Control unit for a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a control unit for a vehicle. The control unit comprises at least one circuit carrier, in particular a printed circuit board, and an electrical connector. The connector has a plurality of electrical contacts, in particular contact wires or contact elements, each of which is connected to the circuit carrier. The connector has a contact carrier configured to hold at least one longitudinal section of the contacts, wherein the connector, in particular the contact carrier, has at least one opening for each contact to receive the contact. The circuit carrier has an electrically conductive contact field for each opening, which is arranged relative to the opening such that the contact field can be contacted by a contact arranged in the opening. The control unit is preferably configured to perform different electrical functions.The control unit is preferably designed to assign a predetermined function to a portion of the contacts, so that a function of the control unit can be predetermined by fitting the openings of the contact carrier with the contacts.

Description

State of the art

[0001] The invention relates to a control unit for a vehicle. The control unit has at least one circuit carrier, in particular a printed circuit board, and an electrical connector. The connector has a plurality of electrical contacts, in particular contact wires or contact elements, each of which is connected to the circuit carrier.

[0002] From DE 202 193 77 U1 a printed circuit board with a plug connection is known, which has a circuit board-side connection with contact points for an optional connection of one of a plurality of plugs of a given plug type with different contact points. Disclosure of the invention

[0003] According to the invention, in the control device of the type mentioned at the outset, the plug connection has a contact carrier which is designed to hold at least one longitudinal section of the contacts, wherein the plug connection, in particular the contact carrier, has an opening for receiving the contact at least for each contact.

[0004] The circuit carrier has an electrically conductive contact pad for each opening, which is arranged—in particular opposite—to the opening in such a way that the contact pad can be contacted by a contact arranged in the opening. The control unit is preferably designed to implement mutually different electrical functions. The control unit is further preferably designed to assign a predetermined function to some of the contacts, so that a function of the control unit can be predetermined by equipping the openings of the contact carrier with the contacts.

[0005] Advantageously, a particular predetermined plug housing for the plug connection on the control unit can be designed for a plurality of control units - in particular customer-specific - wherein contact wires can be added or omitted to form mutually different functions.

[0006] The contact pad is preferably designed for surface soldering to the contact. The contact pad is preferably formed by an electrically conductive layer, in particular a copper layer, of the circuit carrier. Advantageously, the contact pad can thus be connected to the contact using reflow soldering in a cost-effective manner.

[0007] In another embodiment, the contact can be connected to the contact field in a materially bonded and electrically conductive manner by means of ultrasonic welding, laser welding or selective soldering.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment of the control unit, the control unit, in particular the circuit carrier, is designed to perform the function independently of the configuration of the aperture. Advantageously, such a control unit of the same design can be used for a variety of application modes.

[0009] The contact, in particular the contact wire or contact element, is preferably a silver contact, a copper contact, or made of a copper alloy. The copper alloy is preferably CuSn6. The contact is formed, for example, by a round or square wire, in particular an angled wire, or by a contact element formed, in particular, by forming, preferably a contact pin or a contact socket or a contact fork for receiving a contact pin.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the control device is designed to detect contacting of the contact field by a contact and to perform the function depending on the contacting of the contact field by means of the contact.

[0011] For example, the control unit can have a capacitive sensor designed to detect the presence of the contact—particularly in the area of ​​another contact. The predetermined function can thus be activated by equipping the contact field with contact wires.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the control unit, at least one function for a spatial location, in particular a vehicle zone of the motor vehicle, is assigned to an opening. For example, a portion of the openings in the contact carrier can be assigned to a front region of a vehicle, and another portion of the openings in the contact carrier, in particular spaced apart from the openings, can be assigned to a rear region of the vehicle.

[0013] In addition to the contact fields assigned to each vehicle zone, the plug connection can have a contact field whose contacts are led to a fuse box or another control unit.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the contact carrier has an opening matrix comprising the openings, and the circuit board has a contact field matrix corresponding to the opening matrix. The openings of the opening matrix or the contact fields are preferably divided into at least two mutually different regions of the contact carrier, wherein the region represents a spatial vehicle zone. Advantageously, a permanently assigned part of the connector geometry, in particular the plug field matrix geometry, can thus be assigned to a predetermined part of a vehicle.

