Cable carrier for a control unit and control unit

Abstract

Conductor carrier (4) for a control unit (2), with a plate-like carrier body (10) with flat sides (12, 14) for carrying electronic and mechanical components (16) as well as electrically conductive conductor tracks on the surface of a flat side (12, 14), and with a heating conductor track (20) laid inside the carrier body (10) for heating and thus curing an adhesive layer (6) applied to the surface of a flat side (12, 14) of the carrier body (10).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a conductor carrier for a control unit, comprising a plate-like support body for carrying electronic and mechanical components and electrically conductive conductor tracks. The invention further relates to a control unit for a motor vehicle, for example a transmission control unit, with such a conductor carrier.

[0002] Transmission control units (controllers) are frequently used to control vehicle transmissions. These control units typically consist of a printed circuit board or flexible membrane as a conductor carrier, on which the electrical, electronic, and mechanical components of the control unit are arranged. Typically, these control units are located near the corresponding vehicle transmission, which means they often come into contact with the transmission fluid.

[0003] The components of the control unit, such as chokes or protective covers, are often attached to the circuit board using an adhesive, for example, a laminate. Furthermore, the circuit board is usually attached to a substrate, such as an aluminum or plastic plate, using the same adhesive. The problem here is that liquid adhesives, such as silicone or acrylic adhesives, have relatively poor resistance to the chemically aggressive oil. Therefore, only thermally cured adhesives are typically used. These thermally curable, oil-resistant adhesives are typically baked and cured in (curing) ovens using aluminum base plates as workpiece carriers. This process unfortunately makes the production of the control units particularly costly and time-consuming.

[0004] A heat-release adhesive is known from US patent 2014 / 0287299A1. This heat-release adhesive bonds electronic device components, such as a battery and a housing. The adhesive includes a heat-generating layer that produces heat to release structures bonded together by the adhesive. The heat-generating layer includes a conductive layer that generates heat when an electric current flows through it. The heat-release adhesive also includes additional adhesive layers, such as a voided polymer film with air-filled cavities and one or more pressure-sensitive adhesive layers. A release tool applies current to conductive contacts on the conductive layer to generate heat in the heat-generating layer when the structures bonded by the adhesive are to be released.

[0005] German patent application DE 10 2014 210 461 A1 describes a printed circuit board (PCB) for a controller, which includes electrical conductors for establishing electrical connections between the controller's components and a heating conductor. The heating conductor is located on the surface of the PCB and can be connected to a power source during the PCB's manufacture or assembly. This allows a potting compound applied to the heating conductor to be heated and cured by the current applied to the heating conductor. However, the placement of the heating conductor on the PCB's surface negatively restricts the available space for components on the board.

[0006] From EP 1 842 393 B1, a printed circuit board is known which is temperature-controlled during operation by means of a heating wire arranged within the circuit board. The heating wire has electrical insulation and is connected to a voltage source. For contact, the heating wire has terminals at its ends, which are arranged on a side surface of the circuit board. The electrically conductive contact between the heating wire and the voltage source is established by means of a metallurgical weld.

[0007] The invention is based on the objective of providing a particularly suitable conductor carrier for a control unit. In particular, it aims to enable the simplest, fastest, and most cost-effective possible drying of a thermally heat-curable adhesive layer applied to the conductor carrier. The invention further aims to provide a control unit for a motor vehicle incorporating such a conductor carrier.

[0008] With regard to the conductor carrier, the problem is solved according to the invention by the features of claim 1 and with regard to the controller by the features of claim 7. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject of the respective dependent claims.

[0009] The conductor carrier according to the invention is suitable and designed for a control unit, in particular a transmission control unit or transmission controller of a motor vehicle. A conductor carrier is understood to mean, in particular, a circuit board or printed circuit board, for example an HDI circuit board (high-density interconnect circuit board) or a flexible circuit board or a flex film.

[0010] The conductor carrier has a plate-like support body with flat surfaces for carrying electronic or electrical and mechanical components, as well as conductive traces on the surface of one of these flat surfaces that electrically connect the electronic components. In the case of a flexible film as the conductor carrier, the support body is designed to be correspondingly flexible or bendable. The components and conductive traces are applied, for example, as outer layer structures to a surface of the conductor carrier or the support body.

[0011] Within the carrier body, a heating conductor is laid for heating and thus curing an adhesive layer applied to the surface of one flat side of the carrier body. In other words, the heating conductor is located within the carrier body, i.e., integrated into it. The heating conductor is, for example, integrated into the carrier body as a heat-transferring layer or encapsulated within it. This results in a particularly suitable conductor carrier for a control unit.

[0012] The heating conductor is guided within the substrate, particularly in a loop or coiled configuration. The heating conductor is designed and configured to heat up during a bake-out or curing process and to dissipate the resulting heat into the surrounding substrate material – and thus to the flat side. For heating purposes, the heating conductor can be conveniently connected to a power source, such as an electric current or voltage source, especially during assembly.

