Device for aligning the contact terminals of an electrical component for mounting on a circuit board of an electrical circuit

Abstract

Device for aligning contact terminals of an electrical component for mounting on a circuit board of an electrical circuit, comprising: - a support element (110) to which the electrical component (200) can be fixed, - several bending elements (120, 120a, 120b), - wherein the support element (110) has several holes (111) which penetrate the support element (110) from a top (O110) to a bottom (U110) of the support element, - wherein a respective section (121) of the bending elements (120, 120a, 120b) is attached to the support element (110) and a respective end (122) of the bending elements projects into a respective of the holes (111) of the support element, - wherein the bending elements (120, 120a, 120b) are designed such that the respective end (122) of the bending elements is bent towards the underside (U110) of the carrier element when one of the contact terminals (210) of the electrical component (200) is inserted from the top (O110) of the carrier element into the respective hole (111) within the hole (111) and clamps the respective contact terminal (210) of the electrical component (200), so that the electrical component (200) is fixed to the carrier element (110), - wherein the support element (110) has several columns (112), - wherein the respective section (121) of the bending elements (120, 120a, 120b) is inserted into a respective column (112), and - wherein the respective gap (112) opens into a respective hole (111) of the support element (110).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for aligning the contact terminals of an electrical component for mounting on a circuit board of an electrical circuit. The invention further relates to an electrical component arrangement with such a device. The invention also relates to an electrical circuit with such an electrical component arrangement.

[0002] An electrical circuit consists of interconnected electrical components. These components are typically arranged on a circuit board. The components are connected via conductive traces on the surface of the board or within the board itself. An electrical component is connected to the circuit traces on the board via its contact points, such as contact pins. The circuit board usually has holes into which the contact points, such as the contact pins, of the electrical component are inserted. The contact points are then soldered into the designated holes, thus connecting the electrical component to the circuit traces and fixing it to the board.

[0003] The assembly of electronic components onto a circuit board is generally automated, for example, using a pick-and-place process. In this process, the electronic components are picked up by a gripper and automatically inserted into the circuit board's contact holes with their contact leads or pins. To facilitate gripping of a component with the pick-and-place machine and to align the component's contact leads so that they can be inserted into the designated contact holes on the circuit board, the component can be pre-mounted on a device for aligning its contact leads. Such a device is commonly referred to as a grid plate. The grid plate has holes arranged in a predefined grid pattern.To fix the electrical component to the grid plate, the contact leads of the electrical component are inserted into the holes of the grid plate and are thus aligned accordingly to be inserted into the contact holes of the circuit board without having to bend the contact leads.

[0004] Devices for fastening electrical components are partly known from the prior art.

[0005] German patent application DE 100 47 153 A1 describes a fastening device with holes for conductor wires. Leaf springs and opposing retaining elements help to secure the wires inserted into the holes. The leaf springs and retaining elements are preferably designed as part of a sleeve that is inserted into the respective hole.

[0006] US patent application US 5,426,265 A further discloses a mounting device for an LED. The LED's leads can be inserted into channels of the mounting device. Flexible tabs are integrally formed with the inner wall of the channels, and these tabs bend when the leads are inserted, thus securing them.

[0007] One objective of the present invention is to provide a device for aligning the contact terminals of an electrical component for mounting on a circuit board, wherein the contact terminals of the electrical component can be easily fixed in a hole of the device and slipping out of the respective hole is prevented. A further objective of the present invention is to provide an electrical component arrangement with a device for aligning the contact terminals of an electrical component for mounting on a circuit board, wherein the contact terminals of the electrical component can be easily inserted into one of the holes provided for this purpose in the device and are securely fixed therein, so that slipping out of the respective contact terminal is prevented.

[0008] A further object of the present invention is to provide an electrical circuit with such an electrical component arrangement which makes it possible to align the contact terminals of the electrical component and to securely fix the electrical component in holes provided for this purpose in the device for aligning the contact terminals of the electrical component.

[0009] An embodiment of a device for aligning the contact terminals of an electrical component for mounting on a circuit board of an electrical circuit is specified in claim 1. The device comprises a support element to which the electrical component can be fixed, and several bending elements. The support element has several holes that penetrate the support element from a top to a bottom. A section of each bending element is attached to the support element. An end of each bending element projects into a hole in the support element.The bending elements are designed in such a way that when one of the contact terminals of the electrical component is inserted from the top of the support element into the respective hole, the respective end of the bending elements is bent towards the underside of the support element and clamps the respective contact terminal of the electrical component, so that the electrical component is fixed to the support element.

[0010] Further embodiments of the device can be found in the dependent claims.

