Electrical component carrier with changeover switch

Abstract

Electrical component carrier (1) with a base part (2) made of electrically insulating material and at least three electrical conductors (2, 3, 4, 5, 17) for connecting electrical components, wherein the conductors (2, 3, 4, 5, 17) are at least partially encased by the material of the base part and the at least three electrical conductors (4, 5, 17) of the electrical component carrier are an integral part of an electrical microswitch, wherein the microswitch comprises an arc-shaped, elastically deformable conductor element (6) which is elastically deformed by actuating the microswitch such that both end regions (7) of the conductor element (6) are displaced for electrical switching, characterized in that there is a pin (11) projecting from the surface (9) of the electrical component carrier which extends through a hole (12) in the arc-shaped conductor element (6).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an electrical component carrier, in particular for a motor vehicle, with conductor tracks embedded in an electrically insulating material, electrical connections and an integrated microswitch.

[0002] An electrical component carrier is a self-supporting component with a housing and electrical conductors embedded within the housing, which are generally stamped from a sheet of metal. The embedded conductors are overmolded with insulating material, thus protecting them from environmental influences. The conductor material is sufficiently thick and therefore robust that the conductor ends can serve as contact pins. Furthermore, the material is generally flexible so that the conductor ends can be bent in the desired direction for contact purposes. The conductors are typically made of metal and are usually 0.1 mm to 1 mm thick.

[0003] Electrical components, such as switches, detectors, electronic components, or electric motors, are connected to the electrical terminals of such a conductor track unit. Such electrical components can be found, for example, in a lock, especially a motor vehicle door lock.

[0004] A microswitch is an electrical switch with a very small contact gap when open. This gap is only a few millimeters, allowing it to handle only small electrical loads. Small electrical loads of this kind are found in vehicle locks.

[0005] To manufacture an electronic component carrier, conductor tracks are typically first punched out of a sheet of metal and, if necessary, further prepared by bending, for example, to provide contact tabs and / or drilling. The prepared conductor tracks, which may still have supporting and / or connecting ribs, are then inserted into the housing of the electronic component carrier. In a first step, insulating material is injected into the housing to fix the conductor tracks. Then, any connecting and / or supporting ribs between the conductor tracks are removed. Finally, the housing is filled by injecting insulating material as specified.

[0006] Contact tabs protrude from the insulating material to be connected to components such as a switch, for example by soldering. These protruding contact tabs form the electrical connections of the component carrier. For example, according to German patent application DE10 2012 211 756 A1, a switch is inserted at a designated location so that its contacts can be soldered to the protruding contacts of the conductor tracks.

[0007] German patent application DE 10 2011 089 024 A1 discloses an assembly comprising an electrical component carrier and a switching device. The switching device of the assembly is formed by means of at least one contact area of ​​at least two stamped grid conductors and a magnetically displaceable switching medium of the assembly, by means of which contact areas of different stamped grid conductors can be selectively bridged. The contact areas intended to provide switching functionality are exposed on a surface of the carrier and can thus be swept over or contacted by the switching medium on the carrier surface and thereby selectively bridged. Switching states of the switching device are detectable.

[0008] German patent application DE 10 2004 040 395 A1 discloses an electrical switch for a motor vehicle with two conductor tracks and a switching contact in the form of a deformable snap disc arranged above the conductor tracks. The switching contact is permanently electrically connected to one of the two conductor tracks. By actuating the switch, the switching contact is deformed and thereby electrically connected to the other conductor track.

[0009] DE 10 2006 024 292 A1 discloses a handle for the electrical operation of a lock on a flap or door in a vehicle. A stamped grid is integrated into an electrical component carrier, which serves as an insert in the mold during the injection molding of the shell-shaped handle housing. The electrical component carrier has a shell-like receptacle at its inner end, which serves to insert a deformable snap disc. The snap disc is part of an electrical switch for electrically connecting normally closed contacts.

[0010] German patent application DE 23 59 971 B2 describes an electrical push-button switch, particularly for keypads of typewriters or calculators, in which a spring-loaded contact spring is elastically deformed by key press to establish or break an electrical connection between fixed conductive traces. The contact spring is bent at multiple points and can be designed as a W- or V-shaped spring, with the switching function being achieved by the spreading of the legs upon actuation. The conductive traces are arranged on an electrically insulating base plate and are partially encased. The patent discloses various versions, including multiple switching elements, tactile feedback via snap mechanisms, and the integration of conductive layers on non-conductive materials. The described switches enable reliable contact with a defined key press and prevent contact bounce.

[0011] Unless otherwise specified below, the aforementioned features can be combined individually or in any combination with the subject matter of the invention described below.

[0012] The object of the invention is to provide a further developed electrical component carrier which in particular also allows detection of the position of the microswitch.

[0013] To solve the problem, an electrical component carrier is provided, comprising a base made of electrically insulating material and electrical conductors for connecting electrical components. These conductors are encased in the base material. At least three of the electrical conductors of the component carrier are integral parts of an electrical microswitch. The microswitch includes an arc-shaped conductor element that is elastically deformable. Actuating the microswitch causes the arc-shaped conductor element to deform elastically, displacing its two end sections. This displacement either connects two electrical conductors or breaks an electrical connection between them. Thus, the displacement effect is an electrical switching action.

[0014] The invention eliminates the need to solder an electrical switch to protruding contacts of an electrical component carrier. Conductive traces already included in the electrical component carrier are an integral part of the electrical switch. Manufacturing costs are correspondingly low. Since at least three electrical conductors are part of the switch, its position can be easily detected. The switch has a very simple design, making it robust and durable.

