A grounding spring and electronic device
By designing the positioning, insertion, elasticity, and contact structure of the grounding spring, the problems of existing grounding springs and double-headed contact springs being unable to seal and adapt to complex spaces were solved, achieving stable contact and low-cost assembly of electronic equipment.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SUZHOU LEEKR TECH CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-08-11
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-30
AI Technical Summary
Existing grounding springs and double-ended contact springs cannot form an effective seal with the plastic housing of the electronic control unit, and their size, shape and installation direction cannot adapt to the complex internal space environment of electronic equipment, increasing assembly complexity and cost.
A grounding spring is designed, including a positioning part, an insertion part, an elastic part, and a contact part. The positioning part passes through an external insulator and is inserted into a printed circuit board. The elastic part provides elastic contact, and the contact part is connected to an external grounding device. A sealing groove is used in the electronic device to achieve sealing.
This achieves effective sealing between the grounding spring and electronic equipment, reduces assembly complexity and cost, improves contact stability and sealing effect, and enhances assembly adaptability.
Smart Images
Figure CN224438011U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the field of grounding springs, and in particular to a grounding spring and electronic device. Background Technology
[0002] Electronic control units (ECUs) are grounded via grounding springs. Whether using traditional grounding springs or double-ended contact grounding springs, their core operating mechanism relies on the free expansion and contraction of an elastic structure to achieve reliable contact. To accommodate the spring's expansion and contraction, for grounding springs, the ECU housing must have through-hole mounting slots to allow for free expansion and contraction; for double-ended contact grounding springs, the housing must have open mounting slots or windows to accommodate the spring. These slots or windows compromise the integrity of the ECU housing, preventing the ECU from achieving effective secondary sealing after the spring or spring is installed. Any attempt to seal will directly hinder the necessary movement of the spring, leading to contact failure or spring damage, which directly results in the inability to seal the ECU. Moisture, dust, and chemical contaminants can easily enter the ECU through these unsealed openings, corroding precision electronic components, causing short circuits, signal interference, and functional failures, severely reducing the ECU's reliability and lifespan.
[0003] Meanwhile, existing contact springs (especially dual-point contact springs) typically require pre-drilled holes / slots of specific shapes and sizes for installation. These holes and slots often occupy a large, regular space. The internal space of an ECU is usually extremely compact and complex, containing components of varying heights, connectors, PCB traces, and heat dissipation structures. The size, shape, and installation orientation requirements of existing contact springs make it difficult to flexibly adapt to this complex three-dimensional spatial environment. When designing ECU layouts, it is often necessary to prioritize, or even be forced to accommodate, the installation position and space requirements of grounding contact springs, rather than arranging them according to the optimal electrical or mechanical layout, thus limiting design freedom. The installation of some dual-point contact springs may require specific tools or complex assembly steps, increasing assembly complexity and cost, and impacting production efficiency. Summary of the Invention
[0004] This application addresses the problems in existing technologies where grounding springs and double-ended contact types cannot form an effective seal with the plastic housing of the electronic control unit; and where the size, shape, and installation direction of grounding springs and double-ended contact types are incompatible with the complex internal space of electronic equipment, increasing assembly complexity and cost. It provides a grounding spring and electronic device that, after the grounding spring is installed in the electronic device, forms an effective seal with the electronic control unit housing; furthermore, the grounding spring has a simple structure, is easy to assemble, and reduces assembly costs.
[0005] This application provides a grounding spring, including a positioning part for penetrating and mounting on an external insulator; the positioning part has a plug-in part extending on one side along its penetrating direction for plugging into an external printed circuit board, and an elastic part extending on the other side; the elastic part has a contact part at one end away from the positioning part for electrical connection with an external grounding device; the positioning part has a first side and a second side perpendicular to the penetrating direction, and a retaining structure is provided on the first side and the second side respectively.
