EMV housing, housing part of EMV housing and use

Abstract

The invention relates to an EMV housing (1) for an electrical component (2), comprising at least a first housing part (3) and a second housing part (4), which are connected to one another by means of a sealing surface (5) and together enclose a volume (6) of the housing (1) in a liquid-tight manner, at least the first housing part (3) comprising a plastic material (7) and a metal material (8) enclosed by the plastic material (7), the metallic material (8) is arranged so as to be accessible at least in the region of the sealing surface (5) in order to make electrically conductive contact with the second housing part (4).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an EMV housing, a housing component of an EMV housing, and the use of an EMV housing. The housing or the first housing component is particularly used to ensure electromagnetic compatibility (EMV) in the arrangement of electrical components by shielding against the environment. Background Art

[0002] Shielding electrical or electrotechnical components is used to keep them away from electric and magnetic fields that occur particularly at high frequencies, or conversely to protect the environment from the fields emitted by the components.

[0003] Shielding is particularly carried out by conductive metal sheets, foils or layers (connected to the ground potential or reference potential or ground terminal). For example, metal-sprayed plastic films, aluminum foil composite papers, graphite layers and conductive paint layers. It is also known to coat a metal layer on a plastic housing.

[0004] The shielding part is particularly implemented as a housing or a housing component, wherein the housing encloses a volume in which at least one (electrical component to be shielded) is arranged. Such a housing is usually implemented as multi-component to ensure a conductive connection of each housing component to the ground terminal or reference potential.

[0005] Implementations in which the housing or housing component is (only) made of metal are very expensive. Implementations of plastic materials are cheaper, but shielding cannot be achieved by plastic materials alone. However, since a metal layer is to be coated on the plastic material, such an implemented housing or housing component is even more expensive than a metal housing.

[0006] In the case of a multi-component housing, it should also be noted that the volume enclosed by the housing is sealed with respect to the environment at least in a liquid-tight manner (and even in an airtight manner if necessary). For example, if a non-conductive sealing material is used there, the conductive connection of the individual housing components can only be made through connecting elements such as screws or similar elements. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The task of the present invention is to at least partially solve the problems in the listed prior art. In particular, a housing or a housing component for a housing is to be provided, which can be produced at low cost and at the same time can effectively shield electrical components.

[0008] A housing having the features according to claim 1, a housing component having the features according to claim 11, and the use of a housing according to claim 12 contribute to solving the task. Advantageous further developments are the subject matter of the dependent claims. The features individually cited in the claims can be combined with each other in a technically meaningful way and can be supplemented by the explanatory facts in the description and / or the details in the figures, wherein other implementation variants of the present invention are cited.

[0009] An EMV housing (hereinafter also referred to as "housing") for an electrical component (such as an inverter, in particular an inverter for a motor vehicle, a converter, etc.) is proposed. The housing at least comprises a first housing part and a second housing part, which are connected to each other via a sealing surface and jointly enclose the volume of the housing in a liquid-tight manner. At least the first housing part comprises a plastic material and a metallic material enclosed by the plastic material. The metallic material is arranged to be accessible at least in the region of the sealing surface for conductive contact with the second housing part.

[0010] The EMV housing is in particular a shape-stable housing, i.e., having no or very little elasticity and only undergoing plastic deformation. This is particularly true for the first housing part as well.

[0011] In particular, the metallic material (as the sole component of the first housing part) is used to shield the electrical component against electrical or electromagnetic radiation. In particular, the metallic material is implemented (in particular with a thinner wall or lower material thickness), so that at least substantially the shape stability of the first housing part is ensured by the plastic material. In particular, the plastic material is used to generate and maintain the required shape of the first housing part, while the metallic material is implemented or arranged to match this shape.

[0012] In particular, the metallic material can be implemented as a foil, a net, a grid, a fabric, a knitted fabric or a gauze. Here, the metallic material arranged within the first housing part is in particular arranged continuously ( in relation), so that by conductive contact with one area of the metallic material, all other areas of the metallic material are also conductively contacted with each other. Any conductive material is suitable as the metallic material, in particular a material with a conductivity between that of aluminum (low-cost material) and copper (material with the highest conductivity).

