Connection device for a sensor and associated sensor

Abstract

Connection device (3) for a sensor (1) with a support unit (30) and a printed circuit board (40) which carries an electronic circuit (44) with at least one electronic and / or electrical component (44.1, 44.2), wherein the support unit (30) comprises a base body (32) with an outer contour (37) which forms an external interface (26) with at least two electrical contact points (34) via which at least one electrical output signal of the electronic circuit (44) can be accessed, wherein the at least two contact points (34) are each electrically connected via an electrical connection to a corresponding contact point (46) of the printed circuit board (40), wherein the support unit (30) comprises at least two spring-elastic contact elements (38) which are arranged on the outer contour (37) of the base body (32), characterized in that the base body (32) of the support unit (30) is designed in multiple parts and comprises two half-shells (32.1, 32.2).2) comprising, wherein each half-shell (32.1, 32.2) has at least one contact point (34) of the external interface (26) and at least one spring-elastic contact element (38).

Description

Prior ArtThe invention is based on a connecting device for a sensor according to the preamble of independent claim 1 and on a corresponding sensor according to the preamble of independent claim 6.DE 10 2012 204 911 A1 discloses a pressure sensor unit having a protective sleeve, in which at least one measuring cell, a circuit carrier and a connection device having a printed circuit board arranged perpendicular to the circuit carrier, which printed circuit board carries an electronic circuit having at least one electronic and / or electrical component, and a supporting unit are arranged. The measuring cell has at least one connection point via which at least one electrical output signal of the measuring cell can be picked up, wherein the circuit carrier has an internal interface which picks up the at least one electrical output signal of the measuring cell and applies it to the electronic circuit. The support unit has an external interface with at least one contact point, which is electrically connected to a corresponding contact point of the printed circuit board via an electrical connection and via which at least one electrical output signal of the electronic circuit arranged on the printed circuit board can be picked up. The internal interface is formed at a first end of the protective sleeve and the external interface is formed at a second end of the protective sleeve. The support unit comprises a base body with an outer contour, which has a first joining geometry, which is part of the external interface and guides and / or electrically contacts external contact elements, and a second joining geometry, via which the support unit is joined to the printed circuit board. In addition, the support unit supports the circuit board joined via the second joining geometry via the outer contour against an inner contour of the protective sleeve. The circuit carrier preferably consists at least of a plastic pre-injection molding made of galvanizable plastic and a second, non-galvanizable plastic, wherein conductor tracks and electrically conductive contact points, surfaces, are produced as a metallic surface coating on the galvanizable plastic in a galvanic process. Furthermore, an electrically conductive connection can be produced between the printed circuit board and the protective sleeve via the support unit in order to form an additional ground path.DE 39 37 573 A1 discloses an electrical pressure transducer for measuring hydraulic pressures, which comprises a metal diaphragm arranged in a housing, a strain gauge arrangement on the surface of the metal diaphragm facing away from the hydraulic side, and an amplifier which amplifies the measurement values of the strain gauge arrangement and is located in a chamber of the housing on the side of the metal diaphragm opposite the hydraulic side and to which the electrical output lines of the strain gauge arrangement are electrically connected. In this case, a circuit board carrying the amplifier is fastened at a distance from the metal diaphragm via electrically conductive support elements. The output lines of the strain gauge assembly are electrically connected to the amplifier via the support members. The metal diaphragm with the strain gauge arrangement is expediently arranged on a closure piece which closes the housing and is provided with a plug nipple for the hydraulic connection and can be screwed into the housing.DE 10 2007 016 474 A1 discloses a sensor of the generic type having a protective sleeve in which at least one measuring element, a circuit carrier and a connection device of the generic type having a printed circuit board which is arranged perpendicular to the circuit carrier and carries an electronic circuit having at least one electronic and / or electrical component, and a supporting unit which comprises a base body having an outer contour are arranged. The circuit carrier has an internal interface which taps off at least one electrical output signal of the measuring element and applies it to the electronic circuit. The base body forms an external interface with at least one electrical contact point, via which at least one output signal of the electronic circuit can be picked up. The at least one contact point is electrically connected to a corresponding contact point of the printed circuit board via an electrical connection. An electrically conductive connection can be produced between the printed circuit board and the protective