Terminal assembly, electronic device and pressure sensor

Abstract

The terminal assembly comprises: a plurality of terminals extending substantially longitudinally, each terminal comprising an upper portion and a lower portion which extend longitudinally and are staggered transversely, and an inclined portion which integrally connects the lower end of the upper portion and the upper end of the lower portion, and obtuse angles are formed between the inclined portion and the upper portion and between the inclined portion and the lower portion; and a terminal button fixed to a lower portion of each terminal. According to the terminal assembly, the upper end and the lower end of the terminal are transversely staggered and connected through the inclined part, so that the terminal has certain rigidity and certain flexibility at the same time.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of sensor technology, and in particular to a terminal assembly, an electronic device and a pressure sensor. Background Art

[0002] In the braking system, the pressure detection of brake fluid is very important. Some existing pressure sensors use spring terminals with tightly coiled rigid outer ends to make electrical connections with external devices for reasons such as ease of assembly and economy. However, in actual use, it is found that under vibration conditions and high overload conditions generated by braking, there is a risk that the spring terminal and the external device will lose contact and the electrical connection will temporarily fail; and if the terminal is set as a rigid terminal, the electrical connection between the external device also has a greater risk of failure due to fatigue under long-term working conditions of vibration or braking overload. Utility Model Content

[0003] In view of the deficiencies in the prior art, the present application is dedicated to providing a terminal assembly to solve at least one of the above-mentioned technical problems.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present application provides the following technical solution: a terminal assembly, comprising:

[0005] A plurality of substantially longitudinally extending terminals, including an upper portion and a lower portion extending longitudinally and staggered laterally, and an inclined portion integrally connecting a lower end of the upper portion and an upper end of the lower portion, wherein an obtuse angle is formed between the inclined portion and both the upper portion and the lower portion;

[0006] and a terminal button fixed to the lower portion of each terminal.

[0007] Preferably, it further comprises a terminal auxiliary fixing element, wherein the terminal auxiliary fixing element is fixed to the upper portion of the terminal.

[0008] Preferably, the terminal auxiliary fixing member is fixed to a proximal upper end portion of an upper portion of the terminal.

[0009] Preferably, the terminal auxiliary fixing element is fixed to a middle portion of an upper portion of the terminal.

[0010] Preferably, the terminal auxiliary fixing element is molded on an upper portion of the terminal.

[0011] Preferably, the terminal auxiliary fixing element is plate-shaped and extends laterally.

[0012] Preferably, the outer wall of the terminal auxiliary fixing element is recessed from a portion located between two adjacent terminals to form an inner recess.

[0013] Preferably, each of the terminals is rotationally symmetric about a longitudinal axis, and the upper portion, the inclined portion and the axis of the terminal are not coplanar.

[0014] The utility model also claims to protect an electronic device including the terminal assembly, in particular a pressure sensor. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 A perspective view of a pressure sensor according to a preferred embodiment.

[0016] Figure 2 It is a stereoscopic view of the pressure sensor of the preferred embodiment with the shell hidden.

[0017] Figure 3 The pressure sensor of the preferred embodiment is along Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of AA is shown in FIG.

[0018] Figure 4 FIG. 1 is a top view of a pressure sensor according to a preferred embodiment.

[0019] FIG. 5( a ) is a diagram of the edges of several terminals of a preferred embodiment. Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of CC is shown in .

[0020] FIG. 5( b ) is a diagram of several terminals along another preferred embodiment. Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of CC is shown in .

[0021] Figure 6 The pressure sensor of the preferred embodiment is along Figure 4 A cross-sectional view of BB is shown in FIG.

[0022] Figure 7 It is a three-dimensional diagram of the support base of the preferred embodiment.