[0015] The contact carrier is preferably formed by a plastic element or has at least one or only one plastic element. The plastic element is preferably formed by a thermoplastic, in particular POM (POM = polyoxymethylene), PPS (PPS = polyphenylene sulfide) or PMMA (PMMA = polymethyl methacrylate), ABS (ABS = acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), polyamide, LCP (LCP = liquid crystal polymer), PBT (PBT = polybutylene terephthalate), PEEK (PEEK = polyether ether ketone), or a polyalkene, for example, polyethylene or polypropylene.

[0016] The circuit carrier is preferably a printed circuit board, in particular a fiber-reinforced epoxy resin circuit board, for example an FR4 circuit board. In another embodiment, the circuit carrier is a ceramic circuit carrier, in particular a DCB substrate (DCB = Direct Copper Bonded), an AMS substrate (AMS = Active Metal Brazed), an IMS substrate (IMS = Insulated Metal Substrate), an LTCC substrate (LTCC = Low-Temperature Cofired Ceramics), or an HTCC substrate (HTCC = High-Temperature Cofired Ceramics).

[0017] In a preferred embodiment of the control unit, at least one identical function for different vehicle zones is formed in two mutually different regions of the contact carrier. Advantageously, the same function in the breakdown matrix can be formed for the different vehicle zones at different locations in the contact carrier, in particular the breakdown matrix.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment of the control unit, the same function of the control unit is a turn signal control, a window lift control, an exterior mirror control, a parking sensor control, a driver assistance function, in particular a camera function, or a tire pressure control, or a tire pressure detection, a radio interface for data transmission or a function, in particular a multi-performance function for autonomous driving.

[0019] Advantageously, for example, the function of a turn signal control can be included in a predetermined vehicle zone, for example, the front left, as well as in a front right vehicle zone, so that similar functions are assigned to the different matrix areas of the spatial vehicle zone. This advantageously allows for the creation of vehicle wiring with minimal effort.

[0020] Further advantageously, for example, in a control unit for a predetermined vehicle series in a vehicle zone, a driver assistance function or a parking sensor control can be implemented, so that for their activation for the vehicle type an electrical contact, in particular contact wire or contact element, can be inserted into the contact field matrix in the corresponding opening.

[0021] The invention also relates to a control unit group, in particular a control unit family, with at least two control units of the type described above. The control units each have different configurations, in particular configuration numbers, of contact wires in the contact carrier, wherein a position of the plug connection on the circuit board is the same for all control units of the control unit group. Advantageously, a predetermined vehicle function or control function can thus be implemented by equipping the plug connection with contact wires, or it can be omitted. Further advantageously, metal material can be saved, in particular by omitting the contact wires. In a preferred embodiment, at least one contact is configured for a function in one control unit of the control unit group, the corresponding opening of which is kept free, in particular open or closed, in the other control unit.Advantageously, a predetermined function can be realized, in particular implemented, in the control unit in a customer-specific manner. The sealed opening can, for example, comprise a thin plastic membrane that can be penetrated by a contact when the connector is assembled.

[0022] The invention also relates to a vehicle, in particular an electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle, with a control unit of the type described above. In the vehicle, at least one function is assigned to a spatial location, in particular a vehicle zone of the vehicle. The vehicle zone is preferably selected from a zone group, in particular the zones front, rear, right side, left side, front right, rear right, front left, rear left, front center, rear center, or vehicle center.

[0023] Advantageously, the same control unit can be used for different vehicle zones for different vehicle types or for the same vehicle. For example, the same control unit can be used in one vehicle as a control unit for vehicle body functions, and another control unit for driver assistance functions, whereby activation of the functions can be generated by a configuration of the contact matrix.

[0024] The invention will now be described below with reference to figures and further exemplary embodiments. Further advantageous embodiments will become apparent from a combination of the features described in the figures and in the dependent claims. Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a vehicle with a control unit having a plug connection with a contact carrier that can be configured for different vehicle equipment of the vehicle; Fig. 2 shows the Fig. 1 shows a sectional view of the plug connection.

