Method for transporting and installing an electronic device and reusable transport and assembly module

Abstract

Method for transporting and installing an electronic device (2) comprising at least one first electrical contact element (6a - 6e), comprising the following steps: - Fixing the electronic device (2) in a recess or interior space (9b) of a reusable transport and assembly module (9), which has an actuating device by means of which the electronic device (2) is directed in a direction out of the recess or interior space (9b) such that access to the at least one first contact element (6a - 6e) is blocked by a protective element (10) which is arranged on the transport and assembly module (9), - Transporting the transport and assembly module (9) and the electronic device (2) to a connection area of ​​an electrical installation (1), - Removal of the protective element (10) so that the at least one first contact element (6a - 6e) is accessible, - Actuating the actuating device (12) provided on the transport and assembly module (9), whereby the electronic device (2) is moved in a direction directed out of the recess or interior (9b) into a contact position in which the at least one first contact element (6a-6e) is brought into electrical contact with at least one second contact element (7a-7e) provided on the electrical device (1) and - Removal of the transport and assembly module (9), characterized in that the actuating device (12) has a rotatably arranged element (12a), wherein a translational movement of the electronic device (2) can be generated by rotating the rotatably arranged element (12).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for transporting and installing an electronic device according to the features of claim 1 and a reusable transport and assembly module according to the features of claim 13.

[0002] There are a large number of “electronic” devices, such as control units, circuit boards, memory cards for computers, motherboards, etc., that have at least one contact element (e.g., a thin contact pin) protruding from the electronic device and are not surrounded by a protective housing.

[0003] Such electronic devices must be protected from mechanical damage during transport and until they are installed.

[0004] DE 295 01 057 U1 relates to packaging for circuit boards susceptible to ESD (Electrostatic Discharge). In particular, the packaging has a container for holding the circuit board with a closing pocket on the front and a grip strip that is slid onto the circuit board and can be grasped even after the closing flap has been opened.

[0005] FR 846 218 A relates to packaging which, in particular, allows the removal of individual parts stored therein.

[0006] US 2009 / 0016007 A1 relates to an assembly arrangement for an electronic module comprising a housing and a side frame, wherein the housing is movably arranged on a frame of the assembly arrangement.

[0007] US Patent 7,065,868 B2 discloses a technique for installing an electrical component on a circuit board or the like. The component is held in a holder.

[0008] The object of the invention is to provide a method for the safe transport and installation of an electronic device, as well as a suitable, reusable transport and assembly module for this purpose.

[0009] The invention is based on a method for transporting and installing an electronic device that has at least one first electrical contact element. The term "electronic device" is to be interpreted very broadly. In principle, it includes all electronic devices, especially those in which electronic components or connection elements or contact elements are exposed and subject to the risk of mechanical damage.

[0010] According to the invention, the electronic device is fixed in a recess or interior space of a reusable transport and assembly module in such a way that access to the at least one contact element of the electronic device is blocked by a protective element. "Blocked" here means that the contact element is "touch-protected," i.e., that it cannot easily collide with other objects during transport, thereby preventing damage.

[0011] The electronic device, fixed to the transport and assembly module, is transported by means of the transport and assembly module to a "connection area" of an electrical installation. The term "connection area" refers to the area where the contact element of the electronic device is electrically connected to the electrical installation in its installed state.

[0012] Before electrically connecting the electronic device to the electronic assembly, the protective element is "removed" so that at least one first contact element becomes accessible. "Removing" in this context does not necessarily mean that the protective element is permanently detached from the transport and assembly module. It is sufficient if the protective element is brought into a state or position in which the first contact element is accessible.

[0013] Subsequently, an actuating device provided on the transport and assembly module is activated. Actuating the device moves the electronic device in a direction out of the recess or the interior into a contact position where at least one first contact element comes into electrical contact with at least one second contact element provided on the electrical unit. This brings the electronic device into a position that can be described as the "installed position." The transport and assembly module can then be removed.