[0023] In the figure: 100, pressure sensor; 10, pressure introduction channel; 12, second guide groove; 1, pressure joint; 21, sealing ring; 22a, extended positioning part; 22, pressing edge; 2, cylinder shell; 30, shaft; 310, protruding positioning part; 31, supporting flange; 32, positioning groove; 33, end surface; 34, second yielding part; 3, terminal button; 41, supporting part; 42, first yielding part; 43, opening; 44, positioning notch; 45, guiding convex part; 4a, supporting surface; 4, supporting seat; 5a, upper part; 5b, inclined part; 5c, lower part; 5d, lower end; 5e, welding point; 5, terminal; 60, pressure sensing cavity; 61, pressure sensing circuit; 62, first guide groove; 6 , pressure sensitive element; 701, first part; 702, second part; 703, third part; 704, first connecting part; 705, second connecting part; 70, flexible board; 71, first circuit board; 72a, electronic component; 72b, electronic component; 72, second circuit board; 7, electronic module assembly; 8a, inner recess; 8, terminal auxiliary fixing element; 11a, stress isolation groove; 11, support plate; 1a, first positioning step; 1b, second positioning step; 1c, positioning groove; 3a, pressing surface; 43a, lower edge; 44a, convex rib; 45a, upper end of guide protrusion; 45b, lower end of guide protrusion; 46, hot riveting column; 47a, opening; 47, rib plate. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] The technical solution of the present application will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are exemplary and are only used to explain the present application, and cannot be interpreted as limiting the present application. In the following description, the same symbols are used to represent the same or equivalent elements, and repeated descriptions are omitted.

[0025] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that the terms "upper", "lower", "inside", "outside", "left", "right", etc. indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, or are the orientations or positional relationships in which the products of the present application are conventionally placed when in use, or are the orientations or positional relationships conventionally understood by those skilled in the art. They are only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as a limitation on the present application.

[0026] In addition, the terms "installed", "connected" and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or it can be the internal communication of two components. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in this application can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0027] It should be further understood that the term “and / or” used in the specification and corresponding claims of this application refers to any and all possible combinations of one or more of the listed items.

[0028] like Figures 1 to 4 As shown, in a preferred embodiment of the utility model, the pressure sensor 100 includes a shell (not marked) composed of a terminal 3, a cylindrical shell 2 and a pressure connector 1, and the shell defines an installation cavity (not marked). Among them, a pressure introduction channel 10 for introducing the pressure medium to be measured is provided in the pressure connector 1, and the outer end of the pressure introduction channel 10 is connected to an external device, such as a brake fluid storage tank (not shown). A pressure sensitive element 6 and an electronic module assembly 7 are arranged in the installation cavity. On the upper side, the pressure sensitive element 6 is fixedly sealed at one end of the inner side of the pressure introduction channel 10, and then receives the pressure of the pressure medium to be measured in the pressure introduction channel 10, and converts the pressure into a corresponding electrical signal. The electronic module assembly 7 is electrically connected to the pressure sensitive element 6, and then processes the electrical signal. The processed electrical signal is transmitted to an external device, such as a brake controller, through a plurality of terminals 5 fixed on the terminal 3. Among them, the brake controller and the brake fluid storage tank are usually rigidly fixed on a vehicle and other equipment. Therefore, in the prior art, when the equipment vibrates or the brake is overloaded, since the pressure connector 1 of the pressure sensor is fixed to the brake fluid tank, there is a risk of disconnection between the terminal 5 and the brake controller, resulting in temporary failure.

[0029] In this embodiment, the terminal 5 is designed as a special terminal structure to avoid the above defects. Specifically, the terminal 5 generally extends longitudinally, and includes an upper portion 5a and a lower portion 5c extending longitudinally and staggered laterally, and an inclined portion 5b integrally connecting the lower end of the upper portion 5a and the upper end of the lower portion 5c; wherein the lower portion 5c of the terminal 5 is fixed to the terminal button 3, and the lower end of the lower portion 5c extends inwardly into the mounting cavity of the pressure sensor 100 to be electrically connected to the electronic module assembly 7. In this way, the terminal 5 is given a "Z"-shaped structure and has a more suitable rigidity and elasticity. Preferably, an obtuse angle is formed between the inclined portion 5b and the upper portion 5a and the lower portion 5c. More precisely, the angle formed between the inclined portion 5b and the upper portion 5a is an obtuse angle based on the connection point between the inclined portion 5b and the upper portion 5a; the angle formed between the inclined portion 5b and the lower portion 5c is an obtuse angle based on the connection point between the inclined portion 5b and the lower portion 5c. In this way, the upper portion 5a and the lower portion 5c can have a relatively small lateral offset displacement, thereby reducing the overall lateral size, which is very beneficial or even necessary for the sensor.