[0006] In some embodiments, a limiting structure is provided at one end of the positioning part near the elastic part to limit the displacement of the positioning part in the opposite direction to the through direction.
[0007] In some embodiments, the connector is fixed to an external printed circuit board by soldering or fisheye crimping.
[0008] In some embodiments, the elastic portion includes a first bending region, a first extension region, a second bending region, a second extension region, and a third bending region connected in sequence. The end of the first bending region away from the first extension region is perpendicularly connected to the positioning portion, and the end of the third bending region away from the second extension region is connected to the contact portion. The elastic portion applies elastic force to the contact portion through the elastic deformation of the first bending region, the second bending region, and the third bending region, so that the contact portion forms a resisting force against the external grounding device.
[0009] In some embodiments, the angle between the extension direction of the first extension region and the through direction is 90°-150°; the second extension region extends in a direction away from the positioning part, and the angle between the extension direction and the extension direction of the first extension region is 30°-120°.
[0010] In some embodiments, both the first extension region and the second extension region are provided with reinforcing rib structures.
[0011] In some embodiments, the contact portion has a protruding contact surface, the contact portion is electrically connected to an external grounding device through the contact surface, and the contact surface is a convex curved surface.
[0012] In some embodiments, the grounding spring has a symmetrical plane perpendicular to the plane where the positioning part is located, and the contact surface is symmetrically arranged about the symmetrical plane, so that the contact part provides symmetrical abutment force when it abuts against the external grounding device.
[0013] This application also provides an electronic device, including a printed circuit board, an electronic control unit, and a grounding spring. The housing of the electronic control unit constitutes an external insulator, and the housing has a rectangular hole for the positioning part of the grounding spring to pass through. The inner wall of the housing has a sealing groove arranged around the rectangular hole. The width of the rectangular hole is greater than the thickness of the positioning part, and the length of the rectangular hole is less than the width of the positioning part, so that after the positioning part passes through the rectangular hole from the outside of the housing, the structure maintains an interference fit with the inner wall of the housing, and the limiting structure is pressed against the edge of the rectangular hole. The connecting part is electrically connected to the printed circuit board, and the sealant filled in the sealing groove can cover the rectangular hole.
[0014] In some embodiments, the thickness of the positioning part is 0.2 mm to 0.4 mm, and the width is 5 mm to 6 mm; the width of the rectangular hole is 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm, and the length is 3.5 mm to 4.5 mm.
[0015] In the grounding spring and electronic device of this application, the insertion part of the grounding spring and the printed circuit board of the electronic device has a simple structure, which can be flexibly installed in the complex space environment inside the electronic device, significantly reducing assembly complexity and cost. After the mounting part penetrates the housing of the electronic control unit, its retaining structure forms a reliable interference fit with the inner wall of the housing, while the limiting structure presses against the edge of the rectangular hole in the housing, effectively limiting the displacement of the grounding spring and ensuring stable and reliable contact. The size of the rectangular hole in the housing matches the size of the positioning part of the grounding spring. During the sealing process, the sealant filled in the sealant groove can completely cover the rectangular hole, improving the sealing effect. The extension length and bending degree of the elastic part, as well as the contact surface design of the contact part, can be flexibly adjusted according to the specific location of the external grounding device, greatly improving assembly adaptability. Attached Figure Description
[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the grounding spring in an embodiment of this application;
[0017] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the barb structure according to an embodiment of this application;
[0018] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the grounding spring being installed in an electronic device according to an embodiment of this application;
[0019] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the electronic control unit housing according to an embodiment of this application;
[0020] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the bottom of the electronic control unit housing according to an embodiment of this application;
[0021] Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional view of a grounding spring being installed in an electronic device according to an embodiment of this application;
[0022] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a grounding spring with a fisheye terminal according to an embodiment of this application;
[0023] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the included angle of the elastic part in an embodiment of this application;