sleeve via the support unit. The support unit comprises at least one spring-elastic contact element which is arranged on the outer contour of the base body.Disclosure of the InventionThe connection device according to the invention for a sensor according to the features of independent claim 1 and the sensor according to the invention according to the features of independent claim 6 have the advantage over the related art that a secure electrical connection is established between the sensor ground and the housing ground. The contacting of the sensor protective sleeve takes place via a spring-elastic contact element arranged on the base body of the support unit, which contacts the protective sleeve during the mounting of the sensor connection device. The electrical connection of the spring-elastic contact element to the printed circuit board of the sensor is effected via a soldered connection. In addition, the at least one spring-elastic contact element enables fixing or centering of the printed circuit board in the protective sleeve. Furthermore, embodiments of the connection device according to the invention advantageously provide a safe discharge path for ESD / EMC interference (ESD: electrostatic discharge; EMC: electromagnetic compatibility).Analogously to the prior art, the support unit combines the functionality of the external interface and a support function for the printed circuit board, such that the printed circuit board can be electrically connected to an external circuit or control device and can be supported against an inner contour of a protective sleeve. Thus, embodiments of the support unit form the connecting element between the printed circuit board or sensor unit with the outside world. Furthermore, the at least one spring-elastic contact element acts as a damping element under shaking loads, which can occur in particular when used in a motor vehicle. In addition, due to the elasticity of the at least one spring-elastic contact element, secure contacting and formation of the discharge path is possible even under effective external forces.Embodiments of the support unit according to the invention make it possible to optimize the installation space of the sensor unit by supporting the printed circuit board, which is placed substantially perpendicular to the circuit carrier, on the inner contour of the protective sleeve. In addition, additional functions such as the guidance and / or electrical contacting of external contact partners and contact protection for the contact surfaces of the printed circuit board can be integrated. Furthermore, electrical and / or electronic components and / or conductor tracks can be provided for a protective circuit. In addition, contact surfaces and / or guide means can be provided for a requirement-bound connection to predetermined customer interfaces or to a periphery. As a result, the sensor unit can be variably adapted to the various customer interfaces depending on the design of the support unit.Embodiments of the present invention provide a connection device for a sensor having a supporting unit and a printed circuit board, which carries an electronic circuit having at least one electronic and / or electrical component. The support unit comprises a base body with an outer contour, which forms an external interface with at least two electrical contact points, via which at least one electrical output signal of the electronic circuit can be picked up. The at least two contact points are each electrically connected via an electrical connection to a corresponding contact point of the printed circuit board. In this case, the support unit comprises at least two spring-elastic contact elements which are arranged on the outer contour of the base body. The base body of the support unit is embodied in multiple parts and comprises two half shells, wherein each half shell has at least one contact point of the external interface and at least one spring-elastic contact element. To facilitate positioning, the half shells can each have corresponding joining geometry, which interacts with joining geometry of the printed circuit board for positionally correct positioning of the half shells during the production of the mechanical connection between the half shells and the printed circuit board. The electrical and mechanical connection of the base body of the support unit to the printed circuit board is advantageously effected by the soldering process during the fitting of the printed circuit board with the at least one electronic and / or electrical component. This means that complicated and additional adhesive dispensing and curing processes for mechanically connecting the support unit to the printed circuit board can advantageously be replaced by a standardized solder paste print with a subsequent soldering process in the continuous furnace. Due to the multi-part embodiment of the base body, the printed circuit boards can be equipped with the support units directly in the printed circuit board panel. As a result, the electrical and mechanical connection of the support unit to the printed circuit board can be integrated into the standard process required anyway for mounting the printed circuit board. The mechanical and electrical connection can be achieved by solder paste, which is applied by a solder paste printing standard process when the printed circuit board is fitted. The final electrical and mechanical connection is effected by the soldered connection produced in the continuous furnace after the circuit board has been fitted. Preferably, the half shells are also each designed as a plastic injection molded part, in which a corresponding