Method for determining a pin assignment on a plug connection of at least one control device for a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for determining a pin assignment on a plug connection (1) of at least one control device for a vehicle (2). According to the invention, in a simulation of the vehicle (2), an arrangement of the plug connection (1) of the control device and an arrangement of all components (K1 to K4) to be connected to the control device with their respective line contacts (A1 to A12) in the vehicle (2) are specified, whereupon automatically - in a first step, all components (K1 to K4) to be connected to the control device and their line contacts (A1 to A12) are grouped, and - in a second step, the line contacts (A1 to A12) of the components (K1 to K4) are assigned to connection pins (P1 to P12) of the plug connection (1) of the control device.

Description

[0001] Method for determining a pin assignment on a connector of at least one control unit for a vehicle

[0002] The invention relates to a method for determining a pin assignment on a connector of at least one control unit for a vehicle.

[0003] As described in DE 102022 122 432 A1, a device for determining a manufacturing configuration for configuring a production plant for manufacturing a wiring harness for a vehicle is known from the prior art. The wiring harness comprises a plurality of connectors and a plurality of electrical conductors for connecting the plurality of connectors. The device includes a processor unit configured to determine a manufacturing configuration for configuring the production plant for manufacturing the wiring harness based on a virtual 3D model of the wiring harness.The manufacturing configuration defines a plug-in position for the multitude of connectors on a mounting pallet of the manufacturing system, which has a multitude of plug-in positions, defines a length of the electrical conductor for the multitude of electrical conductors and / or defines an insertion sequence into the multitude of connectors for the multitude of electrical conductors.

[0004] The invention is based on the objective of providing a method for determining a pin assignment on a connector of at least one control unit for a vehicle that is improved compared to the prior art.

[0005] The problem is solved according to the invention by a method for determining a pin assignment on a connector of at least one control unit for a vehicle with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0006] In a method according to the invention for determining a pin assignment on a connector of at least one control unit for a vehicle, a simulation of the vehicle specifies an arrangement of the control unit's connector and an arrangement of all components to be connected to the control unit with their respective line contacts. Subsequently, in particular by a computer, all components to be connected to the control unit and their line contacts are automatically grouped in a first step, and in a second step, connection pins of the control unit's connector are assigned to the line contacts of the components. A connection pin and / or line contact is understood to be, in particular, a connecting pin. This connecting pin or connecting pin does not have to be round, but can, in particular, be flat, especially as a contact tongue. This is also referred to as a blade.The term "knife size" used below refers in particular to the width of the respective connection pin and the respective line contact.

[0007] In one embodiment, in the first step, all wire contacts of the components to be connected to the control unit and all connection pins of the control unit's connector are grouped according to their size; that is, groups of the same size are formed. Next, all wire contacts of the components to be connected to the control unit are grouped according to the component being connected. Finally, all components to be connected to the control unit are grouped according to their installation location in the vehicle. In particular, several installation locations are specified into which the components are grouped, for example, the front of the vehicle and the rear of the vehicle. The components are thus each assigned to one of these installation locations.

[0008] In one embodiment, the components to be connected to the control unit and their line contacts are grouped in the first step according to one or more further criteria. In another embodiment, in the second step, predefined areas within the control unit's connector are assigned to the line contacts of the same size at their respective installation location, taking into account the required number of connection pins of the control unit's connector, according to the geometric location of the installation point in the vehicle.

[0009] In one embodiment, the second step involves assigning the connection pins of the control unit's connector to either the pins with the largest or smallest blade sizes. This means that these pins are assigned line contacts of components with the same blade size. Then, within the components whose line contacts have already been assigned connection pins of the control unit's connector, those line contacts with the next smallest or next largest blade size are assigned connection pins of the control unit's connector with the corresponding blade size. This process continues until all line contacts of these components have been assigned connection pins of the control unit's connector. This is then repeated for all other components whose line contacts have not yet been assigned connection pins of the control unit's connector.