[0025] Fig. Figure 1 schematically shows an exemplary embodiment of a vehicle 1. The vehicle 1 has a control unit 2. The control unit 2 has an electrical connector with a contact carrier 3. The electrical connector comprises electrical contacts held in the contact carrier 3.

[0026] The contact carrier 3 has an opening for each electrical contact, wherein the electrical contact is arranged and / or held in the opening at least on a longitudinal section.

[0027] In this exemplary embodiment, the contact carrier 3 has an area for each vehicle zone of the vehicle 1, in which the electrical contacts formed on the control unit 2 for the vehicle zone are arranged.

[0028] In this exemplary embodiment, the vehicle 1 has the vehicle zone front left 51, the vehicle zone front right 52, the vehicle zone rear left 53, the vehicle zone rear right 54, the vehicle zone front center 55 and the vehicle zone rear center 56.

[0029] In this exemplary embodiment, the contact carrier 3 has a region 4 for a left front vehicle zone 51, a region 5 for a right front vehicle zone 52, a region 6 for a left rear vehicle zone 53, a region 7 for a right rear vehicle zone 54, a region 8 for a central front vehicle zone 55 and a region 9 for a central rear vehicle zone 56.

[0030] Regions 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are each formed as a surface area of ​​the plug connection, in particular on the contact carrier 3, transverse to a plug-in direction of the plug connection. In this exemplary embodiment, the regions have a predetermined number of openings for a contact, in particular a contact element or plug contact, in this exemplary embodiment, three openings each for a contact.

[0031] In the area 4, an opening 10 is formed for a contact, which in this exemplary embodiment can be used to control a turn signal 17 arranged in the front left vehicle zone. In this exemplary embodiment, the function of the turn signal 17 is implemented on the control unit 2, in particular the plug connection, so that the opening 10 is occupied by a contact 13, in particular a plug contact.

[0032] Also located in the area 4 are an opening 11 and an opening 12. In this exemplary embodiment, the opening 11, in which a contact 14 is located, can be used to control a light located in the left front zone of the vehicle, in particular a headlight.

[0033] In this exemplary embodiment, a tire pressure sensor 25, which is arranged in the left front vehicle zone 51, can be controlled and / or read by means of the opening 12, in particular the contact 15 arranged in the opening 12.

[0034] In this exemplary embodiment, the control unit 2 is designed to control the contact points in the front right vehicle zone 52 via the area 5 on the contact carrier 3, so that the openings arranged in the area 5 are each occupied by an electrical contact, in particular a plug contact. In this exemplary embodiment, a front right turn signal 16 and a front right headlight 20, in particular, can be controlled via the area 5.

[0035] To control the electrical devices or electrical elements arranged in the respective vehicle zones, the plug connection, in particular the area of ​​the plug connection, is connected to the electrical components in the vehicle zone by means of an electrical connection. In this exemplary embodiment, the area 4 for controlling the front left vehicle zone 51 is connected to an interface 31 by means of an electrical connection 37, in particular a bidirectional connection. The interface 31, which is designed, for example, as a plug connection or as a data bus interface, is electrically connected to the indicator light 17 and the headlight 21. The interface 31 is also connected on the input side to the tire pressure sensor 25.By means of the interface 31, the control signals for controlling and / or receiving control signals can be directed into the area 4 of the control unit 2, in particular the plug connection of the control unit 2.

[0036] In this exemplary embodiment, the region 5 of the contact carrier 3 is connected to an interface 32 by means of a connection 38, in particular a bidirectional connecting line. The interface 32 is connected to the front right turn signal 16 and the front right headlight 20. The interface 32 is also connected to a tire pressure sensor 24 on the front right input side and can receive a tire pressure signal generated by the tire pressure sensor 24, in particular representing a tire pressure. Depending on the tire pressure signal, the control unit 2 can generate a warning signal for activating a warning lamp and / or an acoustic warning signal.

[0037] The openings and / or contacts of the contact carrier 3 of the control unit 2 arranged in the area 6 are connected to an interface 34 by means of a connection 40, in particular a bidirectional connecting line, so that the electrical components arranged in the rear left vehicle zone 53, namely a right rear indicator light 18, a left rear tail light 22 and the tire pressure sensor 26 at the rear left can be controlled and / or read by means of the area 6.

