Method and apparatus for confirming connection of a terminal connecting portion

Abstract

Electrically conductive movable elements 15 which are moved from a waiting position to a conduction position by an insertion operation of corresponding male terminals 7 are disposed in all female terminals 9 into which the male terminals are to be respectively inserted in a correct connection condition. Only when the male terminals 7 are correctly inserted into the female terminals 9, the movable elements 15 are moved to the conduction positions to be in contact with conductive portions 17 of a conduction test device 16, respectively, thereby establishing a conductive condition.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of confirming connection of a terminal connecting portion in which a plurality of male terminals are inserted respectively into a plurality of female terminals to make an electrical connection therebetween, 
 said method comprising the steps of: 
 disposing electrically conductive movable elements in at least all to-be-connected female terminals into which said male terminals are to be respectively inserted in a correct connection condition, and  
 each of said movable elements being moved from a waiting position to a conduction position by an insertion operation of corresponding one of said male terminals,  
 detecting a state where all of said movable elements in said to-be-connected female terminals are moved respectively to said conduction positions by a conduction test device having conductive portions which, when said movable elements are moved to said conduction positions, are in contact with said movable elements, respectively.  
   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus for confirming connection of a terminal connecting portion in which a plurality of male terminals are inserted respectively into a plurality of female terminals to make an electrical connection therebetween, 
 said apparatus comprising: 
 electrically conductive movable elements, and  
 a conduction test device; wherein  
 said movable elements are disposed respectively in at least all to-be-connected female terminals into which said male terminals are to be respectively inserted in a correct connection condition, in a state where each of said movable elements is moved from a waiting position to a conduction position by an insertion operation of corresponding one of said male terminals;  
   said conduction test device includes conductive portions which, when said movable elements are moved to said conduction position, are in contact with said movable elements, respectively; and    when all of said movable elements in said to-be-connected female terminals are moved to said conduction positions, said conduction portions become conductive.    
     
     
         3 . The apparatus for confirming connection of a terminal connecting portion according to  claim 2 , wherein 
 each of said movable elements comprises: 
 a conductor which is to be in contact with corresponding one of said conductive portions of said conduction test device, and  
 an insulator integrating with said conductor, which is to be in contact with and pushed by corresponding one of said male terminals.  
   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus for confirming connection of a terminal connecting portion according to  claim 2 , wherein 
 said movable elements are disposed in only said to-be-connected female terminals of all said female terminals, and    said conductive portions of said conduction test device are placed to be in contact with said movable elements, respectively.    
     
     
         5 . The apparatus for confirming connection of a terminal connecting portion according to  claim 2 , wherein 
 said movable elements are disposed in all said female terminals including said to-be-connected female terminals, and    said conductive portions of said conduction test device are placed to be in contact with said movable elements in only said to-be-connected female terminals, respectively.    
     
     
         6 . The apparatus for confirming connection of a terminal connecting portion according to  claim 2 , wherein 
 said male terminals are respectively disposed on bus bars in a junction block, and    said female terminals are respectively disposed in connectors of a printed circuit board of an electronic control unit which is to be mounted on said junction block.