Method for electrical connection of flat cables

Abstract

In connecting flat multiconductor cables, one cable is placed atop another to provide a matrix of zones in which connections may be made of any conductor of one cable to any conductor of the other cable. Selection is made of one zone and it is perforated. An insulating-piercing connector is inserted through the perforation and crimped to provide an electrical connection between the pair of cable conductors in registry with the selected zone. Selection of further zones for perforation and connector insertion is made progressively from those zones which do not have in registry therewith any conductor which was in registry with any previously selected zone. Apparatus for implementing preferred connection zone selection precludes use of connecting zones other than a singular zone for connection of one conductor pair and compels use of a selective few zones individually for connection of respective other conductor pairs, thereby lessening connection error likelihood.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method for interconnection of flat multiconductor cables, comprising the steps of: (a) placing one such cable in overlying relation to another such cable in manner providing a matrix of connection zones wherein each zone has a unique pair of cable conductors in registry therewith;   (b) selecting an origin connection zone having in registry therewith first conductors of said cables and precluding from connection use all other zones in registry with said first conductors;   (c) perforating said first conductors at said origin zone and making electrical connection therebetween; .[.   (d) providing for selection plural zones in registry with a second conductor of one of said cables and precluding from connection use all other zones in registry with said second conductor..]..Iadd.   (d) providing for selection first plural zones in registry with a second conductor of one of said cables said first plural zones being less than all zones in registry with such one cable second conductor, and providing second plural zones in registry with a third conductor of such one cable and thereby distinct from said first plural zones, said second plural zones being less than all such zones in registry with such one cable third conductor, one zone of each of said first plural zones and said second plural zones being in registry with a common conductor of the other of said cables, and precluding from connection use other zones in registry with said second and third conductors of such one cable; and .Iaddend.   (e) selecting further zones for perforation and connection of conductors until connections are made to all conductors of at least one of said cables, each such further zone being selected .[.from the group.]. .Iadd.such first and second pluralities .Iaddend.of zones .Iadd.and other zones .Iaddend.which do not have in registry therewith any conductor in registry with any previously selected zone.   
     
     
       2. The method of claimed in claim 1 wherein said step (e) is practiced by selecting for connection a zone adjacent said origin zone and having in registry therewith .[.third.]. .Iadd.fourth .Iaddend.conductors of said cables and precluding from connection use all other zones in registry with said .[.third.]. .Iadd.fourth .Iaddend.conductors, perforating said .[.third.]. .Iadd.fourth .Iaddend.conductors at such adjacent zone and making electrical connection therebetween. 
     
     
       3. The method claimed in claim 1 wherein said step (a) is further practiced by disposing said first and second cables in mutually orthogonal relation. 
     
     
       4. The method claimed in claim 1 wherein said steps (b) and (c) are practiced by conforming such selection therein to a pattern having predetermined geometry in said matrix. 
     
     
       5. The method claimed in claim 1 wherein said step (a) is further practiced by disposing said first and second cables in mutually orthogonal relation and wherein said steps (b) and (c) are practiced by conforming such selection therein to a pattern having predetermined geometry in said matrix. 
     
     
       6. The method claimed in claim 5 wherein said predetermined geometry comprises a diagonal of said matrix and wherein first, second and third of said selected connection .[.locations.]. .Iadd.zones .Iaddend.are disposed along said diagonal. .Iadd. 7. A method for interconnecting flat multiconductor cables, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a first cable having a given number of conductors and a second cable having at least one conductor more than said given number;   (b) placing said first cable in overlying relation to said second cable in manner providing a matrix of connection zones wherein each zone has a unique pair of cable conductors in registry therewith;   (c) selecting an origin connection zone having in registry therewith a first conductor of each of said first and second cables and precluding from connection use all other zones in registry with said first conductors;   (d) perforating said first conductors at said origin zone and making electrical connection therebetween;   (e) selecting a further connection zone having in registry therewith a second conductor of each of said first and second cables and precluding from connection use all other zones in registry with said second conductors;   (f) perforating said second conductors at said further zone and making electrical connection therebetween;   (g) providing for selection plural zones in registry with a third conductor of said second cable and precluding from connection use all other zones in registry with said second cable third conductor; and   (h) perforating conductors of said first and second cables in registry with a selected one of said plural zones and making electrical connection therebetween until connections are made to all conductors of said first cable, whereby said first cable is connected to said second cable without interconnecting to one another conductors common to said first cable or common to said second cable. .Iaddend..Iadd. 8. The method claimed in claim 7 wherein said step (a) is practiced in part by providing plural conductors of said second cable with distinct phase assignments and wherein such selection in said step (h) is practiced to effect a selected phase interconnection between said first and second cables. .Iaddend..Iadd. 9. The method of claim 8 wherein said step (a) is practiced by providing said first cable with three conductors and said second cable with four conductors, and by assigning the third and fourth of said second cable conductors respectively to A phase and B phase, and wherein said step (h) is practiced to effect A phase interconnection between said first and second cables. .Iaddend..Iadd. 10. The method claimed in claim 8 wherein said step (a) is practiced by providing said first cable with three conductors and said second cable with four conductors, and by assigning the third and fourth of said second cable conductors respectively to A phase and B phase, and wherein said step (h) is practiced to effect B phase interconnection between said first and second cables. .Iaddend..Iadd. 11. The method claimed in claim 8 wherein said step (a) is practiced by providing said first cable with three conductors and said second cable with five conductors, and by assigning the third, fourth and fifth of said second cable conductors respectively to A phase, B phase, and C phase and wherein said step (h) is practiced to effect A phase interconnection between said first and second cables. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 12. The method claimed in claim 8 wherein said step (a) is practiced by providing said first cable with three conductors and said second cable with five conductors, and by assigning the third, fourth and fifth of said second cable conductors respectively to A phase, B phase, and C phase and wherein said step (h) is practiced to effect B phase interconnection between said first and second cables. .Iaddend..Iadd. 13. The method claimed in claim 8 wherein said step (a) is practiced by providing said first cable with three conductors and said second cable with five conductors, and by assigning the third, fourth and fifth of said second cable conductors respectively to A phase, B phase, and C phase and wherein said step (h) is practiced to effect C phase interconnection between said first and second cables. .Iaddend.