[0010] Thus, if the process starts with the largest blade size, the second step involves assigning the connection pins of the control unit's connector to those pins with the largest blade sizes. This means that these connection pins are assigned wire contacts of components with the same blade size. Subsequently, within the components whose wire contacts have already been assigned connection pins of the control unit's connector, those wire contacts with the next smaller blade size are assigned connection pins of the control unit's connector with the corresponding blade size.If, within the components whose wire contacts have already been assigned connection pins of the control unit's connector, there are still wire contacts that have not yet been assigned connection pins of the control unit's connector, then connection pins of the control unit's connector with the corresponding size are again assigned to those of these remaining wire contacts with the next smaller blade size. This continues until all wire contacts of these components have been assigned connection pins of the control unit's connector.

[0011] If any components remain whose wire contacts have not yet been assigned to pins of the control unit's connector, the described procedure is repeated with these remaining components until all components' wire contacts have been assigned pins of the control unit's connector. This means that the assignment of the remaining pins of the control unit's connector begins again with the remaining pins having the largest blade sizes; that is, wire contacts of the remaining components with the same blade size are assigned to these pins.Then, within these remaining components whose wire contacts have already been assigned connection pins of the control unit's connector, those wire contacts with the next smaller blade size are assigned connection pins of the control unit's connector with the corresponding blade size. If, after this, there are still wire contacts within these remaining components whose wire contacts have already been assigned connection pins of the control unit's connector that have not yet been assigned connection pins of the control unit's connector, then, again, those of these remaining wire contacts with the next smaller blade size are first assigned connection pins of the control unit's connector with the corresponding blade size. This process continues until all wire contacts of these remaining components have been assigned connection pins of the control unit's connector.If there are still components whose line contacts have not yet been assigned connection pins of the control unit's connector, the described procedure is repeated with these remaining components until the line contacts of all components have been assigned connection pins of the control unit's connector.

[0012] In the alternative approach of starting with the smallest blade size, it is provided, for example, that in the second step the assignment of the connection pins of the control unit's connector begins with the connection pins for the smallest blade sizes; that is, these connection pins are assigned line contacts of the components with the same blade size. Subsequently, within the components whose line contacts have already been assigned connection pins of the control unit's connector, those line contacts with the next larger blade size are assigned connection pins of the control unit's connector with the corresponding blade size.If, after this process, there are still wire contacts within the components whose wire contacts have already been assigned connection pins of the control unit's connector that have not yet been assigned connection pins of the control unit's connector, then connection pins of the control unit's connector with the next larger blade size are again assigned to those of these remaining wire contacts with the corresponding blade size. This continues until all wire contacts of these components have been assigned connection pins of the control unit's connector.

[0013] If any components remain whose wire contacts have not yet been assigned to pins of the control unit's connector, the described procedure is repeated with these remaining components until all components' wire contacts have been assigned pins of the control unit's connector. This means that the assignment of the remaining pins of the control unit's connector begins again with the remaining pins having the smallest blade sizes; that is, these pins are assigned wire contacts of the remaining components with the same blade size.Then, within these remaining components whose wire contacts have already been assigned connection pins of the control unit's connector, those wire contacts with the next larger blade size are assigned connection pins of the control unit's connector with the corresponding blade size. If, after this, there are still wire contacts within these remaining components whose wire contacts have already been assigned connection pins of the control unit's connector that have not yet been assigned connection pins of the control unit's connector, then, again, those of these remaining wire contacts with the next largest blade size are first assigned connection pins of the control unit's connector with the corresponding blade size. This process continues until all wire contacts of these remaining components have been assigned connection pins of the control unit's connector.If there are still components whose line contacts have not yet been assigned connection pins of the control unit's connector, the described procedure is repeated with these remaining components until the line contacts of all components have been assigned connection pins of the control unit's connector.

[0014] The largest knife size refers specifically to the largest available knife size of those wire contacts and connection pins that have not yet been mutually assigned. The next smaller knife size refers specifically to the next smaller available knife size of the wire contacts of those components whose wire contacts with larger knife sizes have already been assigned connection pins of the control unit's connector.

[0015] The smallest blade size refers specifically to the smallest available blade size of those wire contacts and connection pins that have not yet been mutually assigned. The next larger blade size refers specifically to the next larger available blade size of the wire contacts of those components whose wire contacts with smaller blade sizes have already been assigned connection pins of the control unit's connector.

