module including a plurality of flexible printed wiring boards having flexibility, a plurality of main line side connectors provided at ends of the plurality of flexible printed wiring boards, and a first wiring material module including a plurality of main line side first wiring materials having conductivity and connecting the plurality of flexible printed wiring boards; a plurality of branch line modules each including a plurality of conductive branch line side wiring members and a branch line side connector provided at an end of the plurality of branch line side wiring members and connected to the trunk line side connector; Equipped with Each of the flexible printed wiring boards is provided with a wiring pattern including a plurality of conductor circuit portions that are electrically connected to each of the plurality of branch line side wiring materials via the trunk line side connector and the branch line side connector and that form a transmission path, and a joint portion that connects at least two of the plurality of conductor circuit portions to each other, the plurality of flexible printed wiring boards include a first flexible printed wiring board provided at one end of the trunk module in the extension direction and connected to a first ECU via the trunk side connector, and a second flexible printed wiring board provided at the other end of the trunk module in the extension direction and connected to a second ECU via the trunk side connector, Wire harness.

2. the plurality of flexible printed wiring boards are spaced apart from one another along the extension direction of the trunk module, the plurality of branch line modules are routed toward electronic devices that are arranged offset from the plurality of flexible printed wiring boards in a direction intersecting the extending direction, The wire harness according to claim 1 .

3. The trunk module is disposed on a structural member provided in an instrument panel of a vehicle and extending along the extension direction; the first ECU and the second ECU are arranged to be shifted from each other in a direction intersecting the extension direction with respect to both end portions of the structural member, the first flexible printed wiring board has a first portion extending in the extension direction along the structural member, and a second portion connected to the first portion via a plurality of first folded portions and extending in a direction intersecting the extension direction toward the first ECU, the second flexible printed wiring board has a third portion extending in the extension direction along the structural member, and a fourth portion connected to the third portion via a plurality of second folded portions and extending in a direction intersecting the extension direction toward the second ECU, The wire harness according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The trunk module is disposed on a structural member provided in an instrument panel of a vehicle and extending along the extension direction; the first ECU and the second ECU are arranged to be shifted from each other in a direction intersecting the extension direction with respect to both end portions of the structural member, The trunk module includes a second wiring material module including a plurality of second trunk line wiring materials that are conductive and connect the first flexible printed wiring board on the structural member to the first ECU, and a third wiring material module including a plurality of third trunk line wiring materials that are conductive and connect the second flexible printed wiring board on the structural member to the second ECU. The wire harness according to claim 1 or 2.

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