[0030] Among them, the terminal 5 and the terminal button 3 constitute the terminal assembly 200 or a part of the terminal assembly 200. Preferably, the terminal assembly 200 also includes a terminal auxiliary fixing element 8, which is fixed to the upper part 5a of the terminal 5 by molding. In some other schemes, the terminal auxiliary fixing element 8 can also be arranged into at least two parts, and the parts of these terminal auxiliary fixing elements 8 are spliced ​​and fixed together and snapped to the terminal 5 at the same time. Among them, the terminal auxiliary fixing element 8 is preferably fixed to the adjacent upper end part of the upper part 5a of the terminal 5 or the middle part of the upper part 5a of the terminal 5 to increase the rigidity of the upper end part of the terminal 5. The terminal auxiliary fixing element 8 is preferably plate-shaped and extends laterally. The outer wall of the terminal auxiliary fixing element 8 is recessed by the part located between two adjacent terminals 5 to form an inner recess 8a, which can save some materials.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 5( b ), in some other schemes, preferably, each terminal 5 is rotationally symmetric about a longitudinal axis 30. Moreover, for each terminal 5, its upper portion 5a, inclined portion 5b and axis 30 are not coplanar; that is, if a cylindrical surface with axis 30 as the central axis and passing through the outer ends of these terminals 5 is defined, then the line between the generatrix of the cylindrical surface and the axis 30 and the projection of the inclined portion 5b on a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction have a non-zero angle α. More preferably, the angle α shown in FIG. 5( b ) is not equal to 90 degrees, but is an acute angle or an obtuse angle. This can reduce the overall resistance of the terminal assembly 200 to torsional torque, that is, under the action of a certain torsional torque, it is easier to buffer by twisting the terminal 5 to the position shown by the dotted line in the firm 5. It is easy to understand that it can also be applied to other electronic devices other than pressure sensors, especially electronic devices used under vibration conditions.

[0032] Please refer again Figures 1 to 4 . The pressure joint 1 and the cylinder shell 2 of this embodiment can be made of metal, and the lower end of the cylinder shell 2 can be welded to the first positioning step 1a formed on the pressure joint 1. The upper end of the cylinder shell 2 can be rolled inward to form a circle of the cylinder shell 2, and the pressing edge 22 presses downward a step-shaped pressing surface 3a formed on the lower part of the terminal button 3. The lower end of the terminal button 3 is supported downward on the support portion 41 formed on the upper end of the support seat 4, and the lower end of the support seat 4 is supported on the second positioning step 1b formed on the upper end of the pressure joint 1. Thus, the pressing edge 22 presses the terminal button 3 and the support seat 4 downward in turn to fix them to the pressure joint 1. A sealing ring 21 can be provided between the pressing surface 3a and the pressing edge 22.

[0033] Among them, the pressure sensitive element 6 can be a metal diaphragm type pressure sensitive element. The pressure sensitive element 6 includes a transversely extending diaphragm (not marked), and the periphery of the pressure sensitive element 6 extends toward one side of the pressure joint 1 to form a pressure sensing cavity 60, and the pressure sensing cavity 60 is connected to the upper end of the pressure introduction channel 10. A pressure sensing circuit 61 is provided on the surface of the side of the pressure sensitive element 6 away from the pressure introduction channel 10. The pressure sensing circuit 61 can include a Wheatstone bridge composed of multiple thick film resistors, so as to convert the pressure of the medium to be measured into a voltage signal. The support seat 4 is roughly cylindrical, and the pressure sensitive element 6 is located inside the support seat 4.

