Connecting device comprising circuit board and housing

Abstract

The invention relates to a connection device (100) comprising a circuit board (1) and a housing (2), the circuit board (1) having a board body (10) which is at least partially surrounded by the housing (2). According to the invention, the plate body (10) has at least one spring tongue (12) surrounded by a recess (11), which spring tongue is clamped to a clamping lug (21) on the housing (2), forming a snap connection (3).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a connection device comprising a circuit board and a corresponding housing, wherein the circuit board has a board body that is at least partially surrounded by the housing. Background Technology

[0002] The circuit components of electronic devices are typically arranged on a circuit board (PCB), which has a board body as a carrier for the circuit components and their electrical leads. The structural integration of the circuit board within the device is achieved through a suitably constructed housing that at least partially surrounds the board body. For example, such a housing has a receiving space with a slit-like cross-section into which the circuit board is placed.

[0003] In applications where electronic devices experience movement, vibration, or impact during operation, such as in electronic devices mounted in motor vehicles, unwanted clicking noises may occur due to movement of the circuit board within the mounting gaps of the housing. As a prior art remedy, known solutions include, for example, using threaded connections, separate cover frames, or potting materials. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The objective of this invention is to provide an alternative embodiment of a connection device comprising a circuit board and a housing, which enables a secure fixation of the circuit board in a particularly practical manner, and further requires very little installation space.

[0005] This task is accomplished by the connecting device according to claim 1. Advantageous improvements of the invention are given in the dependent claims.

[0006] The technical teachings of the present invention disclose that the board body of the circuit board has at least one spring tongue surrounded by a notch, which engages with a snap-fit ​​lug on the housing in the case of forming a snap-fit ​​connection.

[0007] This invention is based on the concept of directly integrating the connecting device into the circuit board, i.e., in the form of a spring tongue, which is formed by providing a suitable recess in the board body. The spring tongue has a free end and a base section extending into the rest of the board body. Therefore, the spring tongue can deflect out of the plane of the board body under elastic deformation and engage with a corresponding rigid snap-fit ​​nose on the housing by elastic snap-fit. The snap-fit ​​spring tongue spans the mounting gap that already exists between the circuit board and the housing, thus eliminating the need for additional mounting space for the snap-fit ​​connection according to the invention. Furthermore, when the circuit board is pushed into the receiving space in the housing, the snap-fit ​​connection is automatically established by the spring tongue sliding on the snap-fit ​​nose and being deflected during the pushing process. In particular, the spring tongue has a receiving opening for receiving and securing the snap-fit ​​nose in the snap-fit ​​position. The snap-fit ​​nose can preferably be directly formed on the housing, or the housing can be provided with a suitable insert, etc., having a snap-fit ​​nose.

[0008] Specifically, the snap-fit ​​spring tabs are elastically pre-tightened, thereby forming a force-locking connection between the support section of the board body and the support section of the housing. In other words, the snap-fit ​​spring tabs press the circuit board against the housing. This creates a particularly effective fixation of the circuit board within the housing, thereby suppressing unwanted clicking noises caused by vibrations or impacts during operation.

[0009] In an advantageous embodiment, the base section of the spring tongue has a narrowing, such that the bending stress of the snap-fit ​​spring tongue is maximized in the narrowing region. Because this stress is concentrated in the narrowing region, the board body area adjacent to the base section is deloaded. This is particularly important when mechanically sensitive electronic components (e.g., ceramic capacitors) are present on the circuit board, to protect them from damage (e.g., crack formation) and the mechanical stress from the snap-fit ​​spring tongue. Furthermore, the narrowing can be used to absorb torque that may occur during the snap-fit ​​connection.

