Electric connector, motor assembly and head-up display device

Abstract

The invention relates to an electric connector, a motor assembly and a head-up display device. In one aspect, there is provided an electrical connector for an electric machine, the electrical connector comprising: a housing; and the spring grounding pin is arranged in the shell, and the spring grounding pin elastically abuts against a metal shell of the motor when the electric connector is connected to the motor, so that the metal shell is grounded. Therefore, the EMC problem in a sine wave driving mode can be effectively suppressed, and the reliability and stability of the HUD device are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of display technology, and more specifically, to electrical connectors, motor assemblies, and head-up display devices. Background Technology

[0002] Head-up display (HUD) devices are widely used in vehicles and other means of transportation, and can project driving information such as speed and navigation in front of the driver's field of vision.

[0003] In HUD devices, stepper motors are typically used to precisely drive optical elements to achieve stable projection of driving information. To achieve smooth operation and high-precision control of stepper motors and improve user experience, sinusoidal wave driving methods are now being used to control stepper motors.

[0004] However, while sinusoidal wave drive improves motor performance, its high-frequency operating characteristics can also cause electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) issues. EMC problems not only affect the normal operation of the HUD itself, causing image jitter and display abnormalities, but may also affect other electronic devices in the vehicle, such as in-vehicle communication systems and navigation systems, reducing the reliability and stability of the entire system. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This section provides a general overview of this disclosure, rather than a full disclosure of the entire scope or all features of this disclosure.

[0006] According to one aspect of this disclosure, an electrical connector for an electric motor is provided. The electrical connector includes a housing and a spring-loaded grounding pin. The spring-loaded grounding pin is disposed within the housing and resiliently abuts against the metal housing of the motor when the electrical connector is connected to the motor to ground the metal housing.

[0007] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a motor assembly is also provided. The motor assembly includes a motor and an electrical connector. The electrical connector includes a housing and a spring-loaded grounding pin. The spring-loaded grounding pin is disposed within the housing and resiliently abuts against the metal housing of the motor when the electrical connector is connected to the motor, thereby grounding the metal housing.

[0008] According to another aspect of this disclosure, a head-up display device is also provided. The head-up display device includes a motor assembly, which includes a motor and an electrical connector. The electrical connector includes a housing and a spring-loaded grounding pin. The spring-loaded grounding pin is disposed within the housing and elastically abuts against the metal housing of the motor when the electrical connector is connected to the motor, thereby grounding the metal housing.

[0009] According to the above technical solution, by integrating a spring-loaded grounding pin into the electrical connector, the spring-loaded grounding pin can elastically abut against the metal housing of the motor when the electrical connector is connected to the motor, providing a reliable grounding path for the motor's metal housing and guiding electromagnetic interference signals to the ground, thereby solving EMC problems. Furthermore, the spring-loaded grounding structure can compensate for assembly tolerances and absorb vibration, improving the reliability of the grounding connection; and it eliminates the need for external grounding components, fully adapting to the automated assembly process of the motor, saving installation space, reducing production costs, and improving production efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0010] The features and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure will become more readily understood from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings are not drawn to scale and some features may be enlarged or reduced to show details of specific components. In the drawings: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a motor assembly used in a HUD device, based on related technologies.

[0011] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of an electrical connector according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0012] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A schematic cross-sectional view of the electrical connector shown.

[0013] Figure 4 for Figure 3 An exploded view of the spring grounding pin of the electrical connector shown.

[0014] Figure 5 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of an electrical connector according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0015] Figure 6 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of an electrical connector according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0016] Figure 7 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of an electrical connector according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0017] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of an electrical connector according to the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0018] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of an electrical connector according to the sixth embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0019] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of a motor assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0020] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of a HUD device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and exemplary embodiments. It should be noted that the following detailed description of the present disclosure is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.

[0022] It should be noted that, for clarity, not all features of a particular embodiment are described or shown in the specification and drawings. Furthermore, to avoid unnecessary details obscuring the technical solutions of interest in this disclosure, only the device structures and parts closely related to the technical solutions of this disclosure are described and shown in the specification and drawings, while other details that are not closely related to the technical content of this disclosure and are known to those skilled in the art are omitted.

[0023] As mentioned earlier, the sine wave drive method can cause EMC problems, affecting the normal operation of the HUD device and reducing the reliability and stability of the entire system.

[0024] In related technologies, motor grounding is achieved by adding a copper lug grounding harness, thereby solving the EMC problem caused by sinusoidal wave drive.

[0025] Figure 1 A motor assembly 20' for a HUD device of the related technology is schematically shown. The motor assembly 20' includes a stepper motor 10', a copper lug 22', a motor bracket 24', a worm gear 26', and a spring 28'.

