Motor vehicle lock with an electronic control unit

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for establishing an electrical connection between an energy storage device and a control unit, as well as a motor vehicle lock with an integrated control unit, wherein the control unit has a circuit board with electronic components (3) arranged on it and connected to the circuit board (2), and at least one energy storage device (4) connected to the circuit board (2), wherein the energy storage device (4) is detachably connected to the circuit board (2).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock with a locking mechanism consisting of a rotary latch and at least one pawl, at least one electric drive, by means of which drive the locking mechanism can be unlocked, a control unit integrated into the motor vehicle lock, wherein the control unit has a circuit board with electronic components arranged thereon and connected to the circuit board, and at least one energy storage device connected to the circuit board.

[0002] The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock with an electronic control unit, wherein the control unit has a circuit board with electronic components connected to the circuit board arranged on a first plane thereon and an energy storage device connected to the circuit board.

[0003] Motor vehicle locks are locks for a motor vehicle that can be located in various parts of the vehicle. The motor vehicle lock, or in particular a locking mechanism of the motor vehicle lock, interacts with a locking bolt as soon as an associated motor vehicle door, motor vehicle hatch, motor vehicle sliding door, or the like is closed. For this purpose, the motor vehicle lock is usually arranged in or on the motor vehicle door in question. In contrast, the locking bolt is located on the body, for example on a B- or C-pillar. The locking bolt, which is also referred to as a lock holder, and the motor vehicle lock together define a motor vehicle door lock.

[0004] Today's vehicle locks incorporate a variety of functions, such as central locking, child safety locks, anti-theft devices, or crash protection, which either perform safety-relevant functions or increase comfort in the vehicle. These functions are usually driven, engaged, or adjusted directly or indirectly by an electric motor. To control these vehicle locks, the vehicle locks contain electronic control units. An electronic control unit for controlling a vehicle lock conventionally consists of a circuit board as well as electronic components and energy storage devices arranged on the circuit board. The electronic control unit is also usually located in the vehicle door, vehicle hatch, vehicle sliding door, or the like.For this reason, it is necessary that the electronic control unit is sufficiently small so that it can be installed in the vehicle door, vehicle hatch, vehicle sliding door or the like in a space-saving manner.

[0005] In today's electronic control units for controlling the movement of a side window, a motor vehicle lock, or a parking device—to name just a few examples—the required installation space is determined by the dimensions of the circuit board located within the electronic control unit, as the circuit board contains all essential electronic components. Traditionally, the electronic components and energy storage devices are arranged flat next to one another on the circuit board to enable the flattest and most space-saving design possible.

[0006] A space-saving design is also known from EP 3 337 008 A2. This document discloses a circuit board populated on one side and arranged in a control box. The slim design is achieved by the positioning of the electronic components. The energy storage units are arranged flat next to the electronic components on the circuit board. The flat design allows installation in a leaf or in a frame of the active or passive leaf.

[0007] The object of the invention is to provide an improved electronic control unit for controlling, in particular, a motor vehicle lock. In particular, the object of the invention is to provide an electronic control unit for controlling a motor vehicle lock that enables simplified assembly and, moreover, ensures secure storage of the electronic components.

[0008] The object of the invention is achieved by a motor vehicle lock with a locking mechanism consisting of a rotary latch and at least one pawl, at least one electric drive, the locking mechanism being unlockable by means of the drive, a control unit integrated into the motor vehicle lock, the control unit having a circuit board with electronic components arranged thereon and connected to the circuit board, and at least one energy store connected to the circuit board, the energy store being detachably connected to the circuit board. The design of the motor vehicle lock according to the invention and in particular the arrangement of the energy stores on the circuit board of the control unit can ensure simplified assembly. In particular, the energy stores can be connected to the circuit board at any time.Thus, the assembly of the energy storage device is not tied to the production of the circuit board and the assembly of the circuit board with the electronic components, but the energy storage device can also be installed in the vehicle lock at a later date. Even if only one energy storage device is mentioned here, it is of course also conceivable according to the invention for two or more energy storage devices to be arranged on the circuit board. A detachable connection makes it possible for the energy storage devices, which are usually large-volume components, to be installed during the assembly or installation of the vehicle lock. This opens up the possibility of the energy storage devices being arranged in the vehicle lock in such a way that they extend beyond other parts of the circuit board and / or the vehicle lock and / or extend into other components of the vehicle lock.By subsequently installing the energy storage units, it is possible to position and install the energy storage units in an optimized and independent manner, essentially independently of the circuit board in the vehicle lock.

