Cable Navigation Tree

The Cable Navigation Tree includes all objects that are necessary to set up a cable assembly. Before presenting all available objects there should be an explanation on the general handling first.

General handling

Inside the Cable Navigation Tree the user is able to:

• Click on the small + symbol in order to expand that branch of the tree

• Click on the small - symbol in order to collapse that branch of the tree

• Double-click on a folder in order to open certain dialogs automatically

• Right-mouse-click on a selected item in order to open the context depending popup menu

On most objects the user can perform standard operations like:

• Copy & paste

• Move & delete

Overview over available objects

 The figure below shows the Cable Navigation Tree with the expanded Library folder:

The user can confine the number of displayed element types in the tree by using the pull-down menu at the top of the frame. By default, "All Elements" is selected and therefore all types of elements (Library,  Nodes, Segments, ...) are shown. If the user e.g. selects only "Nodes" the available "Nodes" will be presented as shown in the figure below:

Only selected items

Another option to confine the number of displayed elements is provided by the flag Only selected items. It enables the visualization of only those items which were selected by the user. The difference between tagging the button or not is shown in the two figures below:

Filter

The Filter field below the Cable Navigation Tree enables the group selection of items which own the same string in their name.

Select connected frame

The "Select connected" frame enables to control the automatic selection feature. Hereby, the program selects even those items that are related to items actually selected by the user. The figure below shows that Cables and Routes are tagged. If now the user selects the Signal R1_LIFY_1qmm00_1, not only the selected signal itself gets highlighted, but also the cables and the routes that belong to it:

The following section will give an overview on all elements of the Cable Navigation Tree.

Library / Materials

The Materials library includes all specifications of conductive or dielectric materials necessary for the further definition of cables.

Library / Cables

There are five different types of cables which enable the set up of any complex harness:

• Single Wires is the basic type allowing the definition of a single conductive wire coated with an insulating material.

• Twisted Cables allows the definition of a cable consisting of two or more single wires twisted around themselves within a specified length of turn.

• Ribbon Cables enables the attaching of single wires along a line within a certain space in between.

• Coaxial Cables allows the definition of a coaxial cable consisting of an inner conductive wire, a corresponding conductive screen, an inner insulator between the inner wire and the screen and an outer insulator coated around the screen.

• Cable Groups is the most flexible type enabling the set up of any group of cables consisting of any number of single wires, twisted cables, ribbon cables, coaxial cables and already defined cable groups. In addition it allows to define a conductive screen and/or any insulating material that encloses the whole cable group.

Default Settings

The default materials for five specific basic objects can be edited here:

• Conductor material (default: "Cu")

• Environment material (default: "Air")

• Insulator material (default: "PE")

• Screen material (default: "Cu")

• Junction material (default: "Cu"). Junctions are used to connect different pins inside a connector via a small resistor. In order to determine the resistance of a junction not only the material but also the radius of the junction must be defined.

Nodes, Segments, Routes, Cables Signals

• Nodes determine the location of a possible cable assembly in the 3D space.

• Segments connect certain nodes and establish the basic topology.

• Routes are paths through the topology and connect two (or more) end nodes. Any number of cables can be assigned to a route.

• The Cables folder include all cables which are instantiated in the predefined routes

• Every wire inside a cable generates a separate Signal. All signals from all cables that are put in the predefined routes are listed in the Signals folder.

Connectors / Junctions

Introducing Connectors at the end of a cable harness is not mandatory but can enhance the overview and the handling of the harness model inside a further network analysis. The advantage are:

• The pins can be renamed by the user. The schematic block afterwards is more easy to read and understand.

• Different cable ends (terminals) can be connected to one pin inside a connector. This acts as a short between the cable terminals and the corresponding pin won't appear in the schematic block anymore.

• The pins inside a connector can be connected via Junctions as well. This also acts as a short between the pins and they won't appear in the schematic block anymore.