[0038] By means of the area 7, which is connected to an interface 35 by means of a connection 39, the electrical components arranged in the rear right vehicle zone 54, in this embodiment a right rear indicator light 19, a right rear tail light 23, and a right rear tire pressure sensor 27 can be controlled and / or read out.

[0039] In this exemplary embodiment, the area 8 for controlling the central front vehicle zone 55 is connected to an interface 30 via a bidirectional connecting line 36. In this exemplary embodiment, the interface 30 is connected to a driver assistance system 28, in particular a lane departure warning system. In this exemplary embodiment, the lane departure warning system has a camera and can generate an image signal representing an object located in front of the vehicle 1.

[0040] The control unit 2 can thus keep the vehicle in a lane by means of the driver assistance system 28.

[0041] In this exemplary embodiment, the area 9 of the contact carrier 3 is connected to an interface 33 by means of a connection 41, in particular a bidirectional connecting line. The interface 33 is connected to a rear-view camera 29 arranged in the central rear vehicle zone 56 and can transmit an image signal generated by the rear-view camera 29 via the connection 41 to the area 9 and thus to the control unit 2.

[0042] In this exemplary embodiment, regions 8 and 9 are formed with empty openings, of which an empty opening 42 is designated as an example. The interfaces 30 and 31 can be formed on the vehicle 1 or not. The rear view camera 29 and the driver assistance system 28, which are shown in dashed lines in this exemplary embodiment, thus form an option on the vehicle 1, which—depending on the equipment of the vehicle 1—can be formed on the vehicle 1 or not. If the driver assistance system 28 is formed, at least one of the openings in region 8 can be occupied by an electrical contact, in particular a contact wire, so that the electrical connection between the driver assistance system 28 and the control unit 2 can be created.

[0043] If the rearview camera 29 is formed on the vehicle 1, at least one of the openings in the region 9 of the contact carrier can be provided with an electrical contact, so that the electrical connection between the rearview camera 29 and the control unit 2 can be established. Further exemplary systems that can be controlled by means of a region, in particular the region 9, are an ANC system (ANC = Active Noise Control), an entertainment system, for example a radio, a seat heater, or an air conditioning unit for cooling and / or heating at least part of the passenger compartment.

[0044] The interfaces 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, and 35 can each be designed as a separate control unit for a vehicle zone, at which a plug connection with a contact matrix with contact fields can be realized.

[0045] Fig. 2 shows - schematically - the Fig. 1 shown control unit 2 in a sectional view. The control unit 2 has a housing 43, which has a plug-in collar 44 in the area of ​​the plug connection, in particular the contact carrier 3. The contact carrier 3, in which the Fig. 1, the openings 10, 11, and 12 for the electrical contacts 13, 14, and 15, respectively, are arranged in the region of an opening formed by the collar 44, which forms a plug-in collar. The contact carrier 3 is designed as a plastic carrier in this exemplary embodiment. In this exemplary embodiment, the contact carrier 3 is plug-connected to a printed circuit board 45, thus forming a unit with the printed circuit board. In another embodiment, the contact carrier 3 can be screwed, glued, or soldered to the printed circuit board.

[0046] In this exemplary embodiment, the electrical contacts are connected to the circuit board 45 by surface soldering; contacts 13, 14, and 15 are designated as examples. The circuit board 45 has an electrical contact pad, in particular a conductor track, for each opening, including the opening 42, which is not occupied in this exemplary embodiment. In this exemplary embodiment, the contact pad is designed for surface soldering to the contact. An electrical contact pad 49, which in this exemplary embodiment is formed by an electrically conductive layer, in particular a copper layer, is electrically connected to the electrical contact 13 by surface soldering.

[0047] An electrical contact pad 50, in particular an electrically conductive copper layer, is formed on the circuit board for the opening 42, which can be surface-soldered to a contact arranged in the opening 42. In this exemplary embodiment, the opening 42 is empty, so that the contact pad 50 is freely formed on the circuit board 45 and thus is not soldered to a contact.

[0048] In this exemplary embodiment, the control unit 2 also has a housing base 48, which is mechanically and / or tightly connected to the housing 43, in particular a housing shell.