[0024] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:
[0025] 1. Positioning section;
[0026] 11. Maintaining structure; 111. Barbed structure; 112. Penetrating surface; 113. Anti-detachment surface;
[0027] 12. Limiting structure; 121. Supporting step;
[0028] 2. Connector; 21. Fisheye terminal;
[0029] 3. Elastic section; 31. First bending zone; 32. First extension zone; 33. Second bending zone; 34. Second extension zone; 35. Third bending zone;
[0030] 4. Contact part; 41. Contact surface;
[0031] 5. Printed circuit boards;
[0032] 6. Electronic control unit; 61. Housing; 611. Rectangular hole; 612. Sealant groove; 613. Sealant. Detailed Implementation
[0033] The following specific embodiments illustrate the implementation of this application. Those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of this application from the content disclosed in this specification. Although the description of this application will be presented in conjunction with some embodiments, this does not mean that the features of this application are limited to this embodiment. On the contrary, the purpose of describing the application in conjunction with embodiments is to cover other options or modifications that may be derived based on the claims of this application. To provide a thorough understanding of this application, many specific details will be included in the following description. This application may also be implemented without using these details. Furthermore, to avoid confusion or obscuring the focus of this application, some specific details will be omitted in the description. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features in the embodiments of this application can be combined with each other.
[0034] It should be noted that in this specification, similar reference numerals and letters in the following figures indicate similar items. Therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be further defined and explained in subsequent figures.
[0035] In the description of this application, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.
[0036] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.
[0037] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the embodiments of this application will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0038] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the grounding spring in an embodiment of this application.
[0039] like Figure 1 As shown, this application embodiment provides a grounding spring, which includes a positioning part 1 for penetrating and installing on an external insulator; the positioning part 1 has an insertion part 2 extending on one side along its penetrating direction for insertion with an external printed circuit board 5, and an elastic part 3 extending on the other side; the elastic part 3 has a contact part 4 at one end opposite to the positioning part 1, and the contact part 4 is used for electrical connection with an external grounding device; the positioning part 1 has a first side and a second side perpendicular to the penetrating direction, and a retaining structure 11 is provided on the first side and the second side respectively.
[0040] like Figure 1 The arrow shown indicates the direction in which the mounting part penetrates and is installed on the external insulator.
[0041] In this embodiment, no restrictions are placed on the type and shape of the external grounding device. It is mainly used to make contact with the grounding spring contact part 4 when electrically connected to the printed circuit board 5 to achieve grounding.
[0042] In this embodiment, the shape of the external insulator is not limited; it can be planar or non-planar, such as arc-shaped. The external insulator is mainly used to install grounding contacts and can be any insulating object; for example, it can be the electronic control unit housing 61.
[0043] In this embodiment, the grounding spring is made of highly elastic stainless steel material and is integrally stamped, which can increase the stability of the grounding spring.
[0044] In this embodiment, the retaining structure 11 can provide a retaining force after the mounting part of the grounding spring is installed in the external insulator, keeping the mounting part in the external insulator so that it does not fall off, thereby allowing the grounding spring to make stable contact with the printed circuit board 5 and the grounding device.
[0045] In this application embodiment, the type of retaining structure 11 is not limited. For example, the retaining structure 11 can be a barbed structure 111. The barbed structure 111 installs the mounting part in the external insulator by means of interference fit. Since the barbed structure 111 can make the mounting part bear force, it can prevent the mounting part from falling off during subsequent installation, provide pre-installation retaining force, and improve contact stability.
[0046] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the barb structure 111 according to an embodiment of this application, as shown below. Figure 2 As shown, each barb includes a through surface 112 and an anti-detachment surface 113. The through surface 112 is thinner at the bottom and thicker at the top, which allows the mounting part to smoothly penetrate the external insulator. If the grounding spring is pulled in the opposite direction of the through direction, the grounding spring will not fall off the external insulator due to the squeezing force and friction on the anti-detachment surface 113. Furthermore, due to the squeezing and friction, it is difficult to continue pulling the grounding spring in the through direction. Therefore, the mounting part can be firmly installed on the external insulator, improving stability.
