Abstract:
A system for verifying the connection status of couplable elements employs a code member having a pattern defining a machine-readable optical code disposed thereupon. The code member is physically divided into a number of separate segments each having a portion of the pattern defined thereupon. These segments are affixed to a series of couplable elements so that when those elements are appropriately coupled together, the code segments will be in an aligned relationship so as to form a particular optically readable pattern of data indicative of proper coupling of the elements. Further disclosed are methods employing the system.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to inspection and verification systems. More specifically, the invention relates to an optical system which utilizes bar code scanning technology to verify the connection status of couplable elements. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In many instances it is important to verify and make of record the fact that couplable elements such as electrical connectors, medical device components, mechanical elements, and the like are properly connected. This need is particularly important with regard to safety equipment such as airbag deployment controls, life support equipment, alarm systems, and the like. Toward that end the prior art has implemented a number of solutions based upon electrical, electromechanical, and optical systems for inspecting and verifying the status of such couplable elements. 
     Bar code technology is widely used for optically encoding data in a machine-readable form. In a bar code system, a pattern of indicia having differing degrees of reflectivity for a scanning wavelength of light is disposed so as to form a pattern which encodes data. In some instances, the pattern is comprised of a plurality of alternating light-reflecting and light-absorbing bars, which have given a generic name to this technology. Such stripe-based systems are now referred to as one-dimensional or 1D bar code systems. In other instances, more complex patterns of indicia are utilized, and while they are generically referred to as bar codes, they do not have defined bars, but rather comprise a more complex matrix. Such bar codes are referred to as matrix codes, two-dimensional codes, or 2D codes. In further instances, bar code patterns may comprise a plurality of differently colored indicia, or indicia having preselected degrees of reflectivity (gray scale). In the context of this disclosure, as well as in the relevant art, all of such codes are referred to as “bar codes”. 
     Since bar code technology allows for the rapid, noncontact scanning of machine-readable data, the prior art has made attempts to utilize such technology for the purpose of verifying the status of electrical connector elements; however, prior art approaches have encountered a number of limitations. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,902,244 and 5,558,873 both show an electrical connector system which utilizes a bar code reader to verify coupling of the connectors. In the disclosed systems of these two patents, one member of the electrical connector, typically the male member, has a body of light-absorbing material, typically black paint, disposed thereupon. A second member of the connector pair, typically the female member, includes a number of slits formed therethrough. When the connector is assembled, the light-absorbing material formed on the first connector member shows through the opening slits in the second member. In this manner, the two members cooperate to form a bar code which can be read by an optical scanner. The system of the &#39;244 and &#39;873 patents is limited in its use and applicability since neither of the coupling elements displays any machine-readable code prior to being connected together; the code pattern is only formed after connection. As will be explained in detail hereinbelow, this limitation prevents any optical data collection prior to coupling of the elements. Furthermore, this approach requires a very specific configuration of connectors insofar as the elements thereof must be configured to allow for the formation of the through slits and the disposition of the body of light-absorbing paint. Furthermore, the fact that this approach requires the forming of a plurality of precision openings in one of the connector elements complicates the manufacturing process and precludes changing the bar coded data without making significant changes in tooling and processing. 
     As will be explained in detail hereinbelow, the present invention provides a bar coding system which allows for the verification of the connection status as well as the nature of connectable elements. The system of the present invention provides bar code segments each of which includes machine-readable data and which may be used in cooperation to verify the appropriate connection status of the coupler pair as well as to identify the nature of the two members which are coupled. The present invention differs significantly from, and provides advantages over, prior art systems such as those of the &#39;244 and &#39;873 patents. These and other advantages will be apparent from the drawings, discussion, and description which follow. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Disclosed herein is a system for verifying the connection status of a first and second couplable element. The system includes a code member having a pattern of indicia defining a machine-readable optical code displayed thereupon. This code member is physically divided into a first segment having a first portion of the pattern of indicia defined thereupon and a second segment having a second portion of the pattern defined thereupon. The first segment is positioned and disposed upon a first one of the couplable elements, and the second segment is positioned and disposed upon a second of the couplable elements so that when the couplable elements are appropriately connected together the first and second segments of the code members are in an aligned relationship so as to form a machine-readable pattern of optical data. The system may also include an optical reader which is operable to scan the first and second couplable elements and generate a signal indicating if the code segments are appropriately aligned so as to form the machine-readable code. 
     In some instances, one or both of the segments of the code body may be configured as a label which is affixable to a respective coupler element. In other instances, one or both of the segments may be painted onto, etched into, or otherwise marked upon a connector element. The data in the individual segments may also be chosen so as to encode particular information regarding the nature of that segment. 