[0009] The inventive arrangement of the electronic components and the energy storage device, also known as control electronics, ensures that the footprint of the electronic control unit or the surface area of ​​the circuit board is reduced compared to conventional electronic control units because the electronic components and the energy storage devices are arranged one above the other. The height of the electronic control unit is only slightly increased by the proposed two-level structure because energy storage devices are generally flat and have a low height. The compact design not only enables installation in door elements with only limited available space, but also makes the electronic control unit and thus the vehicle lock more robust and, due to the reduced size, lighter.

[0010] When, within the meaning of the invention, reference is made to a door element, this refers in particular to components movably arranged on the motor vehicle that are held in a secured position by a motor vehicle lock and / or are actuated by an electric drive. This can be a side door, a hood, a sliding door, a tailgate, a cover, or a similar component on the motor vehicle. The electric drive can be used to lock, unlock, childproof, unlock, or perform a similar function in the motor vehicle lock, which is operated by an electric motor and therefore requires an electrical power supply.

[0011] If the energy storage device can be connected to the circuit board by means of connecting elements, this results in an advantageous embodiment of the invention. The use of connecting elements makes it possible for the energy storage device to be subsequently connected to the circuit board. In particular, the energy storage device or the electrical contacts connected to the energy storage device can be connected to the circuit board at any time. For this purpose, the electronic contacts can interact with the connecting elements in a force-fitting and / or form-fitting manner. In other words, the electronic contacts can be inserted into the connecting elements, for example, and can be held in the connecting element in a force-fitting and / or form-fitting manner. If the circuit board is already installed in the vehicle lock, it is possible to position the energy storage device or the energy storage device in the vehicle lock and to insert the electrical contacts into the connecting elements.to connect with the electronic connecting elements. This results in both design and assembly advantages, since, as already described above, the energy storage device(s) can be mounted in the vehicle lock in a stationary and / or spring-mounted manner. The weight of the energy storage device plays a particularly important role, since the vehicle lock is subject to vibrations, and the energy storage device, with its large mass, unlike other electronic components, can induce little or no movement into the circuit board due to a spring-loaded or at least dampened mounting in the vehicle lock. This is particularly advantageous in that the circuit board is protected from vibrations and movements.

[0012] It can also be advantageous if the connecting elements are permanently connected to the circuit board. Unlike the energy storage devices, the connecting elements can be permanently mounted to the circuit board. Like the other electronic components, the connecting elements can be permanently connected to the circuit board, for example, galvanically and / or positively and / or non-positively. This ensures a secure connection of the energy storage devices to the circuit board and thus to the energy storage devices within the control unit.

[0013] In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the energy storage device(s) can be plugged into the connecting elements. Plugging the electrical contacts of the energy storage device into the connecting elements has proven particularly advantageous, as this ensures easy installation of the energy storage device in the motor vehicle lock. This is particularly advantageous because motor vehicle locks are mass-produced in series and are usually assembled on fully or at least partially automated assembly lines.

[0014] Storing the energy storage device in the vehicle lock can also represent an advantageous design variant. As already described above, the subsequent installation of the energy storage device makes it possible to position the energy storage device in a position raised above the circuit board. The energy storage device can be arranged above the circuit board and also above other electronic components of the circuit board, which in turn leads to a reduction in the space required in the vehicle lock and in particular in the control unit. Furthermore, it is also conceivable that the energy storage device(s) are at least partially accommodated in the housing and extend partially over housing components. Subsequent installation therefore results in a number of advantages with regard to the positioning of the energy storage device in the vehicle lock and in particular in the control unit.