stamped grid is embedded, which forms the contact points and through-contacts of the external interface.In addition, embodiments of the present invention provide a sensor having a protective sleeve in which at least one measuring element, a circuit carrier and a connection device according to the invention having a printed circuit board arranged perpendicular to the circuit carrier and carrying an electronic circuit having at least one electronic and / or electrical component, and a supporting unit which comprises a base body having an outer contour are arranged. The circuit carrier has an internal interface which taps off at least one electrical output signal of the measuring element and applies it to the electronic circuit. The base body forms an external interface with at least two electrical contact points, via which at least one output signal of the electronic circuit can be picked up. The at least two contact points of the support unit are each electrically connected via an electrical connection to a corresponding contact point of the printed circuit board. In addition, an electrically conductive connection between the printed circuit board and the protective sleeve can be produced via the support unit. In this case, the base body of the support unit is supported via the at least two spring-elastic contact elements against the inner contour of the protective sleeve and establishes the electrically conductive connection between the printed circuit board and the protective sleeve via the at least two spring-elastic contact elements.The sensor according to the invention can be constructed very compactly, since the circuit carrier forms only the internal interface and is arranged at the first end of the protective sleeve and the circuit board within the protective sleeve is simultaneously formed as a structural component and is joined to the circuit carrier at the first end side. On the second end side, the printed circuit board is joined to the support unit according to the invention, which supports the printed circuit board against the protective sleeve. As a result, the overall height of the sensor can be reduced in an advantageous manner.The measures and developments specified in the dependent claims make possible advantageous improvements of the connection device for a sensor specified in independent patent claim 1 and of the sensor specified in independent patent claim 6.It is particularly advantageous that the base body can be electrically and mechanically connected to the at least one contact point of the printed circuit board via at least one soldered connection. In addition, the at least one electrical connection between the at least one contact point of the external interface and the at least one corresponding contact point of the printed circuit board can be produced via at least one through-connection which is formed in the main body and is electrically connected to at least one associated mating contact point in the main body, which in turn is electrically and mechanically connected to the at least one contact point of the printed circuit board via the at least one soldered connection. Preferably, the through-contacts with the associated counter-contact points can each be designed as stamped grids. The stamped grids can be encapsulated with a plastic to form the base body. The embodiment of the base body as a plastic injection molded part with inserted stamped grid advantageously enables a cost-effective and simple realization of the support unit.In an advantageous embodiment of the sensor according to the invention, the base body of the support unit can have a protruding edge which closes off the protective sleeve in the joined state. As a result, the contact protection and the protection against invading foreign bodies for the sensor can be improved.In a further advantageous embodiment of the sensor according to the invention, two opposing spring-elastic contact elements can be arranged on the outer contour of the base body. This advantageously allows simpler centering and alignment of the connection device during the insertion process into the protective sleeve.In a further advantageous embodiment of the sensor according to the invention, the at least one measuring element can be designed, for example, as a pressure measuring cell.Exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description. In the drawings, like reference numerals designate components or elements that perform like or analogous functions.Brief Description of the DrawingsFIGS. 1 and 2 each show a schematic perspective partial sectional representation of an exemplary embodiment of a sensor according to the invention with a connection device according to the invention. FIG. 3 shows a schematic perspective illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a connection device according to the invention for the sensor according to the invention from FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 4 shows a schematic perspective illustration of a detail of the connection device according to the invention from FIG. 3. FIGS. 5 and 6 each show a schematic perspective illustration of an exemplary embodiment of a half shell for a support unit of the connection device according to the invention from FIGS. 3 and 4. FIGS. 7 and 8 each show a schematic perspective illustration of different production states during the production of the connection device according to the invention from FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 9 shows a schematic perspective illustration of the exemplary embodiment of the sensor according to the invention from FIG. 1 during the insertion