What is Position Assurance?

What is Position Assurance?

As the name would imply, position assurance is a mechanism to ensure that “something” stays in the correct position. In some cases, this feature is referred to as a secondary latch or secondary lock. There are two different types of position assurance commonly found in automotive connectors like FAKRA or our AUTOMATE Mini-FAKRA connector system; TPA and CPA.

Terminal Position Assurance (TPA)

Terminal Position Assurance (TPA) ensures that the terminals (or contact bodies) within a connector housing are fully seated into the housing using a secondary lock that slides into the connector housing. The lock slides into grooves on the terminal body and if the contact is not properly seated, the secondary lock will not properly engage. Once the terminal is fully seated, the lock can be inserted. Not only does the TPA offer assurance that the contact is properly seated but also helps to reduce movement of the terminals within the connector. To remove the terminal from the connector housing, the TPA must be removed first.

Figure 1: TPA lock (yellow) disengaged – Contact bodies are not yet fully seated and can be freely removed.

Figure 2: TPA lock engaged – Contact bodies are properly positioned and cannot be removed.

Connector Position Assurance (CPA)

Connector Position Assurance (CPA) is a mechanism designed to ensure that a pair of mated connectors stay together once mated. In the case of our AUTOMATE Mini-FAKRA connector system, the cable mount jack features a primary latch. The latch slides under a retention clip on the mating plug and secures the connectors in the mated position. The connectors can only be unmated by depressing the primary latch to release it from the mating connector’s retention clip.

Figure 3: Mating AUTOMATE Mini-FAKRA connectors. The primary latch is partially depressed.

To prevent the connectors from becoming unmated, there is a simple solution. By restricting the movement of the latch using a CPA device the latch cannot be depressed and the connectors will remain in the mated position.

Figure 4: Left - Connector Position Assurance Lock engaged. Right – CPA component (ordered separately).

Position assurance is critical to the installation of automotive interconnect, ensuring mated connectors stay connected (CPA) and contact bodies are fully seated in the proper position (TPA). These popular design elements have been carried over from traditional FAKRA to the AUTOMATE Mini-FAKRA connector series as both optional or standard features.

For more information on position assurance, please contact your local Amphenol RF sales rep.