[0015] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, four conductor tracks are provided, which are an integral part of the switch. In the rest state, that is, when the switch is not actuated, the arc-shaped conductor element advantageously contacts two inner conductor tracks. Inner conductor tracks are those located between two other conductor tracks of the microswitch. When the switch is actuated, this causes the two inner conductor tracks to no longer be electrically connected to each other, but instead the two outer conductor tracks are. This can be used, for example, to detect the position of the microswitch.

[0016] The conductor track sections of the microswitch, which can be contacted by the arc-shaped conductor element, advantageously run parallel to each other in order to minimize the required installation space.

[0017] In one embodiment, the microswitch comprises a cap or cover with a central area and an adjacent area made of deformable plastic material. When the microswitch is actuated, the central area transmits a force to the arc-shaped conductor element, causing it to deform as described above.

[0018] In one embodiment of the invention, the areas of the conductor tracks that can be contacted by the arc-shaped conductor element are flush with the adjacent surface, at least with the surface on which the ends of the arc-shaped conductor element rest or on which the ends of the arc-shaped conductor element rest when the switch is actuated. This advantageously keeps the force required to actuate the switch low.

[0019] In one embodiment of the invention, the switch comprises guiding means and / or positioning means to guide and / or position the arc-shaped conductor element.

[0020] According to the invention, a pin protrudes from the surface of the electrical component carrier and extends through a hole in the arc-shaped conductor element. This positioning element ensures, in a technically simple manner, that the arc-shaped conductor element maintains its position relative to the conductor tracks.

[0021] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the two ends of the arc-shaped conductor element are guided by adjacent webs. This prevents erroneous movements.

[0022] In one embodiment of the invention, the ends of the arc-shaped conductor element are bent in the opposite direction to the overall arc shape of the conductor element. This minimizes frictional resistance that occurs during actuation of the microswitch.

[0023] An electrical component carrier with a microswitch can and should be electrically connected to at least two other electrical components. This distinguishes an electrical component carrier from a microswitch that is not an integral part of an electrical component carrier. Examples of other components within the meaning of the present invention are one or more sensors or detectors, one or more motors, and one or more additional microswitches. The electrical component carrier also has additional conductor tracks besides those that are an integral part of the integrated microswitch.

[0024] They show: Fig. 1: Components of the electrical component carrier in the unassembled state; Fig. 2: Electrical component carrier; Fig. 3: Section through the electrical component carrier in the unactivated state; Fig. 4: Section through the electrical component carrier in the actuated state. Fig. 5: Section through a second electrical component carrier in the unactivated state; Fig. 6: Section through the second electrical component carrier in the actuated state.

[0025] The Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3 to Fig. Figure 4 illustrates the structure of an electrical component carrier 1 with a base part 2 made of electrically insulating material and electrical conductors 3, 4, 5. The conductors 3, 4, 5 are partially encased by the material of the base part 2. Four electrical conductors 4, 5 of the electrical component carrier 1 are an integral part of an electrical microswitch. The microswitch comprises an arc-shaped conductor element 6, which is elastically deformable. When the microswitch is actuated, the arc-shaped conductor element 6 is elastically deformed such that the two end regions 7 of the conductor element 6 are displaced. Fig. Figure 4 shows the shifted and consequently the actuated state in cross-section. By shifting the two end sections 7, the two electrical conductors 4 are electrically connected to each other. The electrical connection between the two conductors 5, on the other hand, is interrupted by actuation.

[0026] In the rest state of switch 1, the arc-shaped conductor element 6 contacts the two inner conductor tracks 5, as shown by the Fig. Figure 3 illustrates this. These inner conductor tracks 5 are located between the two other conductor tracks 4.

[0027] The conductor track sections of the microswitch, which are arranged between the two webs 8 and which can be contacted by the arc-shaped conductor element 6, run parallel to each other in order to minimize the required installation space. These sections or areas of the conductor tracks 4, 5, which are arranged between the two webs 8 and which can be contacted by the arc-shaped conductor element 6, are flush with the surface of the adjacent surface 9 of the insulating material. Furthermore, the surfaces of the conductor tracks 4, 5 are also flush with the adjacent surface insofar as they are located within the projecting, annular rim 10.

[0028] There is a pin 11 protruding from the surface of the electrical component carrier 1, which extends through the hole 12 in the arcuate conductor element 6 and serves as a positioning element. The two ends 7 of the arcuate conductor element 6 are guided by the laterally adjacent webs 8.

[0029] The ends 7 of the arc-shaped conductor element 6 are bent in the opposite direction to the rest of the arc-shaped conductor element 6. This creates arc-shaped contact surfaces for the end areas 7, thereby minimizing frictional resistances that occur during the actuation of the microswitch 1.

[0030] The projecting edge 10 serves to secure the cover 13 in a dust- and moisture-proof manner. The cover 13 is deformable, as can be seen by comparing the Fig. 4 with the Fig. 3 illustrates this.

[0031] The conductor tracks 3 of the electrical component carrier are not part of the microswitch. These are to be electrically connected to another electrical component.

[0032] An inner rim 14 of the cover rests on the arcuate conductor element 6. Pressing down on the cover 13 depresses the arcuate conductor element 6, thereby actuating the microswitch. A section 15 of the cover 13 is provided for this purpose; it extends cylindrically from the outside towards the rim 14. The pin 11 extends into this cylindrical section, thus simultaneously guiding the cover 13. From the section 15, the cover 13 extends radially in a wave-like shape (16). This facilitates actuation.

[0033] The Fig. 5 and Fig.Figure 6 shows an embodiment of the invention with three conductor tracks of the microswitch. Conductor track 17 is wider compared to conductor tracks 4 and 5, so that contact with the arc-shaped conductor element 6 is always maintained. One of the two conductor tracks 3 or 4 can be used to determine or detect the position of the microswitch. However, it is also possible to use both conductor tracks 4 and 5 for switching.

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