of the connection device according to the invention into the protective sleeve.Embodiments of the InventionAs can be seen from FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 to 9, the illustrated exemplary embodiment of the sensor 1 according to the invention comprises a protective sleeve 20, in which at least one measuring element 50, a circuit carrier 60 and a connection device 3 for the sensor 1 with a printed circuit board 40 placed substantially perpendicular to the end face of the circuit carrier 60 and a support unit 30, which comprises a base body 32 with an outer contour 37, are arranged. The printed circuit board 40 is designed such that it can be fitted on both sides and comprises an electronic circuit 44 having at least one electronic and / or electrical component 44.1, 44.2, which performs, for example, signal amplification and / or processing of a raw signal of the measuring element 50. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the electronic circuit 44 comprises an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) 44.1 and a corresponding protective circuit having a plurality of electrical and / or electronic components 44.2. Electrical connections between the ASIC 44.1 and the electrical and / or electronic components 44.2 are produced by conductor tracks 42.5 and soldering points. In addition, in the exemplary embodiment shown, the sensor 1 is designed as a pressure sensor and the at least one measuring element 50 is designed as a pressure measuring cell which converts the hydraulic pressure into at least one electrical output signal. In the exemplary embodiment shown, measuring element 50, which is designed as a pressure measuring cell, has a plurality of connection points 52, via which the at least one electrical output signal of measuring element 50 can be tapped. The circuit carrier 60 has an internal interface 24, which taps off the at least one electrical output signal of the measuring element 50 and applies it to the electronic circuit 44. In addition, an output signal of the electronic circuit 44 can be tapped via an external interface 26. In this case, the internal interface 24 is formed at a first end 20.1 of the protective sleeve 20, and the external interface 26 is formed at a second end 20.2 of the protective sleeve 20. The protective sleeve 20 protects the interior of the sensor 1 from excessive mechanical stress.The support unit 30 for the printed circuit board 40 forms the external interface 26 with at least one electrical contact point 34, via which at least one electrical output signal of the electronic circuit 44 can be picked up. The at least one contact point 34 is electrically connected to at least one corresponding contact point 46, 48 of the printed circuit board 40 via an electrical connection. Here, the support unit 30 comprises at least one spring-elastic contact element 38 which is arranged on the outer contour 37 of the base body 32. The base body 32 of the support unit 30 is supported against an inner contour 22 of the protective sleeve 20 via the at least one spring-elastic contact element 38 and establishes the electrically conductive connection between the printed circuit board 40 and the protective sleeve 20.As can be further seen from FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 to 9, the base body 32 of the support unit 30 has a cylindrical shape and comprises in the exemplary embodiment shown two half shells 32.1, 32.2 which each have at least one contact point 34 of the external interface 26. The at least one electrical connection between the at least one contact point 34 of the external interface 26 and the at least one corresponding contact point 46, 48 of the printed circuit board 40 is produced via at least one through-connection 35 formed in the main body 32, which is electrically connected to at least one associated mating contact point 36 in the main body 32, which in turn is electrically and mechanically connected to the at least one contact point 46, 48 of the printed circuit board 40 via at least one soldered connection. In the exemplary embodiments shown, the support unit 30 has four contact points 34, wherein two contact points 34 are arranged on each half shell 32.1, 32.2. In addition, in the illustrated exemplary embodiment of the sensor 1 according to the invention, a spring-elastic contact element 38 is arranged on each half shell 32.1, 32.2 of the base body 32 of the support unit 30, such that in the joined state two spring-elastic contact elements 38 lying opposite one another are arranged on the outer contour 37 of the base body 32. Furthermore, the base body 32 of the support unit 30 has a protruding edge 33, which closes off the protective sleeve 20 in the joined state.As can be further seen from FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 to 9, the half shells 32.1, 32.2 each have at least one first joining geometry 39, which are designed, for example, as noses. In the exemplary embodiment shown, two first joining geometries 39 designed as lugs are provided in each case. The first joining geometries 39 cooperate with at least one second joining geometry 42.1 of the printed circuit board 40 for the positionally correct positioning of the half shells 32.1, 32.2 during the production of the mechanical connection between the half shells 32.1, 32.2 and the printed circuit board 40. In the exemplary embodiment shown, two second joining geometries 42.1, designed as recesses, are provided on the printed circuit board 40, the dimensions of which are matched to the dimensions of the first joining geometries 39 designed as lugs.The support unit 30 is inserted