[0013] In particular, the metallic material is implemented as closed, i.e., in particular having no holes, openings or exposed parts. If there are holes (such as perforated foil), openings or exposed parts (such as net, grid, fabric-like, knitted fabric or gauze), the area share thereof in the total area covered by the metallic material is at most 50%, in particular at most 25%, preferably at most 10%, or even at most 1%.

[0014] In particular, the metallic material is arranged to be completely enclosed by the plastic material. In particular, the metallic material is located within the plastic material and is arranged spaced apart from the outer surface of the first housing part formed by the plastic material (except for the region of the sealing surface).

[0015] "Enclosed" (Umschlossen) in particular means that the metallic material is arranged to be embedded in the plastic material. For example, when manufacturing the first housing part using a two-component injection molding process, the metallic material is surrounded and injected by the plastic material. Here, in particular, the metallic material can also be partially arranged on the surface of the first housing part, thereby at least partially piercing or interrupting the surface of the first housing part formed by the plastic material.

[0016] In particular, the metallic material is not just a coating of the plastic material.

[0017] The metallic material is arranged to be accessible at least (or only) in the area of the sealing surface in order to make electrical contact with the second housing part. That is to say, in this area, the metallic material is in particular accessible, i.e., it is not just covered or hidden by the plastic material.

[0018] In particular, the sealing surface is (only) arranged in the contact area between the first housing part and the second housing part (or other housing parts). In the area of the sealing surface, the housing or the volume enclosed by the housing is sealed with respect to the environment of the housing (in particular in a liquid-tight manner, and if necessary even in a gas-tight manner). For this purpose, in particular, a seal or sealing material is arranged in the area of the sealing surface.

[0019] Since the metallic material is arranged to be accessible, it is in particular possible to make electrical contact with it (through the plastic material). In particular, the metallic material can be conductively connected to the second housing part (or other housing parts).

[0020] In particular, the contact between the metallic material and the second housing part is achieved by an EMC seal that is conductive and seals the housing part in a liquid-tight manner.

[0021] EMC seals are known in principle. In particular, they ensure a liquid-tight or even gas-tight connection between two components, and then these two components are electrically connected to each other through the EMC seal itself. Therefore, the EMC seal itself is conductive.

[0022] In particular, the metallic material can be accessed in the area of the sealing surface through a groove in the plastic material of the first housing part. In particular, the EMC seal is arranged in this groove.

[0023] Alternatively or additionally, the contact between the metallic material and the second housing part is achieved through a direct contact part, where the housing part is additionally sealed in a liquid-tight manner by a sealing element (seal). The sealing element is in particular non-conductive, i.e., it is not just an EMC seal. In order to create the direct contact, the metallic material can extend out from the plastic material and is thus arranged to protrude towards the second housing part in the area of the sealing surface. Alternatively or additionally, a protrusion can be provided on the second housing part, which extends to the accessible area of the metallic material in the first housing part.

[0024] In particular, the sealing surface is implemented to extend circumferentially all around the surrounding volume. Thus, the sealing surface extends around the corresponding housing component or the (partial) volume enclosed by the housing component. The corresponding seal (EMC seal and / or sealing element) extends in particular along the sealing surface, in particular also extending circumferentially all around.

[0025] In particular, the weight share of the plastic material in the weight of the first housing component is at least 60%, preferably at least 75%, particularly preferably at least 85%, or even at least 90%. If necessary, the weight share of the plastic material can also exceed 95%, or even exceed 99% or exceed 99.5%.

[0026] In particular, the metallic material (with or without holes) extends continuously over at least 80%, particularly at least 90%, preferably at least 95%, or even at least 99% of the surface portion of the largest side surface of the first housing component. The largest side surface of the first housing component is in particular the inner side facing the volume enclosed by the housing or the outer side facing the environment.