[0011] An electrical component arrangement comprising an electrical component whose contact terminals are aligned for mounting on a circuit board is specified in claim 11. The electrical component arrangement includes, in addition to the electrical component with the contact terminals, a device for aligning the contact terminals of the electrical component for mounting on the circuit board. Each contact terminal of the electrical component is inserted into the respective hole of the support element and is clamped to the support element by the bent end of the bending elements of the device.

[0012] An embodiment of an electrical circuit in which the contact terminals of an electrical component are aligned for mounting on the circuit board is specified in claim 12. The electrical circuit comprises the electrical component arrangement described above and a circuit board. The electrical component arrangement is positioned on the circuit board such that the device for aligning the contact terminals of the electrical component for mounting on the circuit board is located between the circuit board and the electrical component.

[0013] The support element of the device can be made of any material that can be injection molded, cast, milled, printed, or formed. The bending elements can be injected, inserted, or overmolded into the support element. The bending elements can, for example, each be in the form of a flexible plate. The bending elements can be made of metal or plastic.

[0014] The bending elements are initially straight in their unmounted state. They are mounted to the support element in such a way that a portion of them, for example, their end, protrudes into the respective hole through which a pin wire of the electrical component is inserted during assembly. The number of holes in the support element corresponds to the electrical component to be mounted on it. For components with, for example, 2 to 64 pins, a corresponding number of holes can be provided in the support element.

[0015] When mounting the electrical component on the fixture or grid plate, and the contact connections, such as wires or contact pins, are inserted through the holes in the carrier element, the bending elements protruding into the holes with their ends are bent downwards. This completely exposes the respective holes for the contact connections or contact pins of the components, so that the contact connections are fully inserted into the holes and protrude from the holes on the underside of the carrier element.

[0016] Once an electrical component has been mounted on the device's support element, it is no longer possible to push back the contact connections or contact pins of the electrical component, as the contact connections are prevented from doing so by the respective bent element, for example, a bent plate. The ends of the bending elements cannot be bent back, so the contact connections of the electrical component are thus firmly fixed to the support element.

[0017] The device for aligning the contact terminals of an electrical component for mounting on a circuit board can be used for contact terminals or contact pins with wire diameters from 0.01 mm to 10 mm. The device can be used to fix electrical components whose contact terminals are made of either round or flat wire. The contact terminals of an electrical component, which can be fixed in the holes of the support element by the bending elements, can be designed as SMD (Surface Mounted Device) or PTH (Pin Through Hole) pins.

[0018] According to one possible embodiment, instead of a single bending element, several bending elements can be used within one of the holes. The position of the bending elements within the respective hole of the support element can vary from one-sided to both-sided.

[0019] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to figures showing exemplary embodiments of the present invention. These figures show: Fig. 1. A top surface of a device for aligning contact terminals of an electrical component for mounting on a circuit board of an electrical circuit, Fig. 2. an underside of a device for aligning contact terminals of an electrical component for mounting on a circuit board of an electrical circuit, Fig. 3 a cross-section through a device for aligning contact terminals of an electrical component for mounting on a circuit board of an electrical circuit, Fig. 4 an embodiment of a device for aligning contact terminals of an electrical component for mounting on a circuit board of an electrical circuit with several bending elements within one of the holes of the support element, Fig. 5A A perspective view of an electrical component arrangement with an electrical component before mounting on a device for aligning the contact terminals of the electrical component, Fig. 5B an electrical component arrangement with an electrical component before mounting on a device for aligning contact terminals of the electrical component in a sectional view, Fig. 5C an electrical component arrangement with an electrical component mounted on a device for aligning the contact terminals of the electrical component in a sectional view, Fig. 6 an embodiment of an electrical circuit with an electrical component arrangement mounted on a circuit board of the electrical circuit.

[0020] The Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 2 shows, in the specified order, a view of a device 100 for aligning contact terminals of an electrical component for mounting on a circuit board of an electrical circuit from a top and a bottom. Fig. Figure 3 shows a section through the device 100 for aligning the contact terminals of an electrical component for mounting on a circuit board of an electrical circuit. The design of the device 100, which is also referred to as a grid board, is described below with reference to the Fig. 1 to 3 explained.

[0021] The device 100 for aligning the contact terminals of an electrical component for mounting on a circuit board comprises a support element 110 to which the electrical component can be fixed. The device 100 further comprises several bending elements 120. The support element 110 also has several holes 111, each extending from a top surface O110 to a bottom surface U110 of the support element. A section 121 of each bending element 120 is attached to the support element 110. An end 122 of each bending element 120 projects into one of the holes 111 of the support element 110.