[0026] The stepper motor 10' includes a metal housing 12' and a stator coil (not shown) disposed within the metal housing 12'. The stepper motor 10' is used to drive optical elements, such as mirrors, within the HUD device to adjust the position and angle of the optical elements.

[0027] The worm gear 26' is fixed by the motor bracket 24' to ensure the precision of the stepper motor 10' transmission and the accuracy of the image projection.

[0028] The spring clip 28' can eliminate the gap in the shaft hole and avoid image jitter caused by the installation gap.

[0029] One end of the copper lug 22' is locked to the metal housing 12' of the stepper motor 10' by a screw, and the other end is connected to the ground terminal of the HUD device's main board through a wire harness, thereby connecting the metal housing 12' of the stepper motor 10' to the ground terminal to shield the electromagnetic interference generated inside the HUD device by the sine wave drive.

[0030] However, this solution has many problems in practical applications, especially in the automotive industry where the requirements for cost, space, production efficiency and reliability are extremely demanding.

[0031] First, adding the copper lug 22' would occupy a significant amount of space and would prevent automated assembly. During assembly, the wiring harness and screw structure of the copper lug 22' require additional space, which contradicts the automotive design trend towards lightweight and compact designs. Furthermore, the wiring harness of the copper lug 22' typically requires manual assembly, making it impossible to integrate into the fully automated assembly process of the stepper motor 10', thus reducing production efficiency and increasing costs and maintenance complexity.

[0032] Furthermore, automobiles are constantly exposed to vibration during operation. When the copper lug 22' is fixed to the metal housing 12' with screws, the rigid connection point of the screws is prone to slight relative slippage under vibration. This causes wear on the metal plating of the contact surface, leading to exposure of the base metal and rapid oxidation, forming an insulating oxide layer. This phenomenon causes a sharp increase in grounding resistance, ultimately resulting in grounding failure and failing to effectively solve EMC problems.

[0033] In response, according to embodiments of this disclosure, an electrical connector for an electric motor is provided. Hereinafter, reference will be made to... Figures 2 to 9 The electrical connector 100 is described in detail.

[0034] First, refer to Figure 2 The electrical connector 100 includes a housing 120 and a spring-loaded grounding pin 140.

[0035] Spring grounding pin 140 is disposed inside housing 120. When electrical connector 100 is connected to motor 10 (shown schematically in dashed line), spring grounding pin 140 elastically abuts against the metal housing 12 of motor 10 to ground the metal housing 12.

[0036] The housing 120 provides mounting space within itself for the spring-grounded pin 140, allowing for precise securing and isolation of the pin from the socket to prevent short circuits. Furthermore, the housing 120 provides electrical insulation to prevent current leakage between different contacts and between the contacts and the external environment. For example, the housing 120 can be a plastic housing.

[0037] The spring grounding pin 140 is elastic and can be squeezed and elastically deformed against the metal housing 12 of the motor 10 when the electrical connector 100 is connected to the motor 10, thereby forming a continuous and pressure-stable elastic contact between the spring grounding pin 140 and the metal housing 12.

[0038] This design integrates the grounding function into the electrical connector 100, replacing the need for an external, separate grounding harness. Therefore, when the motor 10 operates in a sinusoidal drive mode, the electromagnetic interference current generated by the motor 10 is conducted to the metal housing 12 and then through the spring-loaded grounding pin 140, which elastically abuts against the metal housing 12, to the grounding terminal of the external circuit. This effectively suppresses electromagnetic interference radiation and solves the EMC problem.

[0039] Moreover, this elastic contact can effectively resist vibration when the vehicle vibrates, preventing relative movement or sliding between the contact surface of the spring grounding pin 140 and the metal housing 12 of the motor 10, so that the grounding circuit formed always maintains a reliable connection, preventing electromagnetic interference, leakage or equipment failure caused by poor grounding or even grounding failure, and improving the stability and reliability of the electrical connector 100.

[0040] Meanwhile, the spring-grounded pin 140, through its own elastic deformation, can absorb and compensate for manufacturing and assembly tolerances. Therefore, in mass automated production, each product can achieve reliable physical contact, thereby improving product yield and performance consistency.

[0041] Furthermore, by integrating the spring grounding pin 140 into the electrical connector 100, it is possible to adapt to the automated assembly process of the motor 10, improving production efficiency. It also eliminates the need for an external grounding harness, saving installation space and optimizing the overall layout of the HUD device. Additionally, the spring grounding pin 140 has a lower cost, further reducing production costs.

[0042] Understandably, the spring of the spring ground pin 140 provides a continuous elastic force when the electrical connector 100 is subjected to vibration after being connected to the motor 10. This elastic force suppresses the micro-movement between the spring ground pin 140 and the metal housing 12, so as to maintain the elastic contact between the spring ground pin 140 and the metal housing 12.

