JP3417123B2 - Flat harness - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a flat harness (flat electric wire) in which a circuit portion is formed by punching out a copper foil of FPC (flexible printed circuit) or the like, and particularly for a vehicle door. The present invention relates to a flat harness in which a wiring structure of a circuit portion differs depending on a vehicle type such as a harness.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a flat harness 1 including an FPC, an FWC (flexible wiring circuit) and a PCB (print circuit board) shown in FIG. 8 has been used as a vehicle door harness.
Attached to the door frame of the door 2 shown in FIG. 9 and installed inside, the door mirror 3a and the door lock 3b mounted on the door 2,
Electrical components such as a step lamp 3c, a power window 3d, a door speaker 3e, and a power source (not shown) are connected via a circuit section 4 provided in the flat harness 1.

The flat harness 1 is formed by covering both surfaces of a circuit portion 4 formed by integrally punching a sheet-shaped copper foil with a die (not shown) with insulating films 6. The circuit portion 4 is provided with a plurality of connecting portions (not shown), and each connecting portion is connected to a conductive member (not shown) of each electrical component via the connectors 5a to 5e.

[0004]

In the door harness and the like, the required wiring structure of the circuit portion is different depending on the grade of the vehicle, the destination and the like. That is, the door mirror 3a and the door lock 3b are installed in almost all vehicles, but the power window 3d, the step lamp 3c, the door speaker 3e, etc. may not be provided depending on the vehicle, and the number and types of electrical components to be connected may be different. The wiring structure of the circuit section is determined according to the above.

For this reason, in the conventional flat harness 1, the circuit portion 4 is integrally formed by punching, so that several kinds of circuit portions 4 are manufactured in accordance with the required type of wiring structure of the circuit portion 4. There is a need. In this way, the circuit section 4
In order to manufacture many kinds of the whole, many kinds of large-sized molds capable of manufacturing the entire circuit section 4 are required, resulting in high manufacturing cost and time-consuming manufacturing of the flat harness 1. Further, when the design is changed, the design of the entire circuit section has to be changed, and the flexibility is poor.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 10 (A) (B) (C), when connecting four connectors 7a to 7d,
It is necessary to create a plurality of types of flat harnesses 1a to 1c each having different circuit portions 4a to 4c depending on the wiring structure. Flat harness 1a of FIG. 10 (A)
, The connectors 7a to 7d are commonly connected by the circuit portion 4a. In the flat harness 1b of FIG. 10B, the circuit portion 4b connects between the connector 7a and the connector 7b and between the connector 7c and the connector 7d. In the flat harness 1c of FIG. 10C, the connector 7a and the connector 7d are connected by the circuit section 4c.

Further, as another conventional technique, as shown in FIG. 11, it is possible to correspond to all the required circuit portions 4a to 4c shown in FIGS. 10 (A) (B) (C). One type of circuit portion 4d having a wiring structure is created in advance, and the mounted electrical components are connected to the required connectors 7a to 7d. However, in this conventional technique, the circuit section 4d corresponding to all the expected optional electrical components must be created in advance, so that the circuit section 4d has a large and complicated structure. Manufacturing cost is high.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and makes it possible to easily cope with the wiring structure of the circuit section even if the electrical components to be mounted differ due to differences in vehicle grade and destination. The purpose is to reduce the manufacturing cost.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a flat harness according to claim 1, wherein a conductive material forming a required circuit is sandwiched by insulating films on both upper and lower surfaces thereof. , The flat harness is divided into a main body harness provided with a common circuit and an option harness provided with an optional circuit, and the main body harness is provided with an optional harness attachment region excluding the common circuit and the upper insulating film, Only the contact points with the option circuit are exposed along the opposite side edges of the option harness attachment area, while the option harness is formed into a shape that fits into the option harness attachment area. The optional circuit is provided with contacts to the common circuit along the opposite edges, and the optional circuit is connected to the common circuit. When connecting, connect the optional harness to the optional harness mounting area of the main body harness to connect the contact of the common circuit and the contact of the optional harness, while connecting the optional circuit to the common circuit. If not, we offer a flat harness characterized by closing the optional harness mounting area of the main harness with an insulating film.