[0013] By heating or curing using the heating conductor track, it is possible to introduce targeted heat into the conductor carrier during the manufacturing or assembly process of the control unit. This eliminates the need to heat the entire control unit and / or its surroundings, thus removing the need for costly baking ovens, for example. This significantly reduces heat loss during assembly or manufacturing. Furthermore, it ensures particularly time-saving manufacturing or assembly of the control unit. The simplified manufacturing process facilitates easier automation, enabling higher production volumes at lower costs.

[0014] In contrast to the prior art, the heating conductor track is therefore not arranged directly on the surface of the planar side that is in contact with the adhesive layer, but instead within the material of the substrate. This means that the installation space on the planar sides is not adversely restricted.

[0015] In one possible embodiment, for example, the adhesive layer could be arranged between the flat side of the carrier plate and an aluminum or plastic plate serving as a (control unit) carrier. The carrier would then act, for instance, as a heat sink for the control unit components. Particularly in the case of an aluminum plate as the carrier, it is conceivable that, in addition to the heating conductor, the aluminum plate could be heated to cure the adhesive layer, which could be designed as a laminate, for example. This would result in targeted heat input into the adhesive layer from both sides.

[0016] In an advantageous embodiment, the heating conductor is laid out in a meandering pattern within the carrier body, with the meandering course extending essentially over the entire surface of the carrier body or the flat side. Preferably, the heating conductor is guided in a plane parallel to the flat side of the carrier body. This ensures uniform and extensive heating of the flat side, thus enabling particularly effective and time-saving drying of an adhesive layer applied to it.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the energy transfer to the heating conductor for heating the adhesive layer is wireless, unlike in the prior art. In other words, energy is supplied wirelessly or without contact from an energy storage device to heat the heating conductor. The transferred energy is coupled into the heating conductor and, as an electric current, causes it to heat up. Wireless energy transfer provides a particularly advantageous conductor carrier, which is especially improved with regard to manufacturing and assembly.

[0018] The energy storage system is, for example, part of an external manufacturing plant.

[0019] In a practical implementation, energy transfer occurs inductively via an induction plate contacted with the heating conductor. During energy transfer, the induction plate is, for example, inductively coupled to a ferromagnetic layer of the control unit. This enables a cost-effective and efficient energy transfer to the heating conductor.

[0020] In an alternative, equally suitable embodiment, the energy is coupled directly into the heating conductor track, for example by means of microwave radiation, and thus heated.

[0021] In an advantageous embodiment, the heating conductor is located on the flat side of the substrate opposite the electronic components and electrically conductive conductors. In other words, the conductors and components are arranged on a flat side of the substrate opposite the adhesive layer, with the heating conductor being integrated closest to the adhesive-side flat side. This enables particularly efficient heating and curing of the adhesive layer.

[0022] In a suitable embodiment, an adhesive component is attached to the flat side of the carrier body by means of the adhesive layer. An adhesive or laminated component is understood here to be, in particular, a component made of a fiber composite material, which is attached or can be attached to the conductor carrier by means of the adhesive layer. Examples include covers or domes for sensors or collar elements for connectors, which, as adhesive components, can be attached simply and with minimal effort by heating the heating conductor track on the flat side of the carrier body.

[0023] In a preferred application, the cable carrier described above is part of a control unit for a motor vehicle, in particular a transmission control unit. The cable carrier enables the realization of a particularly efficient and easy-to-manufacture control unit.

[0024] An embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1. Sectional view of a control unit with a cable carrier which is coupled to a support by means of a potting layer, Fig. 2. Top view of a heating conductor track of the conductor carrier, Fig. 3 in perspective a first embodiment of a control unit, and Fig. 4 in perspective a second embodiment of the control unit.

[0025] Corresponding parts and sizes are always marked with the same reference symbols in the figures.

[0026] In the Fig. Figure 1 shows a control unit (controller) 2 of a motor vehicle transmission (not shown in detail). The control unit 2 has a conductor carrier 4, for example, designed as an HDI circuit board, which is connected to a carrier 8 by means of an adhesive layer 6, which is particularly oil-resistant. The conductor carrier 4 has a plate-like or plate-shaped carrier body 10 with two flat sides 12 and 14.

[0027] On the planar side 12 of the carrier body 10 facing away from the carrier 8, which is designed as an aluminum plate, the conductor carrier 4 has a number of electrical or electronic components 16 of the control unit 2, which are electrically contacted by means of conductor tracks not shown in detail.

[0028] The adhesive layer 6 consists of a thermally heat-curable adhesive or laminate and is applied between the flat side 14 of the carrier body 10 and a top surface 18 of the carrier 8 facing the carrier body 10. For curing or heating the adhesive layer 6, the conductor carrier 4 has a heating conductor track 20 that is either inserted into or integrated with the carrier body 10.