[0022] The bending elements 120 are designed such that when one of the contact terminals of the electrical component is inserted from the top O110 of the carrier element into the respective hole 111, the respective end 122 of the bending elements is bent within the hole 111 in the direction of the bottom U110 of the carrier element 110 and clamps the respective contact terminal of the electrical component, so that the electrical component is fixed to the carrier element 110.

[0023] According to one possible embodiment, the support element 110 can be made of a plastic material. The respective section 121 of the bending elements 120 can be embedded in the material of the support element 110. In particular, the respective section 121 of the bending elements 120 can be cast or injection-molded into the material of the support element 110. According to an alternative embodiment, the respective section 121 of the bending elements 120 can also be injection-molded onto the support element 110.

[0024] The support element 110 has several slots 112. The respective section 121 of the bending elements 120 can be inserted into a respective slot 112. The respective slot 112 opens into a respective hole 111 of the support element 110. The bending elements 120 can, for example, be inserted into the respective slot 112 of the support element 110 to such an extent that their respective end 122 projects into a respective hole 111 of the support element.

[0025] According to another possible embodiment, the bending elements 120 can be made of a metal or plastic material. In particular, the bending elements 120 can each be designed as a flexible plate that is injected, inserted, or overmolded into the plastic support element.

[0026] The bending elements are straight before being fixed to the support element 110. After being fixed to the support element, the respective end 122 of the bending elements 120, in their unbent state, projects perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the respective hole 111 of the support element 110 into the hole 111. The bending elements 120 can, in particular, be designed such that, when the respective contact terminal of the electrical component is inserted from the top of the support element into the respective designated hole 111 of the support element, the respective end 122 of the bending elements is bent within the hole 111 from the contact terminal of the electrical component towards the underside U110 of the support element 110.

[0027] According to one possible embodiment, the respective end 122 of the bending elements 120 projects into the respective hole 111 of the support element 110 in such a way that an area of ​​the diameter of the hole 111 is reduced by 0.1% to 50%.

[0028] Fig. Figure 4 shows a further embodiment of the device 100 for aligning the contact terminals of an electrical component for mounting on a circuit board of an electrical circuit. Instead of arranging only a single bending element in each of the holes 111 of the support element, several bending elements can also be provided, with their respective ends projecting into the respective hole.

[0029] Fig. Figure 4 shows, by way of example, the bending elements 120a, 120b, which are attached to the support element 110 with their respective sections 121a and 121b. The respective ends 122a and 122b of the bending elements 120a and 120b project from different sides into the respective hole 111 of the support element 110. In the Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the respective ends 122a and 122b of the bending elements 120a and 120b project from opposite sides into the respective hole 111 of the support element 110. Instead of the two bending elements 120a and 120b, further bending elements can be provided, which open into one of the holes 111 of the support element 110 from different directions with their respective ends.

[0030] Fig. Figure 5A shows a perspective view of an electrical component arrangement 10 before the mounting of an electrical component 200 with contact terminals 210 on the support element 110 of the device 100 for aligning the contact terminals 210 of the electrical component 200. In the example shown, the electrical component 200 is designed as an inductor. The contact terminals 210 of the electrical component 200 are designed as the ends of electrical conductors 220. The electrical conductors 220 are wound around a core 230 of the electrical component.

[0031] Fig. Figure 5B shows a view of an electrical component arrangement 10 before the electrical component 200 is mounted on the cutaway device 100 for aligning the contact terminals 210 of the electrical component 200. The arrows indicate the insertion direction of the contact terminals 210 of the electrical component into the holes 111 of the support element 110 of the device 100.

[0032] Fig. Figure 5C shows a fully assembled electrical component arrangement 10 with the electrical component 200 mounted on the device 100 for aligning the contact terminals 210 of the electrical component 200. The contact terminals 210 penetrate from the top surface O110 of the carrier element 110 into the respective holes 111 of the carrier element. The ends 122 of the bending elements 120 are bent downwards towards the underside U110 of the carrier element 110. This clamps the contact terminals 210 of the electrical component 200 to the carrier element 110. Due to the bending of the ends 122 of the bending elements 120, the contact terminals 210 of the electrical component 200 can no longer be pushed back and are thus firmly fixed within the holes 111 of the carrier element 110.

[0033] The carrier element 110 can have retaining elements 130 for holding the core 230 of the electrical component 200. The retaining elements 130 can be designed as locking hooks into which the core 230 of the electrical component snaps when the contact terminals 210 of the electrical component are inserted into the holes 111 of the carrier element 110.