[0016] In one embodiment, in the second step, the connecting pins of the control unit's connector with the same knife size are assigned successively to the conductor contacts of the components with the respective knife size, either clockwise or counterclockwise, according to the geometric location of the components in the vehicle. This is also referred to, for example, as the clockwise method or clockwise procedure.

[0017] The system specifically involves placing a simulated analog clock with a single pointer at the center of the control unit's connector. The pointer is then moved clockwise or counterclockwise, for example, starting from the 12 o'clock position, until it reaches a component with corresponding wire contacts of a specific blade size. As mentioned, the process begins with the largest or smallest blade size and then proceeds to the next smaller or larger size. The corresponding pins of the control unit's connector are then assigned to the number of wire contacts of the component with the respective blade size, starting from a predefined starting point on the connector. A simple way to choose the starting point for assigning the available pins is, for example, to follow a clockwise direction, i.e., counterclockwise or clockwise.

[0018] Once all wire contacts of the component with the same blade size have been assigned connection pins of the control unit's connector with the same blade size, the pointer moves to the next component that has wire contacts with the same blade size, and these wire contacts are assigned connection pins of the control unit's connector with the same blade size. This continues until the wire contacts of all components with the same blade size have been assigned connection pins of the control unit's connector with the same blade size. Then, this procedure is repeated with the next smaller or larger blade size. This continues until all wire contacts of all components have been assigned connection pins of the control unit's connector.

[0019] In one embodiment, in the second step, the connection pins of the control unit's connector for each blade size are assigned successively to the line contacts of the components with the same blade size, similar to the Tetris method. That is, the connection pins of the control unit's connector for each blade size are assigned successively to the line contacts of the components with the same blade size in a puzzle-like manner, such that no connection pins remain unassigned between already assigned connection pins.

[0020] For each blade size, the process starts with a selected component that has wire contacts of that size. One possible approach for selecting the first component, for example, is to proceed from right to left and from back to front, relative to the vehicle. However, other starting and continuing points can also be chosen. The wire contacts of the first selected component are assigned the first connection pins of the control unit's connector, as viewed from a predefined starting point. The starting point for assigning the connection pins can be selected, for example, from right to left and / or from back to front, relative to the vehicle's perspective.

[0021] Next, the next component with wire contacts of the same blade size is selected, and its wire contacts of this blade size are assigned connection pins of the control unit's connector of the same blade size. The assigned connection pins of the connector are successively filled so that, in particular, no gaps—i.e., no unassigned connection pins—remain between already assigned connection pins. This procedure is continued until the wire contacts of all components with the same blade size have been assigned connection pins of the control unit's connector. Then, this procedure is repeated with the next larger or smaller blade size until all wire contacts of all components have been assigned connection pins of the control unit's connector.

[0022] In one embodiment, when assigning the component leads to the connector pins of the control unit, leads belonging to the same group are assigned in a predetermined manner to connector pins of the control unit that are arranged directly next to each other and in the same row of contacts. The row of contacts is understood to mean, in particular, a row of pins arranged directly next to or one above the other in a line within the connector, i.e., specifically a row of pins or connector pin row.

[0023] In particular, related connection pins, such as those used in twisted wires, for example UTP (unshielded twisted pair) wires, are placed directly next to each other and within the same row of contact carriers.

[0024] In one embodiment, when assigning the line contacts of the components to the connection pins of the control unit's plug connector, the line contacts of the same component, in particular those with different knife sizes, are assigned to connection pins of the control unit's plug connector that are positioned as close together as possible.

[0025] In one embodiment, splice nodes of conductors each form a separate component. Splice nodes are, in particular, conductors that split themselves, i.e., a conductor that splits into several conductors. The beginnings of these multiple conductors then form the conductor contacts of the splice node component.

[0026] The described method enables the pin assignment on the control unit to be determined, which subsequently allows for a manufacturing-optimized and preferably fully automated assembly of cables with, in particular, crimp contacts with inserted connectors and commercially available plant technology.