[0014] To put it simply, when the electronic device is "moved", the electronic device is moved in such a way that the at least one first contact element provided on the electronic device is brought into a contact position with the associated at least one second contact element provided on the electrical device.

[0015] According to a further development of the invention, a friction-fit and / or positive-locking connection is established by "moving" the electronic device between the electronic device and the electrical installation. The connection between the electronic device and the electrical installation can be established via at least one connecting element, which has at least one ball or which is formed by at least one ball. This results in a so-called ball clamp connection, which can be a friction-fit and / or a positive-locking connection.

[0016] For example, at least one connecting element may be provided on the electrical device which interacts with a recess or hole provided on the electronic device and into which the connecting element is inserted by friction and / or form locking.

[0017] The connecting element could, for example, be a sphere protruding from the electrical device. This sphere could be welded onto the electrical device. It could also be a plastic sphere, attached by friction welding or gluing, for example. In principle, however, spheres made of other materials are also conceivable and suitable.

[0018] According to the invention, the actuating device, by means of which the electronic device can be moved from its transport position relative to the transport and assembly module, comprises an element rotatably arranged on the transport and assembly module. It can be provided that a translational movement of the electronic device relative to the transport and assembly module can be generated by rotating the rotatably arranged element.

[0019] According to the invention, it can be provided that the connecting element is provided on the electrical device and that a recess cooperating with the connecting element is provided on the electronic device, or vice versa.

[0020] The electrical equipment may, for example, be a device of a vehicle or a vehicle component that is intended or designed for the manufacture of a vehicle.

[0021] The protective element mentioned above can be movably and preferably securely attached to the transport and assembly module. For example, the protective element can be designed to move back and forth between a first position in which access to the at least one first contact element is blocked by the protective element, and a second position in which access to the at least one first contact element is not blocked or is released by the protective element. The protective element can, for example, be slidably mounted on the transport and assembly module. For this purpose, the protective element can, for instance, be slidable in a groove of the transport and assembly module.

[0022] Alternatively, the protective element can also be formed by a removable lid, creating a protective film similar to that used in yogurt cups.

[0023] According to a further development of the invention, several first pin- or pin-like contact elements project from the electronic device. Accordingly, several second contact elements can be provided on the electrical device, each of which can receive one of the first contact elements.

[0024] Furthermore, at least one spring element may be provided. In this context, a spring element is understood to be an element with which the electronic device can be elastically fixed in the recess or in the interior of the transport and assembly module by friction and / or form-fitting action. The at least one spring element is therefore only intended to hold the electronic device "temporarily," i.e., at least during transport, in or on the transport and assembly module.

[0025] Preferably, the at least one spring element is arranged on the electronic device. The at least one spring element can, for example, be formed by a clamp-like spring element.

[0026] As mentioned above, the invention relates not only to the method for transporting and installing an electronic device described above, but also to a suitable reusable transport and assembly module for transporting and installing an electronic device. The transport and assembly module according to the invention comprises a housing-like component which has a recess or interior space in which an electronic device is located or into which an electronic device can be inserted. The transport and assembly module further comprises a protective element by which the recess or interior space can be closed when the electronic device is located therein.

[0027] Furthermore, it has an actuating device by means of which the electronic device can be moved in a direction that is directed out of the recess or the interior.

[0028] For high-volume production applications, electronic devices such as control units, memory cards, etc., can be transported and installed robotically using such a reusable transport and assembly module. For example, a robot can sequentially remove transport and assembly modules from a transport container, each containing an electronic device to be installed. The robot then places such a transport and assembly module at a connection point of an "electrical device," which could be, for example, terminal blocks or contact rails of a vehicle or vehicle component being manufactured.

[0029] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1. A top view of an electrical installation formed by two supply rails; Fig. 2 a side view of the in Fig. 1 electrical device shown with an already installed electronic device; Fig. 3 a sectional view of the arrangement of Fig. 2, in which the electrical contact is recognizable; and Fig. 4 an electronic device arranged for transport in a transport and assembly module.