[0027] In particular, the material thickness of the first housing component is implemented to be relatively low, for example, between 1 and 5 mm, particularly at most 4 mm. In particular, the first housing component has a significantly greater extension length in the direction transverse to the material thickness, where generally it is greater than at least 20 mm, preferably greater than 40 mm. In particular, the extension length in the direction transverse to the material thickness is between 100 and 400 mm.

[0028] Thus, in particular, the largest side surface extending transverse to the material thickness includes at least 100 CM 2 , preferably at least 150 CM 2 , particularly preferably at least 200 CM 2 . In particular, the largest side surface includes at most 800 CM 2 or at most 600 CM 2 .

[0029] Here, the metallic material extends continuously in particular on the surface portion such that all parts of the metallic material in the first housing component are electrically conductively connected to each other.

[0030] The metallic material extends in particular from the enclosed volume and extends at least to the sealing surface, in particular to the EMC sealing surface or to the direct contact part. In particular, the metallic material does not extend beyond the sealing surface, the EMC seal or the direct contact part, especially at most not more than 10 mm, preferably not more than 5 mm.

[0031] In particular, the metal material is within the plastic material, and, if necessary, only outside the sealing surface, at least partially having a structured shape that deviates from a planar shape. For example, the structured shape includes folds (such as zigzag folds), corrugations (such as sinusoidal corrugations), or bulges and / or depressions.

[0032] In particular, at least 75%, especially at least 85%, preferably at least 90% of the weight fraction of the metal material has this structured shape.

[0033] In particular, the term "planar shape" refers to an area of the metal material (such as a foil, mesh, fabric, etc.) that is arranged directly adjacent to and (substantially) parallel to the largest side surface of the first housing component.

[0034] On the one hand, the structured shape can stabilize the geometry of the first housing component. On the other hand, the structured shape provides metal material surfaces pointing in different directions, so that the electromagnetic radiation of the electronic component is diffusely reflected.

[0035] In particular, the first housing component is a two-component injection molding, where the metal material is injection-molded (umspritzt) and surrounded by the plastic material.

[0036] In particular, in order to shield the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the electronic component, the volume is at least partially surrounded by the metal material forming the housing in a full circumferential direction.

[0037] Therefore, this metal material (and, if necessary, also different metal materials) is arranged in the first housing component and the second housing component (and, if necessary, may also be arranged in other housing components surrounding the volume).

[0038] In addition, a housing component of the EMV housing is proposed, where this housing component is the first housing component.

[0039] In particular, the entire EMV housing is (only) composed of a plurality of first housing components with corresponding designs.

[0040] A use of the EMV housing is also proposed, for use as an inverter for an electronic component.

[0041] In particular, the EMV housing is arranged for use in a motor vehicle, especially as a housing for an electrical component associated with the traction drive device or motor of the motor vehicle.

[0042] The embodiments related to the EMV housing are particularly applicable to the first housing component and its use, and vice versa.

[0043] The indefinite articles ("ein", "eine", "einer", "eines"), especially in the claims and the reproduced descriptions, shall be understood as indefinite articles and not numerals. Accordingly, the terms or elements introduced thereby shall be understood as occurring at least once, and in particular may occur several times.

[0044] For the sake of caution, it should be noted that the numerals used herein ("first", "second",...) are mainly (only) used to distinguish between multiple similar objects, quantities or processes, i.e., in particular they do not necessarily indicate any dependency and / or order between these objects, quantities or processes. If a dependency and / or order is required, it is explicitly stated herein, or is obvious to a person skilled in the art when studying the specifically described embodiments. As long as a component may occur several times ("at least once"), the description of one of the components may equally apply to all components or a part of the multiple components, but this is not mandatory. Description of the Drawings

[0045] The present invention and the technical background will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited by the embodiments given. In particular, it should be pointed out that the dimensions and ratios in these drawings and especially in the illustrations are only schematic. Among them:

[0046] Figure 1 : shows a known arrangement of an inverter and an electric motor;

[0047] Figure 2 : shows a side sectional view and an enlarged cutout of the inverter;

[0048] Figure 3 : shows a perspective view of the inverter;

[0049] Figure 4 : shows a side sectional view of a known embodiment of the inverter housing;

[0050] Figure 5 : shows a side sectional view of a first implementation variant (two alternative embodiments) of the first housing part;

[0051] Figure 6 : shows a side sectional view of an EMV housing having a first housing part according to Figure 5 ;

[0052] Figure 7 : shows a side sectional view of a second implementation variant of the first housing part; and

[0053] Figure 8 : shows a side sectional view of an EMV housing having a first housing part according to Figure 7Side sectional view of the EMV housing of the first housing part. Detailed Description

[0054] Figure 1 Shows a known arrangement of an inverter (electrical component 2) and an electric motor 15. This arrangement includes the electrical component 2 with the EMV housing 1, the electric motor 15, and their electrical connection 16 and signal conductors 17.

[0055] Figure 2 Shows a side sectional view and an enlarged cutout of the inverter. Figure 3 Shows a perspective view of the inverter. Figure 4 Shows a side sectional view of a known embodiment of the inverter housing 1. Figures 2 to 4 Will be described together below. Refer to Figure 1 the embodiment of

[0056] The electrical component 2, shown here as an inverter, is arranged in the EMV housing 1. The housing 1 serves to ensure electromagnetic compatibility (EMV) in the arrangement of the electrical component 2 by shielding it from the environment 18.

[0057] Shielding the electrical or electrotechnical component 2 serves to keep it away from electric and magnetic fields that occur especially at high frequencies, or conversely to protect the environment 18 from the fields emitted by the component 2.

[0058] This shielding is carried out by the conductive housing parts 3, 4 connected to the ground terminal 22. The housing parts 3, 4 enclose the volume 6 in which the (to be shielded) electrical component 2 is arranged. Here, a conductive connection of each housing part 3, 4 to the ground terminal 22 must be ensured.

[0059] In the case of a multi-part housing 1, it must also be noted that the volume 6 enclosed by the housing 1 is sealed relative to the environment 18 at least in a liquid-tight manner (and if necessary even in an airtight manner). For example, it is known to provide non-conductive sealing elements 11 in the region of the sealing surface 5 of the housing parts 3, 4 in contact with each other, where the conductive connection of the individual housing parts 3, 4 is ensured, for example, only or essentially by connection elements 21, such as screws (see Figure 4 ).

[0060] Figure 5 Shows a side sectional view of a first implementation variant (two alternative embodiments) of the first housing part 3. Figure 6 Shows a side sectional view of the EMV housing 1 with the first housing part 3 according to Figure 5 ... Figure 5 and Figure 6 Will be described together below. Refer to Figures 1 to 4 the embodiment of

[0061] The housing 1 comprises a first housing part 3 and a second housing part 4, which are connected to each other via a sealing surface 5 and jointly enclose the volume 6 of the housing 1 in a liquid-tight manner. At least the first housing part 3 comprises a plastic material 7 and a metallic material 8 enclosed by the plastic material 7. The metallic material 8 is accessible in the region of the sealing surface 5 in order to make electrical contact with the second housing part 4.

[0062] The EMV housing 1 is a dimensionally stable housing, without elasticity or with very little elasticity, and can only undergo plastic deformation. The same applies to the first housing part 3.

[0063] The metallic material 8 (as the sole component of the first housing part 3) serves to shield the electrical component 2 against electrical or electromagnetic radiation. The metallic material 8 is embodied with a thin wall or a low material thickness, so that at least substantially the dimensional stability of the first housing part 3 is ensured by the plastic material 7. Thus, the plastic material 7 serves to generate and maintain the required shape of the first housing part 3, while the metallic material 8 is embodied or arranged to match this shape.