[0015] The object of the invention can also be achieved by a method. In particular, the object of the invention is achieved by a method for establishing an electrical connection between an energy storage device and a circuit board of a control unit arranged in a control unit of a motor vehicle lock, in which method the circuit board is first populated with electronic components and then the control unit is mounted in the motor vehicle lock, and in which the energy storage device is connected to the circuit board after the control unit has been mounted. From an assembly point of view, the method according to the invention makes it possible to assemble the motor vehicle lock and, in particular, to position parts of the control unit in advance in the motor vehicle lock and only in a subsequent step to position the energy storage device in the motor vehicle lock.This offers the particular advantage that the large-volume energy storage units do not have to be mounted together with the circuit board in the vehicle lock. This facilitates the automated production of the vehicle lock and, in particular, enables easy assembly and targeted positioning of the energy storage units in the control unit.

[0016] Furthermore, an advantageous method step can be achieved by providing the circuit board with connecting elements during the assembly of the electronic components. By equipping the circuit board with connecting elements during the assembly of the electronic components, a prerequisite for the subsequent installation of the energy storage device can be met. In particular, the connecting elements can also be connected to the circuit board galvanically, i.e., with a material bond. The connection can thus be established effectively and securely, and the connecting elements can be easily connected to the circuit board. This ensures secure contact between the energy storage device and the circuit board and simultaneously enables the possibility of subsequent installation.

[0017] Connecting the energy storage devices to the circuit board by plugging them in results in advantageous assembly. From a process engineering perspective, the control circuit board is first mounted in the vehicle lock, particularly in a separate control unit of the vehicle lock, and then the energy storage device(s) are placed in the vehicle lock. By plugging them into the connecting elements as a subsequent process step, it is possible to automatically feed the energy storage devices and securely connect them to the circuit board. In particular, a galvanic connection between the energy storage device and the connecting element can be dispensed with, which in turn is an advantage from a process engineering perspective. In particular, the use of the connecting elements can also provide spring-loaded mounting for the electrical contacts of the energy storage device.This is especially true if the connecting elements are provided with spring elements for resiliently receiving the electrical contacts of the energy storage device.

[0018] Overall, it can be stated that the inventive design of the motor vehicle lock and the process provided by the method enable a secure connection between the energy storage device and the circuit board to be established, while simultaneously ensuring the possibility of optimal positioning of the energy storage device in the motor vehicle lock. Furthermore, this also results in assembly-related advantages that particularly support automated production of the motor vehicle lock.

[0019] It shows: Fig. 1 a three-dimensional view of a control unit of a motor vehicle lock in an open position with a view of a circuit board and the energy storage devices arranged on the circuit board, Fig. 2 a detailed view of an energy storage device attached to the circuit board by means of connecting elements, and Fig. 3 another three-dimensional view of an energy storage device with a connecting element detached from the circuit board.

[0020] In the Fig. Figure 1 is a three-dimensional view of a control unit 1 in a top view and without a housing cover. The control unit contains a circuit board 2, with electronic components 3 permanently mounted on the circuit board. Two energy storage devices 4 can also be seen, which in this exemplary embodiment are arranged in a plane above the circuit board 2. The circuit board 2 is arranged as a whole in a housing 5, with the housing 5 being part of a motor vehicle lock (not shown). The housing 5 can be connected to the housing 5 by means of a housing cover, and the housing cover in turn can be connected to the housing 5 by means of a clip connection 6. The housing 5 can furthermore have supports 7 in which the energy storage devices 4 can be elastically mounted, for example. A contact unit in the form of a plug 8 is also connected to the circuit board 2, with the plug 8 protruding from the housing 5 of the control unit 1.The energy storage devices 4 are connected to the circuit board 2 by means of electronic contacts 9, 10 and connecting elements 11, 12.

[0021] As from the Fig. As clearly shown in Figure 1, the circuit board 2 is inserted into the housing 5 in a circumferentially fitting manner. According to the invention, the circuit board 2 can now be inserted and mounted together with the connector 8, for example, into the housing 5. In a subsequent method step, the two energy storage devices 4 shown can then be inserted into the control unit 1 and connected via the connecting elements 11, 12.