The contacts provided in the common circuit and the option circuit can be connected to any option circuit in the common circuit with a constant pitch of the contacts, and the option harness mounting area of the main harness is substantially rectangular. The option harness has a substantially rectangular shape that fits in the option harness mounting area.

[0011]

[0012]

According to the flat harness according to the first aspect of the present invention, the option circuit of the option harness is provided with a plurality of types of wiring structures, and a plurality of option circuits connected to the common circuit of the main harness are provided. By selecting from the types and attaching the optional harness to the main harness, the wiring structure of the flat harness circuit can be easily changed. Of the exposed contacts of the common circuit, the contacts to which the option circuit is connected are closed by the option harness, and the contacts that are not connected to the option circuit are closed by the insulating film.
Do not short-circuit due to foreign matter coming into contact with the contacts of the common circuit.

Therefore, when the flat harness of the present invention is used for a vehicle door harness, the flat harness
Even if a plurality of types of harness circuits are not created, a plurality of types of vehicles can be accommodated by simply changing the option circuit connected to the common circuit according to the grade and destination of the vehicle.

According to the flat harness of the second aspect, the contacts provided in the common circuit and the option circuit have a constant contact pitch, so that an optional circuit can be connected to the common circuit. , It is possible to connect between a plurality of types of common circuits and a plurality of types of option circuits.

Further, the option harness is attached to the main body harness by fitting it into the option harness mounting area of the main body harness. When the option harness is fitted into the option harness mounting area, the contacts of the common circuit and the contacts of the option circuit are attached. And abut and are connected.

Therefore, even if the contacts of the common circuit and the contacts of the option circuit are not aligned,
Since the contacts of the common circuit and the contacts of the option circuit are brought into contact with each other only by fitting the option harness into the harness mounting area, the option circuit can be easily and surely connected to the common circuit.

Further, since the common circuit is removed in the option harness attachment area, the option circuit is provided in a portion between the contacts along the opposite side edges of the option harness attachment area where the option harness faces. Can be provided. Therefore, an option circuit having a relatively complicated circuit structure can be provided with a margin.

[0018]

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. The flat harness of the present invention is shown in FIG.
(A) (B) (C) and the main body harness 11 shown in FIG.
And optional harnesses 16a, 16b, 16c shown in FIGS. 3 (A) (B) (C). Body harness 1
1 is provided with a rectangular option harness mounting region 15 in which a contact 14a of a common circuit 14 provided in the main body harness 11 is exposed. In the illustrated example of FIG. 1A, the attachment regions 15 are provided at three places. Optional harnesses 16a, 16b, 16c as shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C, which will be described later, are attached to the respective attachment areas 15, and the optional harnesses 16a, 16b, 16c are attached to the common circuit 14.
Option circuit 20 of is connected.

The body harness 11 is constructed by sandwiching the upper and lower surfaces of the common circuit 14 with insulating films 13a and 13b, and the connectors 12a to 12j are connected to the connecting portions (not shown) at the respective ends of the common circuit 14. To be done. The flat harness of the present invention is, for example, a vehicle door harness, and each connector 12a to 12j has a door mirror, a door lock,
A connection member (not shown) of electric components such as a step lamp, a power window and a door speaker, a power supply (not shown), etc. are connected. The common circuit 14 of the body harness 11 and the option circuit 20 of the option harnesses 16a, 16b, 16c are formed by punching a copper foil with a die.

The mounting area 15 is one of the upper and lower insulating films 13a, 13b.
In the illustrated example, the insulating film 13a is formed by partially removing it into a rectangular shape. In the exposed area of the attachment area 15, a plurality of contacts 14a provided in the common circuit 14 are formed. The contact points 14a are formed in two rows facing each other along the opposite side edges 15a and 15b of the mounting region 15. In the mounting region 15, the common circuit 14 is not provided in the region 15c between the rows of contacts 14a on both sides, that is, the region between the row of left contacts 14a and the row of right contacts 14a in FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C, each of the optional harnesses 16a, 16b and 16c is roughly
The optional circuit 20 is arranged on the surface of a rectangular insulating film 18 that fits in the mounting region 15. The insulating film 18 is attached to an insulating mounting sheet 17 which is larger than the insulating film 18, and the portion of the mounting region 15 where the option circuit 20 faces the area 15c is covered with an insulating film 19.
The insulating film 18 and the mounting sheet 17 may be integrated.