[0030] Fig. Figure 1 shows an electrical device 1, which has a first electrical supply rail 1a and a second electrical supply rail 1b. A contact surface 1c and 1d, respectively, is provided on each of the supply rails 1a and 1b.

[0031] An electronic device 2, which could be, for example, a control unit, a memory card, a circuit board populated with electronic components, etc., is located between the two supply rails 1a and 1b. A heat sink 2a may be provided on the electronic device 2.

[0032] In the embodiment shown here, the electronic device 2 is attached to the electrical device 1 at four fastening points 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, which will be explained in more detail later.

[0033] Fig. Figure 2 shows a side view of the electrical device 1 and the electronic device 2 installed on or attached to it. The electronic device 2 is shown here as a circuit board-like element on which several electronic components 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e are arranged.

[0034] The two supply rails 1a, 1b of the electrical device 1 are connected to each other via a transverse plate 1e. Four mounting points 3a - 3d are located on the top side of the transverse plate 1e (see figure). Fig. 1) One sphere 4a and one sphere 4b respectively point upwards. The two spheres 4a, 4b can be welded, glued, or otherwise attached to the top of the transverse plate 1e. The spheres 4a, 4 serve as connecting elements for joining or fixing the electronic device 2.

[0035] For this purpose, the fastening points 3a - 3d (see below) are located at the following points: Fig. 1) Through holes are provided in the electronic device 2 or in the circuit board of the electronic device 2, which are slightly smaller than the diameter of the spheres 4a, 4b. The circuit board of the electronic device 2 is elastic at least to such an extent that the slightly larger spheres 4a, 4b can be pushed through the through holes, thereby creating a friction-fit or form-fit ball clamping connection.

[0036] As from Fig. As can be seen in Figure 2, two flexible contact springs 5a, 5b protrude from the top of the electronic device, pressing against the contact surfaces 1c and 1d of the contact rails 1a and 1b respectively, thereby establishing an electrical contact.

[0037] Fig. Figure 3 shows a cross-section through the in Fig. The arrangement shown in Figure 2 is as follows. Several pin-like or stud-like first contact elements 6a-6e protrude from the underside of the circuit board of the electronic device 2. These first contact elements engage with or electrically contact second contact elements 7a-7e. The second contact elements 7a-7e can be connected to data lines of a bus system, e.g., CAN bus, Flex-Ray, etc.

[0038] In addition to the first contact elements 6a - 6e, further contact elements 6f or 6g may be provided, via which the electronic device 2 is supplied with power from additional supply rails 8a or 8b.

[0039] Fig. Figure 4 shows a transport and assembly module 9, which has a housing-like component 9a in which an interior space 9b is provided. The electronic device 2 is arranged in the interior space 9b. The contact springs 5a, 5b of the electronic device 2 engage in detent recesses 9c, 9d, which are provided on an inner surface of the interior space 9b. This holds the electronic device 2 in the interior space 9b.

[0040] To protect the first contact elements 6a - 6e from mechanical damage during transport, the interior 9b and thus access to the first contact elements 6a - 6e is blocked by a protective element 10, which here is formed by a plate arranged to be slidable in the direction of an arrow 11.

[0041] It may be provided that the electronic device 2 is delivered by its manufacturer fixed in the transport and assembly module 9, with the protective element 10 in the delivery state in the Fig. 4 is located in the position shown.

[0042] To install the electronic device, the transport and assembly module 9 is used, as shown in Fig. 4 shown, to the electrical device 1 (see. Fig. 1 or 2). The protective element 10 is then moved laterally in the direction of arrow 11, thereby releasing access to the first contact elements 6a - 6e.

[0043] In a further step, an actuating device 12, which has a rotatable actuating element 12a, is actuated. By rotating the actuating element 12a, two ejector pins 12b and 12c are moved downwards. The ejector pins 12b and 12c push the electronic device 2 downwards out of the interior 9b towards the second contacts 7a and 7e. In doing so, the electronic device 2 is pressed onto the balls 4a and 4b and thus mechanically fixed. Simultaneously, as the downward pressure continues, the first contacts 6a and 6e engage with their respective second contacts 7a and 7e, so that the electronic device 2 is connected not only mechanically but also electrically.