[0064] The metallic material 8 can be embodied as a foil, a net, a grid, a fabric, a knitted fabric or a gauze. Here, the metallic material 8 arranged within the first housing part 3 is arranged in a continuous manner, so that by making electrical contact with one region of the metallic material 8, all other regions of the metallic material 8 also make electrical contact with each other.

[0065] The metallic material 8 (outside the currently accessible parts in the region of the sealing surface 5) is completely enclosed by the plastic material 7. Here, the metallic material 8 is located within the plastic material 7 and is arranged spaced apart from the outer surface of the first housing part 3 formed by the plastic material 7 (with the exception of the region of the sealing surface 5).

[0066] The metallic material 8 is arranged to be accessible only in the region of the sealing surface 5 in order to make electrical contact with the second housing part 4. In this region, the metallic material 8 is accessible, i.e., it is just not covered or hidden by the plastic material 7.

[0067] The sealing surface 5 is arranged only in the contact region between the first housing part 3 and the second housing part 4. In the region of the sealing surface 5, the housing 1 or the volume 6 enclosed by the housing 1 is sealed against the environment 18 of the housing 1. For this purpose, a seal embodied as an EMC seal 9 is arranged in the region of the sealing surface 5.

[0068] The contact between the metallic material 8 and the second housing part 4 is effected via the electrically conductive and housing-sealing EMC seal 9 of the housing parts 3, 4. The EMC seal 9 itself is electrically conductive.

[0069] The metallic material 8 is accessible in the region of the sealing surface 5 via a groove 19 in the plastic material 7 of the first housing part 3. The EMC seal 9 is arranged in the groove 19.

[0070] The sealing surface 5 is implemented to circumferentially surround the volume 6 entirely. Thus, the sealing surface 5 extends around the corresponding housing components 3, 4 and the (partial) volume 6 enclosed by the housing components. The EMC seal 9 also extends circumferentially entirely around the sealing surface 5.

[0071] The weight share of the plastic material 7 in the weight of the first housing component 3 is greater than the weight share of the metallic material 8.

[0072] The metallic material 8 extends continuously over approximately 95% of the surface portion of the largest side surface 12 of the first housing component 3. The largest side surface 12 of the first housing component 3 is the inner side surface facing the volume 6 enclosed by the housing 1, or the outer side surface of the first housing component 3 facing the environment 18.

[0073] The first housing component 3 is implemented to have a relatively low material thickness 20. The largest side surface 12 extends transversely to the material thickness 20.

[0074] The metallic material 8 extends out from the enclosed volume 6 and at least extends to the sealing surface 5 or the EMC seal 9. The metallic material 8 does not extend beyond the sealing surface 5, or only extends a small part beyond the EMC seal 9.

[0075] The metallic material 8 is within the plastic material 7, but only outside the sealing surface 5, and at least partially has a structural shape 14 deviating from the planar shape 13. The "planar shape 13" refers to the region of the metallic material 8 that extends substantially parallel to the directly adjacent region of the largest side surface 12 of the first housing component 3, for example in the region of the sealing surface 5 here.

[0076] Figure 5 Two alternative embodiments of the structural shape 14 are shown. The upper embodiment shows a sinusoidal corrugated structure. The lower embodiment shows a zigzag structure. In Figure 6 only the corrugated structural shape 14 is shown.

[0077] On the one hand, the structural shape 14 can stabilize the geometry of the first housing component 3. On the other hand, the structural shape 14 provides surfaces of the metallic material 8 pointing in different directions, so that the electromagnetic radiation of the electrical component 2 will be diffusely reflected.

[0078] The first housing component 3 is shown as a two-component injection molded part, wherein the metallic material 8 is injection molded and surrounded by the plastic material 7.

[0079] In order to shield the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the electrical component 2, the metallic material 8 that at least partially forms the housing 1 surrounds the volume 6 circumferentially entirely. Thus, the metallic material 8 is arranged in both the first housing component 3 and the second housing component 4. The second housing component 4 is entirely composed of the metallic material 8.