[0027] The described method is based in particular on a cascading grouping of line contacts of components to be connected to the control unit, and thus of lines that connect or are intended to connect these line contacts to the control unit, especially to the connector, and in particular to its connection pins. This cascading grouping is carried out in particular according to topology, component, and / or other criteria. Subsequently, the pin arrangements in the connector of the control unit are derived from this, i.e., in particular the arrangement of the connection between the connection pins of the connector and the line contacts of the components.

[0028] The process involves, in particular, assigning a topological position in the vehicle to each component connected to the control unit, sorting and clustering the components in their topological location area, in particular marking, for example, with a color code or coded marking in another way, for example, by a string of characters, of all clusters and all components contained therein, and determining the connection pins on the control unit according to topological position.

[0029] The described method enables an optimized circuit board layout of the control unit.

[0030] For example, it allows the grouping of lines with the same functions and / or types, such as Vcc, Gnd (voltage signal), and ground. Furthermore, it enables, for example, a reduction in line crossings. Ideally, this results in a reduction in the number of layers.

[0031] The described method enables an optimized wiring harness. Cable crossings can be avoided. Cable bundle cross-sections can be reduced, resulting in a smaller wiring harness footprint.

[0032] The described method is a defined procedure for specifying connection pins. It enables significantly faster development. The procedure can be fully automated on a computer using a software solution.

[0033] The described method is optimized for manufacturing. The pinning arrangement determined by the method, i.e., the defined pin assignment, and / or a suitable connector for the control unit's connector, which is populated with the wires, is suitable for assembly by highly automated production lines. The described method enables the uniform alignment of locking pins for identical components or similar wires, for example, twisted pairs. In particular, it eliminates or reduces the need for intermediate wire storage during the assembly of the connector or a connector for the connector. The method prevents the number of components connected to a single connector. It also prevents cross-connection of wires.

[0034] The described method enables optimization of connector selection and design. Connectors can be selected according to standards.

[0035] Furthermore, the described method allows for a saving of connectors by combining stocks for future components for model updates.

[0036] The described method further enables a reduction in splices through the use of reserve pins. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0037] This shows:

[0038] Fig. 1 schematically shows a simulated representation of a vehicle with a plug connector of a control unit and line contacts of vehicle components to be connected to the control unit.

[0039] Fig. 2 schematically illustrates the sequence of a first step of a method for determining a pin assignment at the connector of the control unit for a vehicle.

[0040] Fig. 3 schematically shows further representations belonging to the process of the first step,

[0041] Fig. 4 schematically shows further representations belonging to the process of the first step,

[0042] Fig. 5 schematically depicts the sequence of a second step of the process.

[0043] Fig. 6 schematically shows another representation belonging to the process of the second step,

[0044] Fig. 7 schematically shows a representation belonging to a sequence of a clockwise procedure used in the second step,

[0045] Fig. 8 schematically shows another representation belonging to the clockwise procedure,

[0046] Fig. 9 schematically shows another illustration of the clockwise procedure, Fig. 10 schematically shows another illustration of the clockwise procedure,

[0047] Fig. 11 schematically shows another representation belonging to the clockwise procedure,

[0048] Fig. 12 schematically shows another representation belonging to the clockwise procedure,

[0049] Fig. 13 schematically shows a representation belonging to a process of a Tetris method used in the second step,

[0050] Fig. 14 schematically shows another representation belonging to the Tetris method procedure,

[0051] Fig. 15 schematically shows another representation belonging to the process of the Tetris method procedure,

[0052] Fig. 16 schematically shows another representation belonging to the process of the Tetris method procedure, and

[0053] Fig. 17 schematically shows another representation belonging to the process of the Tetris method procedure.

[0054] Corresponding parts are marked with the same reference symbols in all figures.

[0055] Based on Figures 1 to 17, a method for determining a pin assignment on a connector 1 of at least one control unit for a vehicle 2 is described below.