[0022] In the Fig. 2 shows a separate illustration of an energy storage device 4 with electronic contacts 9, 10 and connecting elements 11, 12. The connecting elements 11, 12 are firmly connected to the circuit board 2. The connecting elements 11, 12 are shown in a sectional view, so that the connection arranged in the interior 13, 14 of the connecting elements 11, 12 between the electronic contacts 9, 10 and the connecting elements 11, 12 is visible. Spring elements 15, 16 are arranged in the interior 13, 14 of the connecting elements 11, 12, which enable a force-locking connection between the electronic contacts 9, 10 and the connecting elements 11, 12. As can be clearly seen in the Fig. 2, the electronic contacts 9, 10 can be easily inserted into the connecting elements 11, 12, thus enabling, in particular, automated production of the control unit 1 and, in particular, automated joining of the energy storage devices 4. For this purpose, the connecting elements and, in particular, parts of the spring elements 15, 16 have joining aids 17, 18, which enable easy and secure joining of the electronic contacts 9, 10 into the connecting elements 11, 12. To join the electronic contacts 9, 10, the spring elements 15, 16 converge conically, thus enabling, on the one hand, easy joining and, on the other hand, secure contact between the electronic contacts 9, 10 and the connecting elements 11, 12.

[0023] In the Fig. Figure 3 shows the joining of the energy storage devices 4 by means of bent or angled electronic contacts 9, 10 with a connecting element 12. Using the connecting elements 11, 12, a secure joining of the electronic contacts 9, 10 can be achieved, while at the same time allowing for play compensation in the direction of arrow P1. This ensures easy and secure assembly of the energy storage devices 4. Clearly visible in the Fig. 3 the joining aid 18 as an opening on the spring element 16 and the conical shape of the spring elements 16. Overall, a motor vehicle lock with a control unit 1 is thus provided, in which the assembly of the energy storage device 4 can be easily automated and a secure contact between the energy storage device 4 and the circuit board 2 can be ensured. List of reference symbols 1 control unit 2 circuit boards 3 electronic components 4 energy storage 5 housings 6 clip connection 7 editions 8 plugs 9, 10 electronic contacts 11, 12 connecting element 13, 14 Interior of the connecting element 15, 16 spring elements 17, 18 Joining aid P1 Arrow QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] EP 3 337 008 A2

[0006]

Claims

[1] Motor vehicle lock with a locking mechanism consisting of a rotary latch and at least one pawl, at least one electric drive, whereby the locking mechanism can be unlocked by means of the drive, a control unit (1) integrated into the motor vehicle lock, whereby the control unit (1) has a circuit board (2) with electronic components (3) arranged thereon and connected to the circuit board (2) and at least one energy storage device (4) connected to the circuit board (2), characterized by that the energy storage device (4) is detachably connected to the circuit board (2). [2] Motor vehicle lock according to claim 1, characterized by that the energy storage device (4) can be connected to the circuit board (2) by means of connecting elements (11, 12). [3] Motor vehicle lock according to claim 2, characterized by that the connecting elements (11, 12) are firmly connected to the circuit board (2). [4] Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized bythat the energy storage device (4) can be inserted into the connecting elements (11, 12). [5] Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized by that the connecting elements (11, 12) have spring elements (15, 16). [6] Motor vehicle lock according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the energy storage devices (4) are mounted, in particular dampened, in the housing (5) of the control device (1). [7] Method for establishing an electrical connection of an energy storage device (4) to a circuit board (2) of a control device (1) arranged in a control device (1) of a motor vehicle lock, in which the circuit board (2) is first equipped with electronic components (3) and then the control device (1) is mounted in the motor vehicle lock, characterized by that the energy storage device (4) is connected to the circuit board after the control unit (1) has been installed. [8] Method according to claim 7, wherein the circuit board (2) is equipped with connecting elements (11, 12) during the assembly with the electronic components (3). [9] Method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the energy storage devices (4) are connected to the circuit board (2) by means of plugging. [10] Method according to one of claims 7 to 9, in which play compensation during assembly is made possible by means of spring elements (15, 16).

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