at the second end 20.2 of the protective sleeve 20 so as to be movable in play and is supported by the two spring-elastic contact elements 38 against the inner contour 22 of the protective sleeve 20, which has an electrically conductive coating 22.1 or is made of an electrically conductive material in order to form a ground path.As can be further seen from FIGS. 1, 2 and 9, the protective sleeve 20 is designed as a hollow cylinder in the exemplary embodiment shown. The protective sleeve 20 is joined at the first end 20.1 to a sensor carrier 10 which has a fastening flange 12 and a measurement connection 18 which is designed as a self-clinching connection. The fastening flange 12 has a flange edge on which the protective sleeve 20 is supported and by means of which the pressure sensor 1 can be caulked to a fluid block, not shown. In addition, the fastening flange 12 comprises a stepped flange surface 14, wherein the step 16 between the flange edge and the flange surface 14 is used in the exemplary embodiments shown as a connecting region on which the protective sleeve 20 is pressed. In addition, the protective sleeve 20 can be welded to the fastening flange 12 at the transition of the step 16 to the flange edge.As can be further seen from FIGS. 1, 2 and 9, the base body 62 of the circuit carrier 60 in the exemplary embodiment shown is designed as a hollow cylinder with an inner joining geometry 65, which is adapted to an outer contour of the measuring element 50 designed as a pressure measuring cell and encloses the measuring element 50. The outer joining geometry 64 on the base body 62 of the circuit carrier 60 comprises two receiving pockets, each of which comprises at least one first contact point 66 for the electrical contacting of the circuit board 40. The at least one first contact point 66 is connected via an external conductor track on the base body 62 of the circuit carrier 60 to at least one second contact point 68 for the electrical contacting of the measuring element 50. For this purpose, the second contact points 68 arranged on an end face of the circuit carrier 60 are designed as bonding areas. Thus, the second contact points 68, which are designed as bonding areas, can be electrically conductively connected to the corresponding connection points 52 of the measurement element 50 via bonding wires. The circuit carrier 60 can be embodied, for example, as a plastic injection molded part in MID-1K technology (MID: molded interconnected device), as a plastic injection molded part in MID-2K technology or as a plastic injection molded part in which a stamped grid is embedded, which forms the first contact points 66, the second contact points 68 and the conductor tracks.The printed circuit board 40 has a cutout 42.3 on the base carrier 42, which cutout is bounded on two opposite sides in each case by a guide leg 42.4. The two guide legs 42.4 of the printed circuit board 40 are each joined to a receiving pocket of the outer joining geometry 64 of the circuit carrier 60. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the two guide legs 42.4 of the printed circuit board 40 are guided via inner guide edges in the receiving pockets of the circuit carrier 60. Additionally or alternatively, the guide legs 42.4 of the printed circuit board 40 can also be guided via outer guide edges on the inner contour 22 of the protective sleeve 20. By appropriate shaping of the receiving pockets, the printed circuit board 40 can have a predeterminable small angle of inclination with respect to the vertical vertical axis of the sensor 1, if necessary.As can be further seen from FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 to 9, the base carrier 42 of the printed circuit board 40 placed substantially perpendicular to the end face of the circuit carrier 60 has, in the region of the guide legs 42.4, contact surfaces 46 which form the internal electrical interface 24 with corresponding first contact points 66 or contact surfaces in the region of the outer joining geometry 64 on the base body 62 of the circuit carrier 60. In the region of the second joining geometry 42.1, the base carrier 42 of the printed circuit board 40 has contact points 46, 48 which are contacted by the corresponding counter-contact points 36 of the half shells 32.1, 32.2 of the base body 32 of the support unit 30.As can be further seen from FIGS. 5 and 6, the half shells 32.1, 32.2 of the base body 32 of the support unit 30 in the exemplary embodiment shown are each designed as a plastic injection-molded part, in which stamped grids are embedded, which form the contact points 34 of the external interface 26 and the through-contacts 35 and the counter-contact points 36 and the connection points 31.As can be further seen from FIGS. 1, 2 and 9, the fastening flange 12 can be pressed or connected to the fluid block, not shown, for example by means of a self-clinching connection 18. In addition to the above-described connecting region 16 for pressing on or welding the protective sleeve 20, adhesive sites are provided on the flange surface 14, to which holding adhesive 5 can be applied in order to fasten the base body 62 of the circuit carrier 60 to the sensor carrier 10. Of course, other suitable connection techniques known to the skilled person can also be used to join the circuit carrier 60 to the sensor carrier 10 in a rotationally secure manner. Thus, for example, a circumferential receiving groove can be introduced on the fastening flange 12 of the sensor carrier 10, which can form a clip connection with latching noses or latching brackets formed on the base body 62 of the circuit carrier 60. The measuring