[0056] The procedure described in more detail below solves in particular the problem that connectors for plug connections 1 of control units cannot yet be equipped with lines L1 to L12 with crimp contacts automatically, or only partially automatically.Currently, optimal assembly from a manufacturing perspective is prevented by crossings of lines L1 to L12, by too many components K1 to K4 connected to a connector, by blocking free chambers on the connector, by pre-assembled lines L1 to L12, by the need to "store" lines L1 to L12 in an intermediate step because they cannot be inserted into the connector one after the other in direct succession, by incorrect alignment of locking prongs of twisted lines L1 to L12 due to the target chambers of the lines L1 to L12 in different contact carrier rows, and / or by exceeding possible contact part variations within a connector that can be manufactured on commercially available equipment.

[0057] The procedure described in more detail below prevents the crossing of conductors L1 to L12, avoids the number of components K1 to K4 connected to a single connector, prevents the blocking of free slots on the connector by pre-installed conductors L1 to L12, avoids the incorrect alignment of locking pins of twisted conductors L1 to L12, and ensures compliance with the manufacturable contact part variations on commercially available equipment. Furthermore, it eliminates or at least reduces the need to store conductors L1 to L12 in an intermediate step.

[0058] In the method described here, as exemplified in Figure 1, a simulation of the vehicle 2 specifies an arrangement of the control unit's connector 1 and an arrangement of all components K1 to K4 to be connected to the control unit, with their respective line contacts A1 to A12. The example in Figure 1 shows the arrangement of the connector 1 with connection pins P1 to P12 and an arrangement of line contacts A1 to A12 of the components K1 to K4, exemplified for two different sizes of the connection pins P1 to P12 and line contacts A1 to A12.

[0059] In a first step, all components K1 to K4 and their line contacts A1 to A12 to be connected to the control unit are automatically grouped, primarily by a computer. In a second step, the line contacts A1 to A12 of components K1 to K4 are assigned connection pins P1 to P12 of connector 1 of the control unit. The grouping in the first step is carried out in several stages. First, the size of the line contacts A1 to A12 and connection pins P1 to P12 is considered. All line contacts A1 to A12 and all

[0060] Connection pins P1 to P12 are grouped according to their blade size, as shown in Figure 2. On the left is the group of line contacts A1, A2, A4, A5 and

[0061] Connection pins P1 to P4 are shown with a large blade size. On the right, the group of line contacts A3, A6 to A12 and connection pins P5 to P12 are shown with a small blade size.

[0062] Subsequently, all line contacts A1 to A12 of the components K1 to K4 to be connected to the control unit are grouped according to the component K1 to K4 to be connected to the control unit, as shown in Figure 3. This is still done separately according to blade size, i.e., the larger blade sizes are shown on the left and the smaller blade sizes on the right.

[0063] Subsequently, all components K1 to K4 to be connected to the control unit are grouped according to their installation location in vehicle 2, as shown in Figure 4. In particular, several installation locations are specified, into which the components K1 to K4 are grouped; in the example shown, a vehicle front section F and a vehicle rear section H. The components K1 to K4 are thus each assigned to one of these installation locations; in the example shown, the first component K1 is assigned to the vehicle rear section H, and the second, third, and fourth components K2 to K4 are assigned to the vehicle front section F. This is further separated according to blade size; that is, the larger blade sizes are shown on the left and the smaller blade sizes on the right.

[0064] The components K1 to K4 and their line contacts A1 to A12, which are to be connected to the control unit, can in the first step be additionally grouped according to one or more further criteria.

[0065] As mentioned above, the second step will now involve the

[0066] Line contacts A1 to A12 of components K1 to K4 are assigned to connection pins P1 to P12 of connector 1 of the control unit. For this purpose, the blade sizes are first clustered according to their installation location. In this process, the

[0067] Line contacts A1 to A12, each corresponding to the same blade size at the respective installation location, are assigned to predetermined areas within connector 1 of the control unit, taking into account the required number of connection pins P1 to P12 of the control unit's connector 1, according to the geometric location of the installation in the vehicle 2, as shown separately for the blade sizes in Figure 5. This is again illustrated on the left for the larger blade sizes and on the right for the smaller blade sizes. This is achieved in particular by means of specific method variants. Two of these method variants are described below as examples, using Figures 7 to 12 and 13 to 17 as reference.

[0068] Figure 6 shows the pin assignment of connector 1 completed in this way and the resulting connection of the line contacts A1 to A12 of all components K1 to K4 to the computer simulation.