The optional harness 16a, 16b, 1
Each option circuit 20 of 6c is provided with a plurality of contacts 20a along both side edges 18a and 18b of the insulating film 18, that is, at positions facing the contacts 14a of the common circuit 14. The option circuits 20 of the option harnesses 16a, 16b, 16c have different wiring structures, and the required option harnesses 16a, 16b, 16c are selected from the option harnesses 16a, 16b, 16c, and the main body is selected. By attaching it to the harness 11,
The connection structure of the contacts 14a of the common circuit 14 is changed, and the wiring structure of the common circuit 14 can be a required wiring structure. As the type of wiring structure of the option circuit 20,
Not limited to the illustrated examples of FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C, any wiring structure can be considered. In the optional harness 16c of FIG. 3C, the left contact 20a and the right contact 2 in FIG.
The optional circuit 20 for connecting to
8 is provided along the outer peripheral portion

Optional harness 16a, 16b, 16c
As shown in FIGS. 4 (A) and 4 (B), each contact point 20a of the option circuit 20 is solder-plated to attach the insulating film 13a of the main body harness 11 to the main body harness 11.
Adhesive is applied to the outer peripheral edge portion 17a of the mounting sheet 17 that abuts against, and the insulating film 18 of the optional harnesses 16a, 16b, 16c is fitted into the mounting region 15 of the main body harness 11. Since the insulating film 18 is sized and shaped to fit exactly in the mounting region 15, the contact 14 a of the common circuit 14 and the optional circuit 20
Even if it is not aligned with the contact 20a of the mounting area 1
By simply fitting the insulating film 18 in 5, the contact points 20a of the option circuit 20 come into contact with the contact points 14a of the common circuit 14 corresponding to each other.

As described above, when the optional harnesses 16a, 16b, 16c are fitted into the mounting area 15 of the main body harness 11, the optional harnesses 16a, 16b, 16b corresponding to the portions where the contact points 14a and 20a are in contact with each other. 16c
The heating bar 51 is pressed against the surface of the
Is transferred to each contact portion between the contact point 14a and the contact point 20a via the mounting sheet 17 and the insulating film 18, and the solder plated on the contact point 20a is melted to connect each contact point 14a and each contact point 20a. It The contact 14a and the contact 20a are formed by ultrasonic welding using plated solder without using the heat generating bar 51.
You may connect with.

When the contact point 14a and the contact point 20a are soldered, the main body harness 11 and the optional harness 16a, 1
6b and 16c are fixed by the rivet 21. The rivet 21 is provided so as to penetrate a portion where the contact point 14a and the contact point 20a are connected to each other.
It is designed so that and do not separate.

The size of each mounting area 15 of the main harness 11 and the size of the insulating film 18 of each optional harness are regulated to a certain size. Also, the arrangement pitch P1 of the contacts 14a of the common circuit 14 and the option circuit 2
The arrangement pitch P2 of the contact points 20a of 0 is defined as a constant equal arrangement pitch, and the distance W1 between the contact points 14a on both sides in each mounting region 15 and the distance W2 between the contact points 20a on both sides in each option harness are equal to each other. It is defined as a fixed equal interval. Therefore, whichever mounting area 15
Any optional harness 16a, 16b, 16c can be attached.

An insulating film (not shown) for closing holes is attached to the mounting region 15 of the main body harness 11 where the optional harnesses 16a, 16b, 16c cannot be mounted, and the contact point of the common circuit 14 is attached by the insulating film. 14a
Are coated.

Therefore, by selectively mounting the optional harnesses 16a, 16b, 16c in the mounting area 15 of the main body harness 11, the wiring structure of the common circuit 14 can be easily changed to a desired wiring structure.