[0044] Once the target position of electronic device 2 is reached, the transport and assembly module is removed.

Claims

[1] Method for transporting and installing an electronic device (2) comprising at least one first electrical contact element (6a - 6e), comprising the following steps: - Fixing the electronic device (2) in a recess or interior space (9b) of a reusable transport and assembly module (9), which has an actuating device by means of which the electronic device (2) is directed in a direction out of the recess or interior space (9b) such that access to the at least one first contact element (6a - 6e) is blocked by a protective element (10) which is arranged on the transport and assembly module (9), - Transporting the transport and assembly module (9) and the electronic device (2) to a connection area of ​​an electrical installation (1), - Removal of the protective element (10) so that the at least one first contact element (6a - 6e) is accessible, - Actuating the actuating device (12) provided on the transport and assembly module (9), whereby the electronic device (2) is moved in a direction directed out of the recess or interior (9b) into a contact position in which the at least one first contact element (6a-6e) is brought into electrical contact with at least one second contact element (7a-7e) provided on the electrical device (1) and - Removal of the transport and assembly module (9), characterized by , that the actuating device (12) has a rotatably arranged element (12a), wherein a translational movement of the electronic device (2) can be generated by rotating the rotatably arranged element (12). [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized by, that by moving the electronic device (2) a friction-fit and / or form-fit connection is established between the electronic device (2) and the electrical device (1) via at least one connecting element (4a, 4b) which has at least one ball or is formed by at least one ball. [3] Method according to claim 2, characterized by , that the at least one connecting element (4a, 4b) is provided on the electrical device (1) and that the electronic device (2) has a recess or hole into which the connecting element (4a, 4b) is inserted by friction and / or form locking. [4] Method according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized by , that the connecting element (4a, 4b) is a sphere projecting from the electrical device (1). [5] Method according to claim 4, characterized by that the ball is welded onto the electrical device. [6] Method according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized by , that the at least one connecting element is provided on the electrical device (1) and on the electronic device (2) a recess cooperating with the connecting element (4a, 4b), or vice versa. [7] Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by , that the electrical device (1) is a device of a vehicle to be manufactured or of a vehicle component intended or designed for the manufacture of a vehicle. [8] Method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by , that the protective element (10) on the transport and assembly module (9) is movable back and forth between a first position in which access to the at least one first contact element (6a-6e) is blocked and a second position in which access to the at least one first contact element (6a - 6e) is not blocked or is released by the protective element (10). [9] Method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by , that the protective element (10) is movable in a groove of the transport and assembly module. [10] Method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by , that several pin- or pin-like first contact elements (6a - 63) protrude from the electronic device (2), and that several second contact elements (7a, 7e) are provided on the electrical device (1), in each of which one of the first contact elements (6a - 6e) can be received. [11] Method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by , that at least one spring element (5a, 5b) is provided, wherein the electronic device (2) can be fixed in the recess or in the interior (9b) of the transport and assembly module (9) by means of a spring element (5a, 5b) by friction and / or form locking. [12] Method according to claim 11, characterized by, that the at least one spring element (5a, 5b) is arranged on the electronic device (2). [13] Reusable transport and assembly module (9) for transporting and installing an electronic device (2), with - a housing-like component (9a) which has a recess or interior space (9b) in which the electronic device (2) is located or into which the electronic device (2) can be inserted, and a protective element (10) arranged on the transport and assembly module (9) by which the recess or interior space (9b) can be closed when the electronic device (2) is located therein, wherein the transport and assembly module (9) - has an actuating device (12) by means of which the electronic device (2) can be moved out of the recess or the interior (9b) in one direction, wherein the actuating device (12) has a rotatably arranged element (12a), wherein a translational movement of the electronic device (2) can be generated by rotating the rotatably arranged element (12a).

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