US 11,888,262 B2
Automotive electrical connector features for robotic installation
David R. Peterson, Aurora, OH (US); Joseph Sudik, Jr., Niles, OH (US); and Duane Lee Brantingham, Cortland, OH (US)
Assigned to APTIV TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED, St. Michael (BB)
Filed by APTIV TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED, St. Michael (BB)
Filed on Dec. 11, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/118,708.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/956,848, filed on Jan. 3, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0210905 A1, Jul. 8, 2021
Int. Cl. H01R 13/64 (2006.01); B25J 15/04 (2006.01); H01B 7/00 (2006.01); H01R 13/502 (2006.01); H01R 13/516 (2006.01); H01R 13/58 (2006.01); H01R 13/631 (2006.01)
CPC H01R 13/64 (2013.01) [B25J 15/04 (2013.01); H01B 7/0045 (2013.01); H01R 13/502 (2013.01); H01R 13/516 (2013.01); H01R 13/58 (2013.01); H01R 13/6315 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electrical connection system, comprising:
an electrical connector comprising a housing and a wire cable at least partially disposed in the housing, wherein the housing includes an outer surface and a peripheral surface, the outer surface of the housing defining a slot, the peripheral surface completely surrounding the slot; and
a robotic end effector comprising two members configured for (i) insertion into the slot along a first axis and (ii) expansion apart from each other along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis within the slot,
wherein the expansion of the two members within the slot allows the robotic end effector to gain control of and move the electrical connector for an installation operation.