[0047] Specifically, the barb structure 111 can be provided on the first and second sides opposite to each other in the width direction of the positioning part 1, and provides a certain holding force after being assembled with the external insulator.
[0048] For example, the retaining structure 11 can also be a convex structure in the thickness direction of the mounting part, so that the positioning part 1 and the external insulator form an interference fit; the retaining structure 11 can also be an anti-disengagement snap-fit structure, so that the positioning part 1 and the external insulator form a snap-fit fit.
[0049] In the embodiments of this application, such as Figure 1 As shown, a limiting structure 12 is provided at one end of the positioning part 1 near the elastic part 3 to limit the displacement of the positioning part 1 in the opposite direction to the through direction.
[0050] For example, such as Figure 6As shown, the limiting structure 12 is a supporting step 121. During the installation of the positioning part 1 onto the external insulator, the retaining structure 11 of the mounting part forms an interference fit with the pre-set mating surface (such as a step, inner wall, or limiting groove) inside the external insulator, forming a firm connection. After installation, the supporting step 121 is pressed into the external insulator. When attempting to push the grounding spring piece in the reverse direction along the penetration direction, the supporting step 121, through rigid contact with the external insulator, generates a force on the external insulator opposite to the penetration direction. This reliably locks the grounding spring piece into the external insulator, ensuring that it cannot be pulled out in the reverse direction.
[0051] In the embodiments of this application, such as Figure 7 As shown, the insertion part 2 is fixed to the external printed circuit board 5 by soldering or fisheye crimping. The insertion part 2 adopts an elongated design that is narrower than the positioning part 1, with a trapezoidal structure at the end. This compact design greatly simplifies the connection interface with the printed circuit board 5. The trapezoidal structure provides smooth insertion guidance for the insertion part 2, and the elongated design that is narrower than the positioning part 1 greatly reduces the connection interface of the printed circuit board 5. The reduction in the overall structure greatly improves the space adaptability of the grounding spring and significantly reduces the assembly difficulty and cost. After the insertion part 2 is inserted into the printed circuit board 5, it can be fixed to the printed circuit board 5 by soldering, or it can be connected to the printed circuit board 5 by crimping with the fisheye terminal 21.
[0052] In the embodiments of this application, such as Figure 7 As shown, the elastic part 3 includes a first bending area 31, a first extension area 32, a second bending area 33, a second extension area 34, and a third bending area 35 connected in sequence. The end of the first bending area 31 away from the first extension area 32 is perpendicularly connected to the positioning part 1, and the end of the third bending area 35 away from the second extension area 34 is connected to the contact part 4. The elastic part 3 applies elastic force to the contact part 4 through the elastic deformation of the first bending area 31, the second bending area 33, and the third bending area 35, so that the contact part 4 forms a resistance force against the external grounding device, increasing the stability of the contact. In addition, the elastic deformation can increase the height that the printed circuit board 5 can be placed, improving flexibility. Furthermore, the appropriate elastic force ensures that the printed circuit board 5 or the external grounding device will not be damaged during contact.
[0053] Furthermore, the lengths of the first extension region 32 and the second extension region 34 of the elastic part 3, and the bending degrees of the first bending region 31, the second bending region 33 and the third bending region 35 can be flexibly set as needed, so that the grounding position of the contact part 4 can be flexibly selected, improving design flexibility and ensuring contact stability.
[0054] In this embodiment, the angle α between the extension direction and the penetration direction of the first extension region 32 is 90°-150°; the second extension region 34 extends away from the positioning part 1, and the angle β between its extension direction and the extension direction of the first extension region 32 is 30°-120°. The angle can be flexibly set as needed, allowing for flexible selection of the grounding position and ensuring contact stability.