[0069] Connection pins P1 to P12 of connector 1 of the control unit via lines L1 to L12. Based on this result, the control unit with connector 1 with the defined pin assignment and a wiring harness with a corresponding routing of lines L1 to L12 determined in this way and with a connector corresponding to connector 1, in particular with a pin assignment corresponding to the pin assignment of connector 1, can now be manufactured.

[0070] Since the described procedure is usually carried out for a vehicle variant produced in series with a large number of identical vehicles 2, the control units and wiring harnesses can also be manufactured in series production, in particular automatically or at least with a significantly higher degree of automation compared to the state of the art.

[0071] The general procedure for assigning, in the second step, to the line contacts A1 to A12 of the same knife size at the respective installation location, taking into account the required number of connection pins P1 to P12 of connector 1 of the control unit, to specified areas within connector 1 of the control unit according to the geometric location of the installation location in the vehicle 2, is in particular as follows:

[0072] The assignment of connection pins P1 to P12 of connector 1 of the control unit begins with the connection pins P1 to P12 with the largest or smallest blade sizes. This means that these connection pins P1 to P12 are assigned line contacts A1 to A12 of components K1 to K4 with the same blade size. Then, within components K1 to K4 whose line contacts A1 to A12 have already been assigned connection pins P1 to P12 of connector 1 of the control unit, those line contacts A1 to A12 with the next smallest or next largest blade size are assigned connection pins P1 to P12 of connector 1 of the control unit with the corresponding blade size. This continues until all line contacts A1 to A12 of these components K1 to K4 have been assigned connection pins P1 to P12 of connector 1 of the control unit.This is then carried out with all other components K1 to K4, whose line contacts A1 to A12 have not yet been assigned connection pins P1 to P12 of the connector 1 of the control unit.

[0073] Figures 7 to 12 and 13 to 17 illustrate this procedure in its respective exemplary variants for the smaller blade sizes. For example, the assignment of connection pins P1 to P12 of connector 1 of the control unit begins with connection pins P5 to P12 corresponding to the smallest blade sizes. This means that these connection pins P5 to P12 are assigned line contacts A3, A6 to A12 of components K1 to K4 with the same smallest blade size. Then, within components K1 to K4, whose line contacts A3, A6 to A12 have already been assigned to connection pins P5 to P12 of connector 1 of the control unit, the line contacts A1, A2, A4, A5 with the next larger blade size (in this case, the large blade size) are assigned to connection pins P1 to P4 of connector 1 of the control unit corresponding to the blade size. This completes the pin assignment in the illustrated example.If this is not the case in other examples, proceed as described above.

[0074] Figures 7 to 12 show an example of a method variant, also called the clockwise method, in which, in the second step, the connection pins P1 to P12 of the plug connector 1 of the control unit with the same knife size are assigned successively to the line contacts A1 to A12 of the components K1 to K4 with the respective knife size in the example shown clockwise or in other examples counterclockwise according to the geometric location of the components K1 to K4 in the vehicle 2.

[0075] For this purpose, a simulated analog clock U with a pointer Z is placed in the center of connector 1 of the control unit. In the example shown, the pointer Z of clock U is then moved clockwise, or in other examples counterclockwise, as shown in Figures 7 to 12.

[0076] In the example shown, the pointer Z is moved clockwise from the 12 o'clock position until it reaches one of the components K1 to K4.

[0077] The pointer Z first reaches the line contacts A1 to A12 of the blade size to which connection pins P1 to P12 are currently assigned. In the example shown, the line contacts A3, A6 to A12 of the small blade size are assigned corresponding connection pins P5 to P12 of the small blade size. The pointer Z first reaches the first component K1 with its line contact A3, as shown in Figure 9.

[0078] The number of line contacts A3 of the first component K1 to be assigned are now occupied by the free connection pins P5 within connector 1 of the control unit, viewed from a defined starting point. In the example shown, connection pin P5 is thus assigned to line contact A3. A simple way to choose the starting point for assigning the free connection pins P5 to P12 is also to follow the clockwise principle, i.e., clockwise, as shown in the example, or counterclockwise.