[0034] The electronic module assembly 7 may include a flexible board 70 and a first circuit board 71. The flexible board 70 is electrically connected to the pressure sensing circuit 61 and the lower end 5d of the terminal 5. Specifically, the flexible board 70 includes a first portion 701, a second portion 702 and a third portion 703 from bottom to top. The first portion 701 is electrically connected to the pressure sensing circuit 61. The third portion 703 is welded to the lower end 5d of the terminal 5 to form a Figure 4 As shown in the solder joint 5e, preferably, the third part 703 is supported upward on an end surface 33 formed by the terminal 3 protruding downward, and the end surface 33 is located on the inner side of the support flange 31. The second part 702 is attached to and electrically connected with the first circuit board 71. The first part 701 also includes a first connecting part 704 for transitionally connecting the first part 701 and the second part 702, and a second connecting part 705 for transitionally connecting the second part 702 and the third part 703. The first circuit board 71 can be vertically arranged and supported and fixed to a supporting surface 4a formed on the inner side of the supporting portion 41, so that the first circuit board 71 is confined inside the supporting portion 41. The first circuit board 71 can be bonded to the supporting surface 4a, or riveted to the supporting surface 4a by a plurality of hot riveting columns 46 protruding upward from the supporting surface 4a.

[0035] In some other solutions, preferably, the pressure sensor 100 may further include a second circuit board 72, which is fixed and electrically connected to the second part 702 from the upper and lower sides of the first circuit board 71. The lower surface of the first circuit board 71 is provided with electronic components 72b, and the upper surface of the second circuit board 72 is provided with other electronic components 72a. In this way, the available layout area of ​​the electronic components can be increased.

[0036] In this embodiment, the support seat 4 is provided with a first ditching portion 42 that allows the first connecting portion 704 to extend from the inside of the support seat 4 to the outside of the support seat 4. Optionally, the support seat 4 may also be provided with a second ditching portion 34 that allows the second connecting portion 705 to ditch. The upper end of the pressure introduction channel 10 may protrude upward to form a tubular portion (not marked), and the pressure sensitive element 6 is sealedly fixed to the upper end of the tubular portion. The outer wall of the tubular portion may extend laterally outward to form a support plate 11. A stress isolation groove 11a is formed between the support plate 11 and the root of the tubular portion.

[0037] In order to facilitate the circumferential positioning of the support seat 4 during assembly, the pressure sensor 100 may include a first positioning structure. Specifically, the first positioning structure includes at least one longitudinally extending guide protrusion 45 provided on the inner wall of the support seat 4, and a positioning groove 1c corresponding to the guide protrusion 45 provided on the upper end periphery of the pressure joint 1. In order to prevent the support seat 4 from slipping upward during assembly movement, the upper end of the guide protrusion 45 may pass over the outer edge of the support plate 11 toward the radial inner side of the pressure joint 1.

[0038] Preferably, at least one first guide groove 62 extending longitudinally may be provided on the side wall of the pressure sensitive element 6, and at least one second guide groove 12 extending longitudinally may be formed correspondingly on the edge of the support plate 11, and the second guide groove 12 is arranged longitudinally opposite to the first guide groove 62. Among them, the second guide groove 12 can be used to achieve circumferential positioning with the pressure joint 1 through the cooperation of the assembly equipment during assembly. In the process of longitudinally assembling the support seat 4 on the second positioning step 1b on the pressure joint 1, the guide protrusion 45 passes through the first guide groove 62 and the second guide groove 12 in sequence. In particular, the support plate 11 and the second guide groove 12 are both located directly above the positioning groove 1c. The upper end of the guide protrusion 45 passes over the outer edge of the second guide groove 12 toward the radial inner side of the pressure joint 1. In this way, after the support seat 4 is longitudinally assembled on the second positioning step 1b on the pressure joint 1, the support plate 11 can prevent the support seat 4 from slipping out upward, thereby facilitating subsequent assembly.

[0039] In order to make the upper part of the support seat 4 have a certain rigidity, the upper inner wall of the support seat 4 can be extended transversely to form a rib plate 47. Among them, the first guide groove 62 and the second guide groove 12 can have an arc surface, and the guide protrusion 45 has an arc surface accordingly. When the support seat 4 is assembled downward to the pressure joint 1, the guide protrusion 45 first passes through the first guide groove 62 downward, and then the lower end 45b of the guide protrusion first passes through the second guide groove 12 downward, and the upper end 45a of the guide protrusion passes through the second guide groove 12 radially inward, so it passes through the second guide groove 12 downward after a certain elastic deformation. In order to make it easier to deform in this process, the guide protrusion 45 can be set on the opposite sides of the circumference of the support seat 4. More preferably, the first yielding portion 42 can be set as an opening (preferably passing through the support seat 4 from top to bottom) and it can be set in the circumferential middle of the two guide protrusions 45. In a further optimization, a concave opening 47a is provided on the side of the rib plate 47 facing the first yielding portion 42, so that the two guide protrusions 45 are more easily pushed back radially outward from the upper end 45a of the guide protrusion by the second guide groove 12. In particular, the cross-section of the upper end of the guide protrusion 45 on the transverse plane decreases from top to bottom compared with the lower end, so that it is easy to manufacture and has a better guiding effect when guided in downward assembly, that is, a certain transverse error can be allowed during assembly, and the first guide groove 62 and the second guide groove 12 of more specifications and diameters can be adapted.