[0010] Depending on the specific configuration of the circuit board and housing, multiple snap-fit ​​connections constructed according to the present invention may also be provided. The board body may, for example, be formed of fiber-reinforced epoxy resin (FR-4 material) or have a metal core (IMS type). In terms of manufacturing, the notches and / or receiving openings for forming the spring tongue are preferably provided in the board body by milling. Attached Figure Description

[0011] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings and corresponding descriptions, using embodiments as examples. The drawings are in schematic form:

[0012] Figure 1 A circuit board for the connection device of the present invention is shown;

[0013] Figure 2a ,2b A cross-sectional view of the connecting device of the present invention is shown; and

[0014] Figures 3a to 3c The board body of the circuit board used in the connection device of the present invention is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0015] Figure 1 A top view of a circuit board 1 for use in the connection device of the present invention is shown. The circuit board 1 includes a board body 10 on which a microcontroller 15 is arranged—representing electronic circuitry. The board body 10 has a spring tongue 12 surrounded by a notch 11, which is configured to form a snap-fit ​​connection of the present invention with a snap-fit ​​nose of a corresponding housing. The spring tongue 12 has a receiving opening 14 in the region of its free end for receiving the snap-fit ​​nose. In the base section of the spring tongue 12 (adjacent to the rest of the board body 10), a narrowing 13 is formed as a local reduction in the width of the spring tongue 12. When the spring tongue 12 elastically deflects from the plane of the board body 10, the bending stress induced in the spring tongue is maximized in the region of the narrowing 13, i.e., locally concentrated. Thus, adjacent sections of the board body 10 bear only a small load in terms of stress.

[0016] Figure 2a and Figure 2b A cross-sectional view of the connecting device 100 of the present invention is shown, the connecting device comprising, according to... Figure 1 Circuit board 1 of the embodiment, wherein, Figure 1 The diagram also shows two corresponding cutting lines AA and BB. The connecting device 100 also includes a housing 2, which, exemplarily, surrounds the plate body 10 along a complete planar side and by means of flanges surrounding the three edge sides.

[0017] The spring tongue 12 engages with the snap-fit ​​lug 21 on the housing 2, forming a snap-fit ​​connection 3. The spring tongue 12 deflects from the plane of the plate body 10 and is elastically tensioned, wherein the snap-fit ​​lug 21 extends into the receiving opening 14 on the free end of the spring tongue 12. Due to the elastic tension of the snap-fit ​​spring tongue 12, a clamping action is generated, which results in a force-locked connection 4 between the support sections of the plate body 10 and the housing 2. As a result, the static friction between the plate body 10 and the housing 2 is increased such that vibrations or impacts caused by operation during the actual operation of the connecting device will not cause relative movement between the plate body 10 and the housing 2, and therefore no undesirable clicking sound will be produced.

[0018] Figure 3a , Figure 3b and Figure 3cA top view of the board body 10 with different configurations of the connecting device of the present invention is shown. These board bodies differ in the number and arrangement of spring tongues 12 for snap-fit ​​connection with the snap-fit ​​noses of the correspondingly constructed housings.

[0019] List of reference numerals in the attached diagram:

[0020] 1 Circuit board

[0021] 10 board body

[0022] 11 Notch

[0023] 12 Spring Tongues

[0024] 13 Narrowing section

[0025] 14. Reception opening

[0026] 15 Microcontrollers

[0027] 2. Shell

[0028] 21. Attached to the protruding nose.

[0029] 3. Buckle connection

[0030] 4-force locking connection

[0031] 100 Connecting device.

Claims

1. A connecting device (100), the connecting device comprising a circuit board (1) and a housing (2), wherein, The circuit board (1) has a board body (10), which is at least partially surrounded by the housing (2). The plate body (10) is characterized in that it has at least one spring tongue (12) surrounded by a notch (11), which engages with a snap-fit ​​lug (21) on the housing (2) to form a snap-fit ​​connection (3).

2. The connecting device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The snap-fit ​​spring tongue (12) is elastically tensioned, so that a force-locking connection (4) is formed between the support section of the plate body (10) and the housing (2).

3. The connecting device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The spring tongue (12) has a base section adjacent to the rest of the plate body (10), wherein the base section has a narrowing (13) such that the bending stress of the snap-fit ​​spring tongue (12) is maximized in the narrowing (13) region.

4. The connecting device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The spring tongue (12) has a receiving opening (14) for receiving the snap-fit ​​nose (21).

5. The connecting device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The notch (11) and / or the receiving opening (14) are milled into the plate body (10).

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