[0079] Once all pins of the same blade size of this component K1 have been assigned, the simulated pointer Z moves clockwise to the next component K3 with line contacts A7, A8, A9 of the same, in this example small, blade size. In this way, the connection pins P6, P7, P8 are assigned to the line contacts A7, A8, A9, as shown in Figure 10.

[0080] This process continues successively until all line contacts A3, A6 to A12 of the same blade size are assigned connection pins P5 to P12 of that blade size. In the example shown here, the pointer Z is thus moved to component K4, and its line contacts A10, A11, and A12 are assigned connection pins P10, P11, and P12, as shown in Figure 11. Subsequently, the pointer Z is moved to component K2, and its line contact A6 is assigned connection pin P9, as shown in Figure 12.

[0081] This process is then repeated with the next larger blade size, in this case the large blade size (not shown in the figures). That is, the procedure starts again for the next blade size to be considered, here the next larger blade size, and is repeated in this way until all connection pins P1 to P12 of connector 1 of all components to be connected to connector 1 of the control unit, K1 to K4, are assigned to the line contacts A1 to A12.

[0082] Figures 13 to 17 show an exemplary method variant in which, in the second step, the connection pins P1 to P12 of the plug connector 1 of the control unit are assigned to the line contacts A1 to A12 of the components K1 to K4 with the same knife size according to the Tetris method.

[0083] The process starts at a selected component K1, in the illustrated example the first component K1, which has line contacts A3 corresponding to the currently considered blade size. In the illustrated example, the connection pins P5 to P12 of the smaller blade size are again first assigned to line contacts A3, A6 to A12 of the smaller blade size. One possible approach for selecting this starting component, for example, with regard to vehicle 2, is from right to left and from back to front. However, other starting and continuing points can also be chosen.

[0084] The line contact A3 of the first component K1 now receives the first connection pin P5 of the same blade size, viewed from a defined starting point. For multiple line contacts, a corresponding number of connection pins are assigned to them, as shown in Figure 14. The starting point for the assignment of the

[0085] Connection pins P5 to P12 can be made, for example, from right to left or from back to front from the vehicle's perspective.

[0086] Now, the next component K3, with its corresponding line contacts A7, A8, and A9 of this blade size, is selected. The connection pins P5, P9, and P10 on connector 1 of the control unit are then successively filled as shown in Figure 15.

[0087] In the example shown, the connection pins P7, P11, P12 are assigned to the line contacts A10, A11, A12 of component K4, and then the connection pin P8 is assigned to the line contact A6 of component K2, as shown in Figures 16 and 17.

[0088] This is then repeated in the example shown with the line contacts A1, A2, A4, A5 and the connection pins P1 to P4 of the next larger knife size, here the large knife size.

[0089] This procedure is repeated successively until all available connection pins P5 to P12 for the considered blade size, in this case the small blade size, have been assigned. That is, the procedure starts again for the next blade size to be considered, in this case the next larger blade size, and is repeated in this way until all connection pins P1 to P12 of connector 1 have been assigned to the line contacts A1 to A12 of all components K1 to K4 to be connected to connector 1 of the control unit.

[0090] In one embodiment, when assigning the line contacts A1 to A12 of components K1 to K4 to the connection pins P1 to P12 of the connector 1 of the control unit, line contacts A1 to A12 belonging to the same group are arranged directly next to each other and in the same row of contact carriers in a predetermined manner.

[0091] The connection pins P1 to P12 of connector 1 of the control unit are assigned. The contact carrier row refers in particular to a row of pins arranged in a line directly next to or one above the other in connector 1, i.e., in particular a pin row or connector row.

[0092] The described procedures can also be combined. Furthermore, other procedures can also be used to assign the line contacts A1 to A12 of components K1 to K4 to the connection pins P1 to P12 of connector 1 of the control unit.

[0093] When assigning the line contacts A1 to A12 of components K1 to K4 to the connection pins P1 to P12 of connector 1 of the control unit, predefined assumptions are advantageously observed. For example, when assigning the line contacts A1 to A12 of components K1 to K4 to the connection pins P1 to P12 of connector 1 of the control unit, the line contacts A1 to A12 of the same component K1 to K4, especially those with different blade sizes, are assigned to connection pins P1 to P12 of connector 1 of the control unit that are positioned as close together as possible.

