Wire insertion apparatus and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9985406-B2
Application number	US-201514807247-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 23, 2015
Priority date	Jul 23, 2015
Publication date	May 29, 2018
Grant date	May 29, 2018

Abstract

A system for assisting in the assembly of a cable harness may include a wire insertion apparatus that includes a frame that defines a connector mounting location; a projector mount attached to the frame and positioned so that a projector held in the projector mount projects graphical information onto a connector held by the mounting location; and the projector. The system may also include a computer device in communication with the projector and comprising a module configured for: projecting, via the projector, a plurality of alignment dots onto the connector; moving the alignment dots based on a first user input; receiving a second user input that the alignment dots are aligned and, based on the second user input, determining a position and orientation of the connector; and illuminating, via the projector, one or more pin locations of the connector based on the position and orientation of the connector.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system ( 200 ) for assisting the assembly of a cable harness, comprising:
a wire insertion apparatus ( 100 , 150 ), the wire insertion apparatus ( 100 , 150 ) comprising:
a frame ( 105 , 155 ), the frame ( 105 ) defining a connector mounting location ( 115 , 165 );
a projector mount ( 135 , 185 ) attached to the frame ( 105 , 155 ), the projector mount ( 135 , 185 ) being positioned so that a projector ( 140 ) held in the projector mount ( 135 , 185 ) projects graphical information onto a connector ( 120 ) held by the mounting location ( 115 , 165 ); and
the projector ( 140 ), the projector ( 140 ) being configured to project a plurality of alignment dots onto the connector ( 120 ) for use in aligning the connector ( 120 ) to establish the position and orientation of the connector, and configured to illuminate one or more pin locations of the connector ( 120 ) based on the position and orientation of the connector ( 120 );

a computer device ( 202 , 224 ) in communication with the projector and comprising:
a processor ( 204 , 226 );
a memory ( 206 , 228 ); and
a module stored in the memory ( 206 , 228 ), executable by the processor ( 204 , 226 ) and configured to:
control the projector ( 140 ) to project the plurality of alignment dots onto the connector ( 120 );
move the alignment dots projected onto the connector ( 120 ) based on a first user input;
receive a second user input that the alignment dots are aligned;
determine the position and orientation of the connector ( 120 ) based on coordinates of the alignment dots; and
control the projector ( 140 ) to illuminate the one or more pin locations of the connector ( 120 ) based on the position and orientation of the connector ( 120 ).

2. The system ( 200 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the wire insertion apparatus ( 100 , 150 ) comprises a clamp ( 125 , 175 ) for releasably securing the connector ( 120 ) in the connector mounting location ( 115 , 165 ).

3. The system ( 200 ) according to claim 1 , wherein:
the frame ( 105 , 155 ) defines a flat surface ( 130 , 180 ) adjacent to the connector mounting location ( 115 , 165 ); and
the projector mount ( 135 , 185 ) is positioned so that the projector ( 140 ) projects graphical information onto the flat surface ( 130 , 180 ).

4. The system ( 200 ) according to claim 3 , wherein the module is configured to project, via the projector ( 140 ), a graphical user interface ( 500 ) onto the flat surface ( 130 , 180 ) on the frame ( 105 , 155 ) adjacent to the connector mounting location ( 115 , 165 ).

5. The system ( 200 ) according to claim 4 , wherein the first user input and the second user input are received via the graphical user interface ( 500 ).

6. The system ( 200 ) according to claim 3 , wherein illuminating one or more pin locations of the connector ( 120 ) comprises projecting graphical information regarding the one or more pin locations onto the flat surface ( 130 , 180 ).

7. The system ( 200 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the module is configured to:
receive a connector schematic ( 214 , 241 ), the connector schematic ( 214 , 241 ) defining coordinates for the one or more pin locations; and
project, via the projector ( 140 ), an illumination dot onto each of the one or more pin locations based on (i) the position and orientation of the connector ( 120 ) and (ii) the coordinates for the one or more pin locations defined in the connector schematic ( 214 , 241 ).