[0043] This is highly advantageous in the operating environment of HUD devices and vehicles, effectively reducing the risk that vehicle vibrations may cause the spring grounding pin 140 to disconnect from the metal housing 12, resulting in poor grounding or failure. Therefore, EMC issues can be effectively and reliably resolved.

[0044] It is conceivable that, with reference to Figure 3 and Figure 4 The spring grounding pin 140 may include a pin portion 142, a contact portion 144, and a spring 146.

[0045] Pin portion 142 is used to electrically connect spring ground pin 140 to external circuitry (e.g., a HUD device or a vehicle's mainboard or wiring harness system). Pin portion 142 may be made of a conductive metal material, and for example, pin portion 142 may have a structure for connecting to external circuitry.

[0046] The contact portion 144 is used to contact the metal housing 12 of the motor 10. The contact portion 144 may also be made of a conductive metal material to provide good conductivity. For example, the contact portion 144 may be a metal probe.

[0047] Spring 146 is connected between pin portion 142 and contact portion 144 so that contact portion 144 abuts against metal housing 12 of motor 10 by elastic force.

[0048] In this way, when the electrical connector 100 is installed on the motor 10, the contact portion 144 is always in contact with the metal housing 12, preventing grounding failure caused by loose connection or poor contact, and improving the reliability of the electrical connector 100.

[0049] Furthermore, the spring 146 serves as a flexible connection between the pin portion 142 and the contact portion 144, allowing the contact portion 144 to automatically adjust its position during installation and form effective contact with the metal housing 12 of the motor 10. This reduces installation difficulty and improves production efficiency. Moreover, the spring 146 can absorb vibrations or external impacts during the operation of the motor 10 through its own deformation, preventing the spring grounding pin 140 from breaking or loosening due to fatigue, thereby extending the service life of the electrical connector 100.

[0050] It is conceivable that, with reference to Figure 5 The pin portion 142 may be provided with a first limiting structure 1422, which is used to axially limit the end of the spring 146 connected to the pin portion 142.

[0051] For example, such as Figure 5 As shown, the first limiting structure 1422 can be a boss that protrudes radially from the rod body of the pin portion 142, or other suitable forms of the first limiting structure 1422 can be conceived, which are not limited here.

[0052] In this way, the spring 146 can be prevented from slipping off the pin portion 142, thereby improving the stability and reliability of the connection between the spring 146 and the pin portion 142.

[0053] It is conceivable that, with reference to Figure 6 The contact portion 144 may be provided with a second limiting structure 1442, which is used to axially limit the end of the spring 146 connected to the contact portion 144.

[0054] For example, such as Figure 6 As shown, the second limiting structure 1442 can be an annular groove to engage or abut against the spring 146. Other suitable forms of the second limiting structure 1442 are also conceivable and are not limited here.

[0055] In this way, the spring 146 can be prevented from slipping off the contact portion 144, thereby improving the stability and reliability of the connection between the spring 146 and the contact portion 144.

[0056] It is understandable that the first limiting structure 1422 and the second limiting structure 1442 can be provided simultaneously to further improve the stability of the spring 146. Furthermore, during installation, the first limiting structure 1422 and the second limiting structure 1442 can serve as guide points, making it easier for the spring 146 to be installed onto the pin portion 142 and the contact portion 144, thereby further reducing installation difficulty and improving production efficiency.

[0057] It is conceivable that, with reference to Figure 7 The housing 120 may have a third limiting structure 122 inside it, which is used to prevent the spring grounding pin 140 from moving inside the housing 120.

[0058] For example, such as Figure 7 As shown, the housing 120 can be a plastic housing with an internal cavity for accommodating the spring grounding pin 140. The third limiting structure 122 can be a boss or groove formed on the inner wall of the cavity. The boss or groove cooperates with the corresponding structure on the pin portion 142 to achieve reliable limiting of the pin portion 142.

[0059] In this way, the pin portion 142 can be reliably held within the housing 120, which helps to stably hold the spring ground pin 140 within the housing 120.

[0060] Furthermore, the combination of the aforementioned multiple limiting structures securely holds the entire spring grounding pin 140 within the housing 120, preventing it from shaking or moving due to vibration or impact during operation. Especially in the harsh operating environment of automobiles, maintaining the correct posture and stable contact force of the entire spring grounding pin 140 ensures the long-term effectiveness of the grounding function.

[0061] It is conceivable that, with reference to Figure 8 In addition to the spring-grounded pin 140, the electrical connector 100 also includes at least one signal pin 160 for communication with the stator coil 14 of the motor 10 (in...). Figure 9 Electrical connections (shown as dashed lines in the middle).