For example, the main body harness 3 shown in FIG.
1 has only one mounting area 33, the optional harness to be mounted in the mounting area 33 is the three optional harnesses 3 shown in FIGS. 5 (B) (C) (D).
By selecting appropriately from 7, 38, 39,
The connectors 32a to 32d can be connected by three different wiring structures.

In the body harness 31, the common circuit is composed of four wires 34a to 34d, and each wire 34a to 3d.
Connectors 32a to 32d are individually connected to one end of 4d, and contacts 35a to 35d are formed to the other end. The contact 36a of the optional harness 37, 38, 39 is connected to the contact 35a of the main harness 31, the contact 36b is connected to the contact 35b, the contact 36c is connected to the contact 35c, and the contact 36d is connected to the contact 35d.

The option harness 37 of FIG. 5B is provided with an option circuit 40a for commonly connecting the contacts 35a to 35d, and the option harness 38 of FIG. 5C is provided with the contacts 35a and 35d. 35b and contact 35
An optional circuit 40b for independently connecting between c and the contact 35d is provided, and an optional circuit 40c for connecting the contact 35a and the contact 35d is provided in the option harness 39 of FIG. 5C. Has been. Therefore, the circuit portions 4a to 4c are provided as in the conventional case shown in FIGS. 10 (A) (B) (C).
There is no need to create three types of whole.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are plan views showing the configurations of the optional harnesses 16d and 16e provided in the flat harness according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a partial structure of the flat harness of the second embodiment. 6 (A) (B) and FIG. 7, FIG. 1 (A)
Portions corresponding to and similar to the flat harness of FIGS. 4B to 4C are designated by the same reference numerals. A feature of the flat harness of this embodiment is that the option circuit 20 of the option harness 16d, 16e is provided with electronic parts such as a fuse 41 and a diode 42.

In the optional harness 16d of FIG. 6A, the fuse 41 is connected to the wiring connecting the contacts 20a on both sides.
Is intervening. Optional harness 1 in Fig. 6 (B)
In 6e, the diode 42, the capacitor 43, and the resistor 44 are respectively interposed in the respective wirings that individually connect the respective contact points 20a facing each other on both sides. The diode 42, the capacitor 43, and the resistor 44 are attached to the option harness 16e by soldering the terminals to the contacts provided in the option circuit 20.

Since the common circuit 14 is not provided in the area 15c of the attachment area 15 of the main body harness 11, electronic parts such as the fuse 41 are provided between the contacts 20a on both sides of the option harnesses 16d and 16e. Also, the electronic parts and wirings do not come into contact with the common circuit 14 to cause a short circuit.

In each of the above embodiments, the mounting area 15
Although the entire area where the contact points 14a are provided is exposed, it is also possible to provide an elongated attachment area along the contact point rows 14a so that only a portion of each contact point row 14a is exposed. Alternatively, only the contact 14a may be exposed. In this case, the portion of the area 15c of the attachment area 15 exposed in the above-described embodiment between the opposing contacts is covered with the insulating film 13a, and the area 15c is formed.
The common circuit 14 can be provided also in the portion. Area 1
When the common circuit 14 is provided in 5c, for example, as shown in FIG.
(A) (B) (C) option harness 16a-16
c is mounted on the upper surface of the common circuit 14 in an overlapping manner to increase the circuit density, and the flat harness can be downsized accordingly.

In each of the above embodiments, each mounting area 1
5, opposite side edges 15a, 15b of the mounting area 15
Therefore, the contacts 14a are provided in two rows, but they may be provided in one row. Further, the contacts 14a may be provided along the upper, lower, left and right edges of the mounting region 15.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the FPC is used as the flat harness for both the main harness and the optional harness, but both FWC and PCB are used.
Alternatively, the body harness and the option harness may be different types, such as the body harness being a PCB and the option harness being an FPC.

[0038]

As is apparent from the above description, in the flat harness according to the first aspect of the present invention, the option circuit for connecting to the common circuit can be connected to the common circuit without preparing a plurality of types of the whole circuit of the flat harness. The wiring structure of the flat harness circuit can be easily changed according to the type of vehicle by simply changing the grade and destination. Moreover, after creating one type of common circuit, it is sufficient to create multiple types of small optional circuits that form part of the flat harness circuit. The mold can be miniaturized.