8. The system ( 200 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the module is configured to concurrently project, via the projector ( 140 ), a plurality of illumination dots, each illumination dot being projected onto one of a plurality of pin locations of the connector ( 120 ), wherein each of the plurality of illumination dots has a distinguishing characteristic.

9. A method of inserting wire(s) into a connector ( 120 ), comprising:
providing a wire insertion apparatus ( 100 , 150 ), the wire insertion apparatus ( 100 , 150 ) comprising:
a frame ( 105 , 155 ), the frame ( 105 ) defining a connector mounting location ( 115 , 165 ); and
a projector mount ( 135 , 185 ) attached to the frame ( 105 , 155 ), the projector mount ( 135 , 185 ) being positioned so that a projector ( 140 ) held in the projector mount ( 135 , 185 ) projects graphical information onto the connector ( 120 ) when the connector ( 120 ) held by the mounting location ( 115 , 165 );

mounting the projector ( 140 ) to the projector mount;
providing a computer device ( 202 , 224 ) in communication with the projector and comprising:
a processor ( 204 , 226 );
a memory ( 206 , 228 ); and
a module stored in the memory ( 206 , 228 ), executable by the processor ( 204 , 226 ) and configured to:
control the projector ( 140 ) to project a plurality of alignment dots onto the connector ( 120 );
move the alignment dots projected onto the connector ( 120 ) based on a first user input;
receive a second user input that the alignment dots are aligned;
determine a position and orientation of the connector ( 120 ) based on coordinates of the alignment dots; and
control the projector ( 140 ) to illuminate one or more pin locations of the connector ( 120 ) based on the position and orientation of the connector ( 120 );

mounting the connector ( 120 ) to the connector mounting location ( 115 , 165 );
projecting, via the projector ( 140 ), the plurality of alignment dots onto the connector ( 120 );
moving, via the computer device ( 202 , 224 ), the alignment dots projected onto the connector ( 120 ) based on the first user input;
receiving, via the computer device ( 202 , 224 ), the second user input that the alignment dots are aligned and, based on the second user input, determining, via the computer device ( 202 , 224 ), the position and orientation of the connector ( 120 ) based on the coordinates of the alignment dots;
illuminating, via the projector ( 140 ), one or more pin locations of the connector ( 120 ) based on the position and orientation of the connector ( 120 ); and
inserting a wire into each of the one or more illuminated pin locations.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein:
the frame ( 105 , 155 ) defines a flat surface ( 130 , 180 ) adjacent to the connector mounting location ( 115 , 165 ); and
the projector mount ( 135 , 185 ) is positioned so that the projector ( 140 ) projects graphical information onto the flat surface ( 130 , 180 ).

11. The method according to claim 10 , comprising projecting, via the projector ( 140 ), a graphical user interface ( 500 ) onto the flat surface ( 130 , 180 ), wherein the first user input and the second user input are received via the graphical user interface ( 500 ).

12. The method according to claim 9 , comprising receiving a connector schematic ( 214 , 241 ), the connector schematic ( 214 , 241 ) defining coordinates for the one or more pin locations;
wherein the step of illuminating one or more pin locations of the connector ( 120 ) comprises projecting, via the projector ( 140 ), an illumination dot onto each of the one or more pin locations based on (i) the position and orientation of the connector ( 120 ) and (ii) the coordinates for the one or more pin locations defined in the connector schematic ( 214 , 241 ).

13. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the step of illuminating one or more pin locations of the connector ( 120 ) comprises concurrently projecting, via the projector ( 140 ), a plurality of illumination dots, each illumination dot being projected onto one of a plurality of pin locations of the connector ( 120 ).

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Crocco James R
• Doyle Stephen
• Edman Frederick C
• Destories Jason Gerald

Classifications

• H01R43/20 Primary

  for assembling or disassembling contact members with insulating base, case or sleeve · CPC title