[0029] In this embodiment, the heating conductor 20 is guided and laid as a heat-conveying layer in a plane parallel to the plan faces 12 and 14 within the carrier body 10. The heating conductor 20 is preferably arranged in the layer of the carrier body 10 closest to plan face 14. In other words, the heating conductor 20 is arranged within the carrier body 10 offset towards plan face 14. Consequently, the heating conductor 20 is located closer to plan face 14 than to plan face 12.

[0030] The heating conductor 20, laid in an approximately loop-like or coil-like manner, is guided at its conductor ends 22 in this embodiment to a via 26 which is contacted with an induction plate 24. The induction plate 24 is arranged as an electrical contact area on the flat side 12 of the carrier body 10 and is electrically connected to the conductor ends 22 and thus to the heating conductor 20 by means of the perpendicularly running via 26.

[0031] To heat up or cure the adhesive layer 6, energy is inductively coupled via the induction plate 24 wirelessly, i.e., without contact. This generates an electric current, which is conducted into the heating conductor 20 via the via 26. The heating conductor 20 heats up as a result of the current and radiates heat into the surrounding material of the carrier body 10 and thus to the flat surface 14 and the adhesive layer 6 located thereon.

[0032] As seen in the top view of the Fig. As is relatively clearly visible in Figure 2, the heating conductor track 20 has a meandering or meandering course in the layer plane of the carrier body 10, which extends essentially over the entire surface of the carrier body 10 or the plan side 14. This ensures a particularly uniform and effective heating or curing of the adhesive layer 6 and thus a reliable hold of the conductor carrier 2 to the carrier 8.

[0033] In the Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the conductor ends 22, which are contacted by the vias 26, are arranged in a corner region of the carrier body 10. The heating conductor 20 extends from a first conductor end 22 and has a conductor section 28 that runs along one long side of the carrier body 10. In the adjacent corner region, the conductor section 28 terminates in a meandering conductor section 30 that runs between the long sides and connects to the second conductor end 22. In the embodiment shown, the conductor section 30 has nine consecutive meander loops 32.

[0034] In the Fig. 3 and Fig. Figure 4 shows two embodiments of the control unit 2, presented in comparative detail. In these embodiments, a number of laminated or adhesive components 34, 36, 38, 40 are attached as mechanical components to the planar side 14 of the carrier body 10 by means of a respective adhesive layer 6.

[0035] The adhesive components 34 are designed as flat (sensor) covers and the adhesive components 36 as raised (sensor) domes. The covers 34 and domes 36 are designed for the oil-tight and leak-free mounting of sensor elements of the control unit 2. The adhesive component 38 is designed as a connector or terminal for an electrically conductive plug connection for connecting the control unit 2 to a vehicle's power supply network. The in Fig. The adhesive component shown in Figure 3 is designed as a collar element for a plug connector 42.

[0036] The invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. Rather, other variants of the invention can also be derived by a person skilled in the art without departing from the subject matter of the invention. In particular, all features described in connection with the embodiment can also be combined with one another in other ways without departing from the subject matter of the invention. Reference symbol list 2 Control unit / controller 4 line carriers 6. Potting layer 8 carriers 10 carrier bodies 12 Plan page 14 Plan page 16 components 18 Top 20 heating conductor track 22 conductor track ends 24 induction hob 26 Through-hole plating 28 conductor track section 30 conductor track section 32 meander loop 34 Adhesive component / lid 36 Adhesive component / dome 38 Adhesive component / connector 40 Adhesive component / collar element 42 Plug connector

Claims

[1] Conductor carrier (4) for a control unit (2), comprising a plate-like carrier body (10) with flat sides (12, 14) for carrying electronic and mechanical components (16) as well as electrically conductive conductor tracks on the surface of a flat side (12, 14), and with a heating conductor track (20) laid within the carrier body (10) for heating and thus curing an adhesive layer (6) applied to the surface of a flat side (12, 14) of the carrier body (10). [2] Conductor support (4) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the heating conductor track (20) is laid in a meandering pattern and extends over the entire surface of the support body (10). [3] Conductor support (4) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that energy transfer to the heating conductor track (20) for heating and thus curing of the adhesive layer (6) takes place wirelessly. [4] Conductor (4) according to claim 3, characterized by, that the energy transfer is inductive by means of an induction plate (24) contacted with the heating conductor track (20). [5] Conductor support (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by , that the heating conductor track (20) is laid in the area of ​​the flat side (14) of the carrier body (10) opposite the electronic components (16) and electrically conductive conductor tracks. [6] Conductor support (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by , that by means of the adhesive layer (6) an adhesive component (34, 36, 38, 40) is attached to the plan side (14) of the carrier body (10). [7] Control unit (2) for a motor vehicle, comprising a conductor carrier (4) according to one of claims 1 to 6.

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