[0040] In order to facilitate the molding of the guide protrusion 45, an opening 43 can be opened on the side wall of the support seat 4, and it is best to extend the upper end 45a of the guide protrusion all the way to the lower edge 43a of the opening 43, that is, the surface of the lower end 45b of the guide protrusion is flush with the lower edge 43a of the opening 43.

[0041] In order to facilitate the circumferential positioning between the terminal button 3 and the support seat 4, the pressure sensor 100 may include a second positioning structure. Specifically, the second positioning structure includes a plurality of protruding positioning portions 310 that protrude downward from the support flange 31 and are arranged at intervals in the circumference. A plurality of positioning notches 44 are correspondingly formed at the upper end of the support seat 4, and the protruding positioning portions 310 are matched and arranged in the positioning notches 44. In particular, at least one of the two circumferential sides of the positioning notch 44 is provided with a longitudinally extending rib 44a, and the rib 44a is completely fixed by interference fit with the corresponding circumferential side of the protruding positioning portion 310.

[0042] In order to facilitate the circumferential positioning of the cylinder shell 2, the pressure sensor 100 may include a third positioning structure. Specifically, the third positioning structure includes a plurality of positioning grooves 32 extending longitudinally and arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction on the outer wall of the end button 3. The pressing edge 22 extends radially inward to form an extended positioning portion 22a that cooperates with the positioning groove 32. Preferably, the lower end of the positioning groove 32 terminates at the pressing surface 3a of the end button 3.

[0043] In some other solutions, preferably, the edge of the second portion 702 extends outward to form a grounding contact piece (not shown), which contacts the inner wall of the cylindrical shell 2, so that the cylindrical shell 2 is grounded to shield external electromagnetic interference.

[0044] The scope of the disclosure is defined not by the detailed description but by the claims and their equivalents, and all variations within the scope of the claims and their equivalents are construed as being included in the disclosure.

Claims

1. A terminal assembly, characterized in that: include: A plurality of terminals (5) extending generally longitudinally, comprising an upper portion (5a) and a lower portion (5c) extending longitudinally and staggered laterally, and an inclined portion (5b) integrally connecting the lower end of the upper portion (5a) and the upper end of the lower portion (5c), wherein the inclined portion (5b) forms an obtuse angle with both the upper portion (5a) and the lower portion (5c); and a terminal button (3) fixed to the lower portion (5c) of each terminal (5).

2. The terminal assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a terminal auxiliary fixing element (8), wherein the terminal auxiliary fixing element (8) is fixed to the upper part (5a) of the terminal (5).

3. The terminal assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that: The terminal auxiliary fixing member (8) is fixed to the vicinity of the upper end portion of the upper portion (5a) of the terminal (5).

4. The terminal assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that: The terminal auxiliary fixing element (8) is fixed to the middle part of the upper part (5a) of the terminal (5).

5. The terminal assembly according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that: The terminal auxiliary fixing element (8) is molded on the upper part (5a) of the terminal (5).

6. The terminal assembly according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that: The terminal auxiliary fixing element (8) is plate-shaped and extends laterally.

7. The terminal assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that: The outer wall of the terminal auxiliary fixing element (8) is recessed from a portion located between two adjacent terminals (5) to form an inner recess (8a).

8. The terminal assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: Each of the terminals (5) is rotationally symmetrical about a longitudinal axis (30), and the upper portion (5a), the inclined portion (5b) and the axis (30) of the terminal (5) are not coplanar.

9. An electronic device, characterized in that: Comprising the terminal assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. A pressure sensor, characterized in that: Comprising the terminal assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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