[0034] Fig.Figure 6 shows an embodiment of an electrical circuit 1 with the electrical component arrangement 10, which is mounted on a circuit board 20. The circuit board 20 has contact holes 21 for connecting the contact terminals 210 of the electrical component 200 to the conductor tracks of the circuit board. The respective contact terminals 210 of the electrical component, which protrude from the respective holes 111 of the carrier element 110 on the underside U110 of the carrier element 110, are inserted into the respective contact holes (21) of the circuit board 20. The electrical component arrangement 10 is thus arranged on the circuit board 20 such that the device 100 for aligning the contact terminals 210 of the electrical component 200 is located between the circuit board 20 and the electrical component 200.

[0035] The device 100 enables the alignment of the contact terminals 210 of the electrical component, so that the electrical component 200 or the electrical component assembly 10 can be easily inserted by a gripper of a pick-and-place machine into the designated contact holes 21 of the circuit board 20. The bending elements 120 fix the electrical component 200 to the support element 110 of the device 100 and prevent the contact terminals 210 of the electrical component 200 from slipping out when the electrical component 200 is placed on the circuit board 20. Reference symbol list 1 electrical circuit 10 electrical component arrangement 20 circuit boards 100 Device for aligning contact terminals of an electrical component 110 support element 120 bending element 130 retaining element 200 electrical components 210 Contact connection 220 electrical conductor 230 core

Claims

[1] Device for aligning contact terminals of an electrical component for mounting on a circuit board of an electrical circuit, comprising: - a support element (110) to which the electrical component (200) can be fixed, - several bending elements (120, 120a, 120b), - wherein the support element (110) has several holes (111) which penetrate the support element (110) from a top (O110) to a bottom (U110) of the support element, - wherein a respective section (121) of the bending elements (120, 120a, 120b) is attached to the support element (110) and a respective end (122) of the bending elements projects into a respective of the holes (111) of the support element, - wherein the bending elements (120, 120a, 120b) are designed such that the respective end (122) of the bending elements is bent towards the underside (U110) of the carrier element when one of the contact terminals (210) of the electrical component (200) is inserted from the top (O110) of the carrier element into the respective hole (111) within the hole (111) and clamps the respective contact terminal (210) of the electrical component (200), so that the electrical component (200) is fixed to the carrier element (110), - wherein the support element (110) has several columns (112), - wherein the respective section (121) of the bending elements (120, 120a, 120b) is inserted into a respective column (112), and - wherein the respective gap (112) opens into a respective hole (111) of the support element (110). [2] Device according to claim 1, wherein the support element (110) is made of a plastic material. [3] Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the respective section (121) of the bending elements (120, 120a, 120b) is embedded in the material of the support element (110). [4] Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the bending elements (120, 120a, 120b) are each made of a material of metal or plastic. [5] Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the respective end (122) of the bending elements (120, 120a, 120b) projects into the respective hole (111) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the respective hole (111) of the support element in the unbent state. [6] Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the bending elements (120, 120a, 120b) are designed such that the respective end (122) of the bending elements is bent inside the hole (111) of the contact terminal (210) of the electrical component (200) when the respective contact terminal (210) of the electrical component (200) is inserted from the top (O110) of the carrier element (110) into the respective hole (111) of the carrier element in the direction of the bottom (U110) of the hole (111) of the contact terminal (210) of the carrier element. [7] Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the respective end (122) of the bending elements (120, 120a, 120b) projects into the respective hole (111) of the support element (110) in such a way that an area of ​​the diameter of the hole (111) is reduced by 0.1% to 50%. [8] Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the respective ends (122a, 122b) of at least two of the bending elements (120a, 120b) project into the respective hole (111) of the support element (110) from different sides. [9] Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the bending elements (120, 120a, 120b) are each designed as a flexible plate. [10] Electrical component arrangement comprising: - a device (100) for aligning contact terminals of an electrical component for mounting on a circuit board of an electrical circuit according to any one of claims 1 to 9, - an electrical component (200) with contact terminals (210), - wherein each of the contact terminals (210) of the electrical component (200) is inserted into each of the holes (111) of the support element (110) and is clamped to the support element (110) by the bent respective end (122) of the bending elements (120, 120a, 120b) of the device (100). [11] Electrical circuit comprising: - an electrical component arrangement (10) according to claim 10, - a circuit board (20) with contact connections (21), - wherein the respective contact terminals (210) of the electrical component, which protrude from the respective holes (111) of the carrier element (110) on the underside (U110) of the carrier element (110), are inserted into the respective contact holes (21) of the circuit board, - wherein the device (100) for aligning the contact terminals of the electrical component (200) for mounting on the circuit board (20) of the electrical circuit (1) is arranged between the circuit board (20) and the electrical component (200).

Images