[0062] Signal pin 160 is electrically connected to stator coil 14 to transmit electrical signals or control signals required for the operation of drive motor 10. Thus, electrical connector 100 can simultaneously perform grounding and signal transmission functions, thereby simplifying the connection structure between motor 10 and external circuits, reducing the probability of failure, and improving the overall reliability of motor 10.

[0063] It is conceivable that, with reference to Figure 9 The electrical connector 100 may include six pins, one of which is a spring ground pin 140, and five of which are signal pins 160.

[0064] For example, the five signal pins 160 may include four phase pins 162 and one power pin 164. The phase pins 162 correspond to the leads of the four phase windings respectively, and are used to control the rotation phase of the motor 10; while the power pin 164 is connected to a power source for transmitting electrical energy.

[0065] By integrating the spring ground pin 140, phase pin 162, and power pin 164 into the electrical connector 100, the electrical connector 100 can become a multifunctional interface, improving its applicability and compatibility.

[0066] It is understandable that the number of signal pins 160 can be set according to the type of motor 10 and control requirements, and there is no limitation here.

[0067] It is conceivable that motor 10 could be a stepper motor used in HUD devices.

[0068] HUD devices have high requirements for the EMC performance and reliability of stepper motors. By connecting the electrical connector 100 to the stepper motor of the HUD, the metal housing 12 can be grounded through the spring grounding pin 140, forming a low-impedance grounding path, which effectively solves the EMC problem.

[0069] According to another aspect of this disclosure, referring to Figure 10 A motor assembly 20 is also provided.

[0070] The motor assembly 20 includes a motor 10 and an electrical connector 100. The electrical connector 100 is connected to the motor 10.

[0071] According to another aspect of this disclosure, referring to Figure 11 A HUD device 1 is also provided (shown schematically in a large dashed box). The HUD device 1 includes a motor assembly 20 (shown schematically in a small dashed box).

[0072] For example, such as Figure 11As shown, the motor 10 of the motor assembly 20 is driven by the optical element 30 of the HUD device 1 (this connection is schematically shown in dashed lines) to drive the optical element 30 to move, for example, to adjust the position, angle, etc. of the optical element 30. The optical element 30 is... Figure 11 The optical element 30 is exemplarily shown as a reflector, to which the image light S emitted by the image generation unit 40 is incident and reflected before exiting from the HUD device 1. It is understood that the optical element 30 may also be other types of optical elements, and there is no limitation herein.

[0073] The electrical connector 100 of the motor assembly 20 is electrically connected to the grounding terminal of the external circuit via the spring grounding pin 140, thereby grounding the metal housing 12 of the motor 10.

[0074] In this disclosure, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used merely for descriptive purposes and should not be considered restrictive. Furthermore, although this disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments described and shown herein. Various changes to the exemplary embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope defined by the claims of this disclosure.

[0075] The features mentioned and / or shown in the foregoing description of exemplary embodiments of this disclosure may be combined in the same or similar manner with one or more other embodiments, combined with features in other embodiments, or substituted for corresponding features in other embodiments. Such combinations or substitutions should also be considered as including within the scope of protection of this disclosure.

Claims

1. An electrical connector for a motor, characterized in that, The electrical connector includes: Casing; and A spring-loaded grounding pin is disposed inside the housing. When the electrical connector is connected to the motor, the spring-loaded grounding pin elastically abuts against the metal housing of the motor to ground the metal housing.

2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The spring of the spring grounding pin provides continuous elastic force when the electrical connector is connected to the motor and subjected to vibration, so as to maintain the elastic contact between the spring grounding pin and the metal housing.

3. The electrical connector according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The spring grounding pin includes: The pin section is used to electrically connect the spring grounding pin to an external circuit. Contact portion for contacting the metal housing; and A spring is connected between the pin portion and the contact portion to provide elastic force so that the contact portion abuts against the metal housing.

4. The electrical connector according to claim 3, characterized in that, The pin portion is provided with a first limiting structure, which is used to axially limit the end of the spring connected to the pin portion.

5. The electrical connector according to claim 3, characterized in that, The contact portion is provided with a second limiting structure, which is used to axially limit the end of the spring that is connected to the contact portion.

6. The electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The housing has a third limiting structure inside it, which is used to prevent the spring grounding pin from moving inside the housing.

7. The electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes at least one signal pin for electrical connection to the stator coil of the motor.

8. The electrical connector according to claim 7, characterized in that, The electrical connector includes six pins, of which one pin is the spring grounding pin and five pins are the signal pins.

9. The electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that, The motor is a stepper motor used in a head-up display device.

10. A motor assembly, characterized in that, include: Electric motor; as well as The electrical connector according to any one of claims 1 to 9 is connected to the motor.

11. A head-up display device, characterized in that, Includes the motor assembly as described in claim 10.

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