US 12,240,387 B2
Vehicle wiring system, optical coupler, and method of constructing vehicle wiring system
Yuto Ueno, Osaka (JP); and Susumu Takeshima, Osaka (JP)
Assigned to SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD., Osaka (JP)
Appl. No. 17/913,163
Filed by Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Osaka (JP)
PCT Filed Mar. 18, 2021, PCT No. PCT/JP2021/010966
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 21, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/220654, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 4, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 2020-078326 (JP), filed on Apr. 27, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0145552 A1, May 11, 2023
Int. Cl. B60R 16/02 (2006.01); F21V 8/00 (2006.01); H01B 11/22 (2006.01); B60Q 1/00 (2006.01); B60R 1/12 (2006.01)
CPC B60R 16/0207 (2013.01) [G02B 6/0005 (2013.01); H01B 11/22 (2013.01); B60Q 1/0088 (2013.01); B60R 1/12 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicle wiring system comprising:
a plurality of functional circuits to be mounted in a vehicle, the plurality of functional circuits including a master functional circuit and slave functional circuits;
an optical transmission line wired between the master functional circuit and the slave functional circuits, the optical transmission line being configured to transmit an optical signal of the master functional circuit and the slave functional circuits, the optical transmission line including a plurality of optical fiber cables;
an electric wire harness provided, in a partial section of the optical transmission line, together with the optical transmission line in a state of being integrated with the optical transmission line;
an optical coupler disposed in a portion of the optical transmission line other than the partial section and constituting a part of the optical transmission line;
a first optical connector configured to receive the optical signal from one of the plurality of optical fiber cables and output the optical signal to other optical fiber cables among the plurality of optical fiber cables via the optical coupler; and
a second optical connector,
wherein the partial section of the optical transmission line is between the master functional circuit and the first optical connector,
the optical coupler includes a body portion and an optical waveguide branching in the body portion,
the first optical connector is connected to a first end of the optical waveguide, and
the second optical connector is connected to a second end of the optical waveguide, the second end of the optical waveguide being opposite to the first end of the optical waveguide,
the optical transmission line further includes a tension member, a plurality of optical fibers, a protective layer, a wrapping tape and a sheath,
the plurality of optical fibers is disposed around the tension member,
the protective layer covers the plurality of optical fibers,
the wrapping tape covers the protective layer, and
the sheath covers the wrapping tape.