element 50 designed as a pressure measuring cell is placed on a tubular support of the fastening flange 12 that is not visible in such a way that a measuring membrane of the pressure measuring cell is deformed depending on the pressure of the fluid in the hydraulic block. The deformation of the measuring membrane is detected by a measuring bridge. The measuring bridge is connected to four contact points 52, which are each electrically connected via bonding wires 54 to the second contact points 68, designed as bonding areas, of the circuit carrier 60.During the production of the sensor 1, the pressure measuring cell is welded to the sensor carrier 10. The circuit carrier 60 is then adhesively bonded on, the holding adhesive 5 being introduced between the flange surface 14 and a base surface of the circuit carrier 60. After the circuit carrier 60 has been adhesively bonded on, the bonding connections between the measuring element 50 and the circuit carrier are produced. The protective sleeve 20 is then pressed on and optionally fixed by means of a spot weld.As can be further seen from FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 to 9, conductor tracks 42.5, soldering points for the application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) 44.1 or the electrical and / or electronic components 44.2, the contact points 46 for the electrical connection to the circuit carrier 60 and the contact points 46 for the electrical and mechanical connection to the support unit 30 are arranged on the printed surface of the printed circuit board 40. In addition, connection points 48 are arranged on the printed circuit board 40, which do not perform an electrical function, but are used only for mechanically connecting the printed circuit board 40 to the support unit 30. The solder joints for the application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) 44.1 or the electrical and / or electronic components 44.2 and the contact points 46 and connection points 48 are printed with solder paste for the electrical and mechanical connection to the support unit 30. Subsequently, the front side of the printed circuit board is first equipped with the application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) 44.1, the electrical and / or electronic components 44.2 and with the first half shell 32.1. The rear side of the printed circuit board 40 is then fitted with the corresponding electrical and / or electronic components 44.2 and with the second half shell 32.2. After the mounting, the mounted printed circuit board 40 passes through a continuous furnace in which the soldered connections are produced. Thus, the joining of the half shells 32.1, 32.2 of the base body 32 of the support unit 30 to the printed circuit board 40 takes place advantageously simultaneously with the fitting of the printed circuit board 40 with the at least one electronic and / or electrical component 44.1, 44.2.As can further be seen from FIG. 9, after the joining of the connection device 3, the conductor plate 40 is inserted into the receiving pockets of the outer joining geometry 64 on the base body 62 of the circuit carrier 60 and, if appropriate, fixed there with holding adhesive 5 and conductor adhesive 7 in order to ensure an electrically conductive connection between the circuit carrier 60 and the circuit board 40 and to fix the circuit board 40. The holding adhesive 5 is introduced, for example, on base surfaces of the receiving pockets of the circuit carrier 60 and the conductive adhesive is applied, for example, to the contact surfaces 46 of the printed circuit board 40. Alternatively, the first contact points 66 on the base body 62 of the circuit carrier can be designed as spring-elastic contact elements, which exert a force perpendicular to the insertion direction of the circuit board 40 on the contact surfaces 46 of the circuit board 40 and at the same time fix the circuit board 40 inserted into the receiving pockets of the outer joining geometry 64, so that the holding adhesive 5 and the conductive adhesive 7 can be dispensed with at this point.The described connection device according to the invention is suitable in particular for use in a pressure sensor for brake systems of motor vehicles, but is not limited thereto. Thus, the connection device according to the invention can also be used, for example, for optical and / or acoustic measuring cells. In particular in brake systems of the premium class, a large number of pressure sensors are used with only limited installation space. A pressure sensor that is minimized in installation space is therefore particularly suitable for this application.Embodiments of the connection device according to the invention advantageously support the printed circuit board against the protective sleeve and prevent the printed circuit board from tilting. In addition, embodiments of the connection device according to the invention advantageously provide a secure electrical connection between the sensor mass and the housing mass as a discharge path for ESD / EMC faults via at least one resilient contact element arranged on the base body of the support unit. The at least one spring-elastic contact element advantageously enables fixing or centering of the printed circuit board in the protective sleeve. Furthermore, the at least one spring-elastic contact element acts as a damping element under shaking loads, which can occur in particular when used in a motor vehicle. In addition, due to the elasticity of the at least one spring-elastic contact element, secure contacting and formation of the discharge path is possible even under effective external forces.