[0080] Figure 7 Shows a side sectional view of a second implementation variant of the first housing part 3. Figure 8 Shows a sectional side view of the EMV housing 1, with a first housing part 3 according to Figure 7 . Figure 7 And Figure 8 Will be described together below. Please refer to the implementation of Figures 1 to 6 , in particular to the implementation of Figure 5 And Figure 6 .

[0081] Different from the first implementation variant, in the second implementation variant, the contact between the metal material 8 and the second housing part 4 is carried out through the direct contact part 10, wherein the housing parts 3 and 4 are additionally sealed in a liquid-tight manner by the sealing element 11. The sealing element 11 is non-conductive, i.e., just not like the EMC seal 9 in Figure 5 And Figure 6 .

[0082] In order to produce the direct contact part 10, the metal material 8 extends from the plastic material 7 and is thus arranged in the region of the sealing surface 5 so as to protrude towards the second housing part 4 relative to the plastic material 7.

[0083] The sealing element 11 is arranged towards the environment 18 in the region of the sealing surface 5, i.e., outside the contact part 10. Alternatively, the sealing material can also be arranged towards the volume 6 in the region of the sealing surface 5, i.e., inside the contact part 10.

[0084] List of reference numerals

[0085] 1 (EMV) housing

[0086] 2 Electrical components

[0087] 3 First housing part

[0088] 4 Second housing part

[0089] 5 Sealing surface

[0090] 6 Volume

[0091] 7 Plastic material

[0092] 8 Metal material

[0093] 9 EMC seal

[0094] 10 Contact part

[0095] 11 Sealing element

[0096] 12 Maximum side surface

[0097] 13 planar shape

[0098] 14 structural shape

[0099] 15 electric motor

[0100] 16 connection

[0101] 17 signal conductor

[0102] 18 environment

[0103] 19 groove

[0104] 20 material thickness

[0105] 21 connecting element

[0106] 22 ground terminal

Claims

1. An EMC housing (1) for an electrical component (2), comprising at least a first housing part (3) and a second housing part (4), wherein the first housing part and the second housing part are connected to each other via a sealing surface (5) and jointly enclose a volume (6) of the housing (1) in a liquid-tight manner, wherein: At least the first housing part (3) comprises a plastic material (7) and a metal material (8) surrounded by the plastic material (7), wherein the metal material (8) is arranged to be accessible at least in the region of the sealing surface (5) in order to establish an electrically conductive contact with the second housing part (4).

2. The EMV housing (1) according to claim 1, wherein: The contact between the metallic material (8) and the second housing part (4) is established via an electrically conductive EMC seal (9) which seals the housing parts (3, 4) in a fluid-tight manner.

3. The EMV housing (1) according to claim 1, wherein: The contact between the metallic material (8) and the second housing part (4) is effected via a direct contact (10), wherein the housing parts (3, 4) are additionally sealed in a fluid-tight manner via a sealing element (11).

4. The EMC housing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The sealing surface (5) is designed to surround the volume (6) all around.

5. The EMC housing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The plastic material (7) accounts for at least 60% by weight of the weight of the first housing part (3).

6. The EMC housing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The metal material (8) extends continuously over at least 80% of the surface portion of the largest side surface (12) of the first housing component (3).

7. The EMC housing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The metal material (8) has at least partially a structural shape (14) outside the sealing surface (5) and inside the plastic material (7) that deviates from the planar shape (13).

8. The EMV housing (1) according to claim 7, wherein: At least 75% of the weight proportion of the metallic material (8) comprises the structural shape (14).

9. The EMC housing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The first housing part (3) is a two-component injection-molded part, wherein the metal material (8) is injection-molded around the plastic material (7).

10. The EMC housing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: In order to shield the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the electrical component (2), the volume (6) is surrounded all around by a metallic material (8) which at least partially forms the housing (1).

11. Housing part (3, 4) of an EMC housing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The housing parts (3, 4) are the first housing parts (3).

12. Use of an EMC housing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 10 for an inverter as an electrical component (2).

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