[0055] For example, such as Figure 8 As shown, the angle α between the extension direction of the first extension region 32 and the penetration direction is 90°, and the angle β between the extension direction of the second extension region 34 and the extension direction of the first extension region 32 is 60°, ensuring the contact stability of the contact part 4.
[0056] In this embodiment, the surfaces of the first extension region 32 and the second extension region 34 are both provided with reinforcing ribs to improve the elasticity of the grounding spring.
[0057] In the embodiments of this application, such as Figure 1 As shown, the contact part 4 has a protruding contact surface 41. The contact part 4 is electrically connected to an external grounding device through the contact surface 41, and the contact surface 41 is a convex curved surface.
[0058] In this embodiment of the application, the protruding contact surface 41, which is a convex curved surface, can increase the range of allowable contact angles after compression, ensure stable contact, and reduce friction or scratches on external grounding devices.
[0059] In this embodiment, the grounding spring has a symmetrical plane perpendicular to the plane where the positioning part 1 is located, and the contact surface 41 is symmetrically arranged about the symmetrical plane, so that when the contact surface 41 abuts against the external grounding device, it provides a symmetrical abutting force, making the contact more stable.
[0060] This application also provides an electronic device, such as... Figure 4 , 5 As shown, the device includes a printed circuit board 5, an electronic control unit 6, and a grounding spring. The housing 61 of the electronic control unit 6 forms an external insulator. The housing 61 has a rectangular hole 611 for the positioning part 1 of the grounding spring to pass through. The inner wall of the housing 61 has a sealing groove 612 arranged around the rectangular hole 611. The width of the rectangular hole 611 is greater than the width of the positioning part 1, and the length of the rectangular hole 611 is less than the length of the positioning part 1. This allows the positioning part 1 to pass through the rectangular hole 611 from the outside of the housing 61, and the retaining structure 11 to form an interference fit with the inner wall of the housing 61. The limiting structure 12 is pressed against the edge of the rectangular hole 611. The connecting part is electrically connected to the printed circuit board 5. The sealant 613 filled in the sealing groove 612 can cover the rectangular hole 611.
[0061] In this embodiment, the thickness of the positioning part 1 is 0.2 mm to 0.4 mm, and the width is 5 mm to 6 mm; the width of the rectangular hole 611 is 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm, and the length is 3.5 mm to 4.5 mm.
[0062] For example, the positioning part 1 has a thickness of 0.3 mm and a width of 5 mm; the rectangular hole 611 has a width of 0.4 mm and a length of 4 mm. The positioning part 1 penetrates the rectangular hole 611 of the electronic control unit 6 housing 61 in an interference fit manner, and its width exceeds the length of the rectangular hole 611 by about 1 mm. During the forced insertion process: the hole wall of the housing 61 and the positioning part retaining structure 11 undergo slight elastic deformation. After installation, the limiting structure 12 is pressed against the edge of the rectangular hole 611 of the housing 61, establishing a mechanical stop to prevent the grounding spring from displacing in the direction opposite to the penetration direction.
[0063] like Figure 3 As shown, the assembly and use method of the grounding spring in this embodiment is described as follows: The grounding spring is first installed into the housing 61 of the electronic control unit 6, where the retaining structure 11 and the limiting structure 12 provide sufficient retaining force; after the printed circuit board 5 is assembled, its plug-in part 2 is soldered or the fisheye terminal 21 is pressed onto the printed circuit board 5; finally, the grounding device is assembled. After the grounding device is assembled, the grounding spring can provide sufficient elastic force. In addition, the bending area and extension area of the elastic part 3 can be optimized according to the internal space of the product.