[0094] Associated connection pins P1 to P12, such as in twisted cables, for example UTP cables (unshielded twisted pair), are placed directly next to each other and within the same row of contact carriers.

[0095] Splice nodes of lines L1 to L12, for example, each form their own component K1 to K4. This means that splice nodes are considered separate components K1 to K4 with their own location. For example, splice nodes are functionally assigned, such as ground, power, or signal.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Method for determining a pin assignment on a connector (1) of at least one control unit for a vehicle (2), characterized in that in a simulation of the vehicle (2) an arrangement of the connector (1) of the control unit and an arrangement of all components (K1 to K4) to be connected to the control unit with their respective line contacts (A1 to A12) in the vehicle (2) are specified and subsequently automatically -in a first step, all components to be connected to the control unit (K1 to K4) and their line contacts (A1 to A12) are grouped, and -in a second step the line contacts (A1 to A12) of the components (K1 to K4) are assigned connection pins (P1 to P12) of the plug connector (1) of the control unit.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that in the first step - all line contacts (A1 to A12) of the components (K1 to K4) to be connected to the control unit and all connection pins (P1 to P12) of the plug connector (1) of the control unit are grouped according to their blade size, - all line contacts (A1 to A12) of the components (K1 to K4) to be connected to the control unit are grouped according to the component (K1 to K4) to be connected to the control unit, and - all components (K1 to K4) to be connected to the control unit are grouped according to their installation location in the vehicle (2).

3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the components (K1 to K4) to be connected to the control unit and their line contacts (A1 to A12) are additionally grouped in the first step according to a further criterion or several further criteria.

4. Method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that in the second step the Line contacts (A1 to A12) of the same knife size of the respective installation location, taking into account the required number of connection pins (P1 to P12) of the connector (1) of the control unit, are assigned to predetermined areas within the connector (1) of the control unit according to a geometric location of the installation location in the vehicle (2).

5. Method according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that in the second step the assignment of the connection pins (P1 to P12) of the connector (1) of the control unit begins with the connection pins (P1 to P12) with the largest or smallest blade sizes, then within the components (K1 to K4) whose line contacts (A1 to A12) have already been assigned connection pins (P1 to P12) of the connector (1) of the control unit, those line contacts (A1 to A12) with the next smaller or next larger blade size are assigned connection pins (P1 to P12) of the connector (1) of the control unit with the corresponding blade size, and this is continued until all line contacts (A1 to A12) of these Components (K1 to K4) have been assigned connection pins (P1 to P12) of the connector (1) of the control unit, and this is subsequently done with all other components (K1 to K4) whose line contacts (A1 to A12) have not yet been assigned connection pins (P1 to P12) of the connector (1) of the control unit.

6. Method according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that in the second step the line contacts (A1 to A12) of the components (K1 to K4) are connected to the respective The connection pins (P1 to P12) of the connector (1) of the control unit are assigned successively with the same blade size in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction according to the geometric location of the components (K1 to K4) in the vehicle (2).

7. Method according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that in the second step the connection pins (P1 to P12) of the plug connector (1) of the control unit of the respective knife size are successively assigned to the line contacts (A1 to A12) of the components (K1 to K4) with the same knife size according to the Tetris method.

8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, when assigning the line contacts (A1 to A12) of the components (K1 to K4) to the connection pins (P1 to P12) of the plug connector (1) of the control unit, line contacts (A1 to A12) belonging together are assigned in a predetermined manner to connection pins (P1 to P12) of the plug connector (1) of the control unit that are arranged directly next to each other and in the same row of contact carriers.

9. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that when assigning the line contacts (A1 to A12) of the components (K1 to K4) to the connection pins (P1 to P12) of the plug connector (1) of the control unit, the line contacts (A1 to A12) of the same component (K1 to K4) are assigned to connection pins (P1 to P12) of the plug connector (1) of the control unit that are positioned as close together as possible.

10. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that splice nodes of lines (L1 to L12) each form their own component (K1 to K4).

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