System and method using a hand-mounted force sensor to verify installation of connector-position-assurance enabled electrical connector

A method of using a hand-mounted force sensor to verify the installation of a CPA-enabled electrical connector comprising the steps of

• using at least one hand-mounted force sensor so that it will record a force exerted when depressing a locking button of a CPA-enabled electrical connector over a measurement distance;
• setting an insertion force threshold;
• depressing the locking button of a CPA-enabled electrical connector;
• making the locking button of the CPA-enabled electrical connector travel a measurement distance;
• measuring the force required to depress the locking button of a CPA-enabled electrical connector;
• recording the insertion force required to depress the locking button of the CPA-enabled electrical connector;
• comparing the force required to depress the locking button of the CPA-enabled electrical connector to the pre-determined insertion force threshold;
• passing the CPA-enabled electrical connector if the force required to depress the locking button of the CPA-enabled electrical connector was less than the pre-determined insertion force threshold;
• failing the CPA-enabled electrical connector if the force required to depress the locking button of the CPA-enabled electrical connector was greater than or equal to the pre-determined insertion force threshold;
• and
• providing an indication of whether the CPA-enabled electrical connector passed or failed.

The method of using a hand-mounted force sensor to create a force signature for a CPA-enabled electrical connector comprising the steps of using at least one hand-mounted force sensor so that it will record a force exerted when depressing a locking button of a CPA-enabled electrical connector over a measurement distance;

• setting an insertion force pass/fail threshold;
• defining a starting point as the point at which the force sensor is engaged with the locking button;
• defining an end point as the point at which the force recorded by the force sensor reaches a maximum threshold force that acts as a pre-defined stopping force;
• defining a pass point as a point between the starting point and the end point at which the force is a local maxima that is less than the pass/fail threshold;
• engaging the locking button with the force sensor and recording the force versus time until the force is equal to or greater than the maximum threshold force;
• designating the device under test a pass if it reaches a pass point prior to reaching the end point;
• and
• designating the device under test a fail if it reaches the end point prior to reaching a pass point.