In the flat harness according to a second aspect of the present invention, the contacts provided in the common circuit and the option circuit have a constant contact pitch, so that an optional circuit can be connected to the common circuit, and a plurality of optional circuits can be connected. Connections can be made between common circuits of various types and option circuits of multiple types. As a result, the circuit configuration of the flat harness can be diversified.

Further, even if the contacts of the common circuit and the contacts of the option circuit are not aligned, the contacts of the common circuit and the contacts of the option circuit can be brought into contact with each other simply by fitting the option harness into the mounting area of the option harness. Since they are in contact with each other, the option circuit can be easily and surely connected to the common circuit, and the work efficiency of attaching the option harness to the main harness can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

1A and 1B are plan views showing the structure of a main body harness provided in a flat harness that is a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1C is a view showing the structure of the main body harness. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a configuration of a mounting region of the main body harness shown in FIG.

3 (A), (B) and (C) are plan views showing a configuration of an optional harness to be attached to an attachment area of a main body harness.

4A and 4B are cross-sectional views showing a process of attaching the option harness to the main harness.

5A, 5B, 5C and 5D are plan views showing a specific configuration example of a main body harness and an optional harness.

6 (A) and 6 (B) are plan views showing the configuration of an option harness provided in the flat harness according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a method of attaching an optional harness to a main body harness.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a conventional flat harness.

9 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a door to which the flat harness of FIG. 8 is attached.

10 (A), (B) and (C) are plan views showing a specific configuration example of a conventional flat harness.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a specific configuration example of a conventional flat harness.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 body harness 12a-12j, 32a-32d connectors 13a, 13b, 18,19 Insulation film 14 Common circuit 14a, 20a, 35a to 35d, 36a to 36d contact points 15,33 mounting area 16a-16e, 37-39 Option harness 17 Mounting sheet 20,40a-40b Optional circuit 41 fuse 42 diode 43 capacitor 44 Resistance P1, P2 array pitch

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Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. The upper and lower surfaces of a conductive material which constitutes a required circuit.
With a flat harness formed by sandwiching the
There The above flat harness is a main unit with a common circuit.
Ness and optional harness with optional circuit
Divided into Main body harnessCommon circuit and upper insulation film
The optional harness installation area has been set up
Option along the opposite side edges of the harness mounting area.
While exposing only the contact with the circuit, The above option harness is attached to the option harness
The shape that fits in the area and the shape of the optional harness
The optional circuits to be formed are commonly routed along opposite edges.
To make contact with the road, When connecting the optional circuit to the above common circuit,
Select the above option in the harness option / harness installation area.
Mating harness to fit and connect to the common circuit contacts
While connecting to the contact of the optional harness,
If you do not connect the optional circuit to the common circuit,
Harness option / harness mounting area Insulation film
Flat hane characterized by being closed at
Su. 2. The contacts provided in the common circuit and the option circuit can be connected to any option circuit in the common circuit with a constant pitch of the contacts , and the option / harness mounting area of the main harness can be omitted.
It has a rectangular shape, and the above optional harness is the above optional harness.
The flat harness according to claim 1, wherein the flat harness has a substantially rectangular shape that fits in a harness mounting area . 3.Both upper and lower sides of the conductive material that makes up the required circuit
With a flat harness formed by sandwiching the
There The above flat harness is a main unit with a common circuit.
Ness and optional harness with optional circuit
Divided into Remove the common circuit and upper insulating film from the main harness.
The optional harness installation area has been set up
Option along the opposite side edges of the harness mounting area.
While exposing only the contact with the circuit, The above option harness is attached to the option harness
The shape that fits in the area and the shape of the optional harness
The optional circuits to be formed are commonly routed along opposite edges.
To make contact with the road, When connecting an optional circuit to the above common circuit, use this
The above options are added to the body harness options / harness mounting area.
Mating harness and fitting, common circuit contacts
And the contact of the optional harness,
If the optional circuit is not connected to the common circuit,
The harness option / harness mounting area is insulated
Characterized by Flat harness.