Electrical connector assembly having a connector position assurance device with a data matrix reveal

An electrical connector assembly comprising:

• an electrical connector for mating with a mating connector, the electrical connector including a connector housing holding contacts, the electrical connector including a latching element, the electrical connector including an actuation element;
• an outer housing including an outer wall surrounding a cavity receiving the electrical connector, the outer housing including a latch configured to be operably coupled to the latching element to secure the electrical connector in the cavity, the outer housing including a blocking surface;
• a connector position assurance (CPA) device coupled to the outer housing, the CPA device movable between a pre-stage position and a seated position, the CPA device including a CPA element coupled to the blocking surface in the pre-stage position, wherein the blocking surface blocks the CPA device from moving from the pre-stage position to the seated position, the CPA element configured to interface with the actuation element of the electrical connector, wherein the actuation element is configured to move the CPA element to a clearance position released from the blocking surface when the electrical connector is fully inserted into the cavity, wherein movement of the CPA device into the seated position provides a mechanical indication that the electrical connector is properly positioned within the cavity of the outer housing and wherein movement of the CPA device is prevented when the electrical connector is not fully inserted in the outer housing;
• and
• a data matrix including a first data matrix portion and a second data matrix portion, the first data matrix portion coupled to the outer housing, the second data matrix portion coupled to the CPA device and movable with the CPA device relative to the first data matrix portion, wherein the first and second data matrix portions are separated from each other when the CPA device is in the pre-stage position to form a split data matrix, and wherein the first and second data matrix portions are aligned adjacent each other when the CPA device is in the seated position to form a united data matrix, the split data matrix being unscannable and the united data matrix being scannable by a data scanning device.

An electrical connector system comprising:

• an electrical connector assembly including an outer housing holding an electrical connector and a connector position assurance (CPA) device, the electrical connector including a connector housing holding contacts, the electrical connector including a latching element, the electrical connector including an actuation element, the outer housing including an outer wall surrounding a cavity receiving the electrical connector, the outer housing including a mating assist tab, the outer housing including a latch configured to be operably coupled to the latching element to secure the electrical connector in the cavity, the outer housing including a blocking surface, the CPA device movable between a pre-stage position and a seated position, the CPA device including a CPA element coupled to the blocking surface in the pre-stage position, wherein the blocking surface blocks the CPA device from moving from the pre-stage position to the seated position, the CPA element configured to interface with the actuation element of the electrical connector, wherein the actuation element is configured to move the CPA element to a clearance position released from the blocking surface when the electrical connector is fully inserted into the cavity, wherein movement of the CPA device into the seated position provides a mechanical indication that the electrical connector is properly positioned within the cavity of the outer housing and wherein movement of the CPA device is prevented when the electrical connector is not fully inserted in the outer housing;
• a mating connector assembly including a mating housing holding a mating electrical connector and a mating assist device, the mating electrical connector including mating contacts configured to be mated with the contacts of the electrical connector, the mating assist device including a lever configured to engage the mating assist tab and configured to drive at least one of the mating connector assembly and the electrical connector assembly in a mating direction as the lever is rotated between an unactuated position and an actuated position;
• and
• a data matrix including a first data matrix portion and a second data matrix portion, the first data matrix portion coupled to the lever and movable with the lever between the actuated position and the unactuated position, the second data matrix portion coupled to the CPA device and movable with the CPA device, wherein the first and second data matrix portions are separated from each other when the CPA device is in the pre-stage position to form a split data matrix, and wherein the first and second data matrix portions are aligned adjacent each other when the CPA device is in the seated position to form a united data matrix, the split data matrix being unscannable and the united data matrix being scannable by a data scanning device.