Claims

Connection device (3) for a sensor (1) having a support unit (30) and a printed circuit board (40) which carries an electronic circuit (44) having at least one electronic and / or electrical component (44.1, 44.2), wherein the support unit (30) comprises a base body (32) having an outer contour (37) which forms an external interface (26) having at least two electrical contact points (34) via which at least one electrical output signal of the electronic circuit (44) can be picked up, wherein the at least two contact points (34) are each electrically connected via an electrical connection to a corresponding contact point (46) of the printed circuit board (40), wherein the support unit (30) comprises at least two resilient contact elements (38) which are arranged on the outer contour (37) of the base body (32), characterized in that the base body (32) of the support unit (30) is of multipart design and comprises two half shells (32.1, 32.2), wherein each half shell (32.1, 32.2) has at least one contact point (34) of the external interface (26) and at least one spring-elastic contact element (38).Connection device (3) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the base body (32) is electrically and mechanically connected to the printed circuit board (40) by at least one soldered connection.Connection device (3) according to claim 2, characterised in that the respective electrical connection between the respective contact point (34) of the external interface (26) and the respective corresponding contact point (46) of the printed circuit board (40) is produced via at least one through-contact (35) formed in the base body (32), which is electrically connected to an associated counter-contact point (36) in the base body (32), which in turn is electrically and mechanically connected to the respective contact point (46) of the printed circuit board (40) via a soldered connection.Connection device (3) according to Claim 3, characterized in that the plated-through holes (35) with the associated mating contact points (36) are each designed as stamped grids.Connection device (3) according to Claim 4, characterized in that the base body (32) is designed as an injection-moulded plastics part.Sensor (1) having a protective sleeve (20), in which at least one measuring element (50), a circuit carrier (60) and a connection device (3) having a printed circuit board (40) which is arranged perpendicular to the circuit carrier (60) and carries an electronic circuit (44) having at least one electronic and / or electrical component (44.1, 44.2), and a supporting unit (30) are arranged, which comprises a base body (32) having an outer contour (37), wherein the circuit carrier (60) has an internal interface (24), which taps off at least one electrical output signal of the measuring element (50) and applies it to the electronic circuit (44), wherein the base body (32) forms an external interface (26) having at least two electrical contact points (34), via which at least one output signal of the electronic circuit (44) can be tapped off, wherein the at least two contact points (34) are each electrically connected via an electrical connection to a corresponding contact point (46) of the printed circuit board (40), and wherein an electrically conductive connection between the printed circuit board (40) and the protective sleeve (20) can be produced via the support unit (30), characterized in that the connection device (3) is designed according to one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the base body (32) of the support unit (30) is supported via the at least two spring-elastic contact elements (38) against the inner contour (22) of the protective sleeve (20) and produces the electrically conductive connection between the printed circuit board (40) and the protective sleeve (20).Sensor (1) according to Claim 6, characterized in that the base body (32) of the supporting unit (30) has a protruding edge (33), which closes off the protective sleeve (20) in the joined state.Sensor (1) according to Claim 6 or 7, characterized in that two mutually opposite spring-elastic contact elements (38) are arranged on the outer contour (37) of the base body (32).Sensor (1) according to one of Claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the at least one measuring element (50) is designed as a pressure measuring cell.

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