Vehicle Camera Bracket With Integrated Circuit Leads

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional camera bracket assemblies for vehicles require multiple wire harnesses, leading to complexity, long assembly times, and large packaging due to the need for ergonomic clearance of these harnesses.

Innovation Solution

A bracket assembly with a circuit integrally formed within the bracket body, using leads and contact pads or terminal blocks to connect electrical devices such as cameras and sensors, reducing the need for multiple wire harnesses and allowing for a more ergonomic assembly process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple wire harnesses are used to power components on the bracket body, then the electrical connections are established, but the device complexity increases and assembly time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidwire harness complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent consolidates multiple wire harnesses into a single integrated wire harness that routes through a access channel in the bracket body. This single harness combines multiple electrical connections that would otherwise require separate harnesses, reducing overall complexity while maintaining all necessary electrical connections to components on the bracket body.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The access channel in the bracket body serves as an intermediary structure that facilitates the routing and organization of the wire harness. This channel provides a dedicated pathway that simplifies the installation process and reduces the complexity of managing multiple wire harnesses by consolidating them into a single organized route.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If multiple wire harnesses are used to power components on the bracket body, then the electrical connections are established, but the assembly time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidassembly time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent consolidates multiple wire harnesses into a single integrated wire harness that routes through a access channel in the bracket body. This single harness combines multiple electrical connections that would otherwise require separate harnesses, reducing overall complexity while maintaining all necessary electrical connections to components on the bracket body.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The wire harness is pre-configured with connectors positioned to engage with corresponding contacts on the bracket body. This preliminary arrangement of connectors along the access channel allows for rapid assembly by simply plugging in the harness rather than individually connecting multiple separate wire harnesses, significantly reducing assembly time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If multiple wire harnesses are used to power components on the bracket body, then the electrical connections are established, but the packaging size increases due to ergonomic clearance requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidpackaging volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent consolidates multiple wire harnesses into a single integrated wire harness that routes through a access channel in the bracket body. This single harness combines multiple electrical connections that would otherwise require separate harnesses, reducing overall complexity while maintaining all necessary electrical connections to components on the bracket body.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The wire harness is routed through an access channel that is nested within the bracket body structure. This nesting approach allows the wire harness to be contained within the existing structural envelope of the bracket, eliminating the need for additional external space and reducing packaging volume requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS20220289126A1Camera bracket assembly

Publication Date: 2022.09.15 ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC

AI summary

A bracket assembly for a vehicle includes a bracket body having a glare shield and a circuit. The bracket assembly further includes an electrical device that is electrically connected to the circuit of the bracket body. The circuit comprises a plurality of leads extending along the bracket body.