[0064] In the grounding spring and electronic device of this application, the insertion part 2 where the grounding spring is inserted into the printed circuit board 5 of the electronic device has a simple structure, allowing for flexible installation in the complex internal space of the electronic device, significantly reducing assembly complexity and cost. After the mounting part penetrates the housing 61 of the electronic control unit, its retaining structure 11 forms a reliable interference fit with the inner wall of the housing 61, while the limiting structure 12 presses against the edge of the rectangular hole 611 of the housing 61, effectively limiting the displacement of the grounding spring and ensuring stable and reliable contact. The size of the rectangular hole 611 of the housing matches the size of the grounding spring positioning part 1. During the sealing process, the sealant 613 filled in the sealant groove 612 can completely cover the rectangular hole 611, improving the sealing effect. The extension length and bending degree of the elastic part 3, as well as the design of the contact surface 41 of the contact part 4, can all be flexibly adjusted according to the specific position of the external grounding device, greatly improving assembly adaptability.
[0065] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to this application without departing from the spirit and scope of this application. Therefore, if such modifications and variations fall within the scope of the claims of this application and their equivalents, this application also intends to include such modifications and variations.
Claims
1. A grounding spring, installed between a printed circuit board and a grounding device, characterized in that, include: A positioning part is used to penetrate and be installed on an external insulator; a plug-in part extends from one side of the positioning part along its penetrating direction for plugging into an external printed circuit board, and an elastic part extends from the other side; a contact part is provided at one end of the elastic part away from the positioning part, and the contact part is used for electrical connection with an external grounding device. The positioning part has a first side and a second side perpendicular to the through direction, and a retaining structure is provided on the first side and the second side respectively.
2. The grounding spring as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The positioning part is provided with a limiting structure at one end near the elastic part to limit the displacement of the positioning part in the opposite direction to the penetration direction.
3. The grounding spring as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The connector is fixed to the external printed circuit board by welding or fisheye crimping.
4. The grounding spring as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The elastic part includes a first bending area, a first extension area, a second bending area, a second extension area, and a third bending area connected in sequence. The end of the first bending area away from the first extension area is perpendicularly connected to the positioning part, and the end of the third bending area away from the second extension area is connected to the contact part. The elastic portion applies elastic force to the contact portion through the elastic deformation of the first bending area, the second bending area and the third bending area, so that the contact portion forms a resisting force against the external grounding device.
5. The grounding spring as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The angle between the extension direction of the first extension area and the through direction is 90°-150°; the second extension area extends away from the positioning part, and the angle between the extension direction and the extension direction of the first extension area is 30°-120°.
6. The spring clip as described in claim 5, characterized in that, Both the first extension area and the second extension area have reinforcing ribs on their surfaces.
7. The spring clip as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The contact portion has a protruding contact surface, and the contact portion is electrically connected to an external grounding device through the contact surface, and the contact surface is a convex curved surface.
8. The spring clip as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The grounding spring has a symmetrical plane perpendicular to the plane where the positioning part is located, and the contact surface is symmetrically arranged about the symmetrical plane, so that the contact part provides symmetrical contact force when it abuts against the external grounding device.
9. An electronic device, characterized in that, Includes a printed circuit board, an electronic control unit, and a grounding spring as described in any one of claims 1-8; The housing of the electronic control unit constitutes the external insulator. The housing has a rectangular hole for the positioning part of the grounding spring to pass through. The inner wall of the housing has a sealing groove arranged around the rectangular hole. The width of the rectangular hole is greater than the thickness of the positioning part, and the length of the rectangular hole is less than the width of the positioning part, so that after the positioning part passes through the rectangular hole from the outside of the housing, the retaining structure forms an interference fit with the inner wall of the housing, and the limiting structure is pressed against the edge of the rectangular hole; the connecting part is electrically connected to the printed circuit board; and the sealant filled in the sealant groove can cover the rectangular hole.
10. The electronic device as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that, The thickness of the positioning part is 0.2mm to 0.4mm, and the width is 5mm to 6mm; The rectangular hole has a width of 0.3mm to 0.5mm and a length of 3.5mm to 4.5mm.