     Also disclosed herein are methods which employ the verification system. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a code member which has been physically divided into two separate segments in accord with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows an electrical connector comprised of a first and a second couplable element, each element including a segment of a code member disposed thereupon; 
         FIG. 3  depicts the coupler of  FIG. 2  wherein the two couplable elements are joined together and the two segments form an optically readable code pattern; and 
         FIG. 4  depicts an embodiment of the present invention in which the couplable elements are part of a bracelet structure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As stated above, the present invention comprises a system and method for verifying the connection status of a set of couplable elements. This invention will be described primarily with reference to electrical connectors wherein a first terminal member is connectable to a second terminal member. However, it is to be understood that the invention may similarly be employed with regard to couplers which include three or more elements. The system may also be employed in connection with other types of couplable elements such as fluidic connectors, mechanical elements, insert members, and any other system in which the proper positioning of two or more elements with regard to one another or with regard to a third element is to be verified. As detailed generally above, the system and method of the present invention rely upon the use of an optically readable body of code, such as a bar code, which has been divided into two or more separate segments. Each segment comprises a portion of a pattern which encodes a body of data. The segments are affixed to the couplable elements so that when the elements are appropriately joined together, the code segments unite to form a code pattern which encodes a specific body of data which is indicative of proper coupling of the elements. It is a notable feature of the present invention that each of the segments of the body of data is optically readable, and as such may encode information separate from the body of data which indicates proper connection of the elements. In this manner, the code segments attached to the individual couplable elements can be used to identify and/or select those elements. The present invention may be implemented in a number of embodiments; and for purposes of illustration, a particular embodiment is described herein. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a code member  10  which may be utilized in the practice of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the code member  10  comprises two separate segments  12 ,  14 . Each segment includes optically encoded data in the form of a bar code displayed thereupon. In this regard, segment  12  includes a code portion  16 , and segment  14  includes a code portion  18 . These code portions are shown as being one-dimensional bar codes, although it is to be understood that they may comprise two-dimensional, matrix, bar codes, or any other type of optically readable data encoding. 
     The segments  12  and  14  may be formed on label stock which may be subsequently applied to the couplable elements, or the segments may be formed directly on the couplable elements by etching, printing, scribing, molding, or other such processes. It will be seen from  FIG. 1  that when the two segments  12  and  14  are disposed in an edge-to-edge alignment, the code segments  16  and  18  thereupon will form a continuous, optically readable code pattern. In the practice of the present invention, the segments are disposed upon the couplable elements such that when those elements are properly aligned, the code portions  16  and  18  will likewise align to form the data pattern. 
     The couplable elements are scanned by an optical data reader of the type known in the art; and if the reader detects the code pattern as formed by the properly aligned segments  12  and  14 , the data reader will generate a corresponding signal indicating that the elements are properly aligned and connected. If the elements are misaligned, the segments will likewise be misaligned and the data reader will register an error with regard to the code pattern. As will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, the signals can be used to control an inspection and/or assembly process. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown one typical implementation of the present invention.  FIG. 2  shows an electrical connector pair  20  comprised of a female terminal member  22  and a male terminal member  24 . Connectors of this type are typically used in a variety of electrical systems. In accord with the present invention, a first segment  12  of a code member having a first portion of a bar code  16  thereupon is affixed to the female member  22 . A second code segment  14  having a second portion of a code  18  thereupon is disposed on the male connector  24 . As noted above, these segments  12  and  14  may be comprised of separate members such as labels which are affixed to the terminal members  22  and  24 , or they may comprise markings directly applied thereto. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the two terminals  22  and  24  are coupled and locked together; and when such is done, the two code segments  12  and  14  are aligned in an edge-to-edge relationship so as to display a complete optical code comprised of the two portions  16  and  18 . When the joined connector pair  20  is optically scanned, the body of optical code provides assurances that the terminals are correctly aligned and connected. In addition to being used for purposes of quality and process control, data of this type may be used to create a permanent record of the fact that a connector pair has been properly joined. This type of data can be very significant in those instances where the connector pair is a critical component of a safety system such as an airbag system. Such data can be cross referenced to data identifying a particular vehicle or installation. Such verifiable cross-reference data can be very valuable if future questions arise regarding performance of the safety system. 
     While the  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3  embodiment shows two discrete, separated, couplable elements, in some instances, the couplable elements may be part of a unitary device. For, example, as is shown in  FIG. 4 , a “bracelet” type device  30 , is comprised of a first connector element  32 , and a second connector element  34 , joined together by a band portion  36 . As in the prior embodiment, each connector element  32 ,  34 , includes a code segment  38 ,  40 , disposed thereupon; and, when the connector elements  32 , 34  are properly joined, the segments align to constitute a bar code pattern indicative of proper coupling. Bracelet embodiments of this type may be constructed so that the connector elements are not releasable once joined, requiring that the bracelet must be cut to be removed. As will be appreciated, such embodiments may be used in various security applications. For example, the bracelet may be used as a verifiable source of identification of persons in health care, military and law enforcement applications. Likewise, the bracelet embodiments may be used a security seals for equipment, cargo and the like. 
     The fact that the system of the present invention utilizes a segmented, optically readable code in which each of the segments itself is also optically readable is a significant improvement over prior art systems. Since each segment of the code can be individually read, the encoded components may be tracked or otherwise monitored utilizing optical data prior to being coupled. Thus the system will not only operate to identify individual components, it will also verify if they are correctly joined. This can be critical in those instances where a number of like connectors are to be joined in a particular pattern. In such instance, connectors may be securely joined but still inappropriately connected, and a system of the present invention can verify if such is the fact. 
     As noted above, the system of the present invention can be implemented in a variety of embodiments, including embodiments in which three or more components are joined. In such instance, the code member will be divided into a corresponding number of segments. It should also be noted that while  FIG. 1  depicts a body of optically readable one-dimensional bar codes being divided in a direction corresponding to the length of the individual bars, other embodiments of the present invention may be implemented utilizing coded bodies which are otherwise divided. 
     The foregoing is illustrative of particular embodiments of the present invention but is not meant to be a limitation upon the practice thereof. Other modifications, variations, and implementations of the invention will be apparent to those of skill in the art in view of the teaching presented herein. It is the following claims, including all equivalents, which define the scope of the invention.