[0049] The printed circuit board 45 has, on a side facing away from the contacts, in particular contacts 13, 14, and 15, electronic components, of which an integrated circuit 46 and a capacitor 47 are designated as examples. The integrated circuit is, for example, a microprocessor, microcontroller, or ASIC (ASIC = Application-Specific Integrated Circuit), which is designed to execute the vehicle-specific functions corresponding to the contact fields of the printed circuit board and the openings in the contact carrier 3.

[0050] By means of the control unit 2 thus configured, an electrical component formed on the vehicle 1 can be electrically addressed by filling an opening in the contact carrier 3 with a contact, in particular a contact wire, or a contact socket. Addressing activates the execution of the vehicle-specific function in the control unit 2.

[0051] Unlike in Fig. 2, the electrical contacts which are connected to the printed circuit board 45 can be designed as contact sockets instead of plug contacts, in particular contact pins, which are each designed to receive a contact pin of a contact plug to be connected to the plug connection.

[0052] Independently of or in addition to the vehicle zones mentioned in the above example, the control unit 2 can control or execute other functions, for example an engine control, an interior function, in particular a seat heating system, seat ventilation, a seat adjustment device, a radio, an air conditioning system, an interior lighting or a vehicle diagnostic system, a parking sensor, a distance sensor, a shock absorber control or an ANC system (ANC = Active Noise Control), a radio interface, in particular a WLAN interface, for data transmission or programming, or a multi-performance function for autonomous driving, which are each assigned to an opening in the contact carrier. 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] DE 202 193 77 U1

[0002]

Claims

[1] Control device (2) for a vehicle (1), with at least one circuit carrier (45), in particular a printed circuit board and an electrical plug connection (3, 13, 14, 15, 44), wherein the plug connection (3, 13, 14, 15, 44) has a plurality of electrical contacts (13, 14, 15), in particular contact wires, which are each connected to the printed circuit board (45), characterized by , that the plug connection (3, 13, 14, 15, 44) has a contact carrier (3) which is designed to hold at least a longitudinal section of the contacts (13, 14, 15), wherein the plug connection (3, 13, 14, 15, 44) has at least for each contact (13, 14, 15) an opening (10, 11, 12, 42) for receiving the contact (13, 14, 15), wherein the circuit carrier has an electrically conductive contact field (49, 50) for each opening (10, 11, 12, 42), which contact field is arranged - in particular opposite - to the opening (10, 11, 12, 42) in such a way that the contact field can be contacted by a contact (13, 14, 15) arranged in the opening (10, 11, 12, 42), wherein the control device (2) is designed to form electrical functions that are different from one another, and the control device (2) is designed to assign a predetermined function to some of the contacts (13, 14, 15), so that by equipping the openings (10, 11, 12, 42) of the contact carrier (3) with contacts (13, 14, 15), in particular contact wires. [2] Control device (2) according to claim 1, characterized bythat the control device (2), in particular the circuit carrier (45) is designed to carry out the function independently of the assembly of the opening (10, 11, 12, 42). [3] Control device (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the control device (2) is designed to detect contacting of the contact field by a contact (13, 14, 15) and to carry out the function as a function of the contacting of the contact field (49, 50) by means of the contact (13, 14, 15). [4] Control device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that an opening (10, 11, 12, 42) is assigned at least one function for a spatial location, in particular vehicle zone, of the vehicle (1). [5] Control device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized byin that the contact carrier (3) has a breakthrough matrix comprising the breakthroughs (10, 11, 12, 42) and the circuit carrier (45) has a contact field matrix corresponding to the breakthrough matrix, wherein the breakthroughs (10, 11, 12, 42) of the breakthrough matrix or contact fields are divided into at least two mutually different regions (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9), wherein the region (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) represents a spatial vehicle zone. [6] Control device (2) according to claim 5, characterized by that in two mutually different areas (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) of the contact carrier (3) at least one identical function is formed for mutually different vehicle zones. [7] Control device according to claim 6, characterized bythat the same function is an indicator control, a window lift control, an exterior mirror control, a parking sensor control, a driver assistance function, in particular a camera function, an active noise control system, a radio interface for data transmission, a function for autonomous driving or a tire pressure control. [8] Control unit group with at least two control units according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the control devices each have different configurations, in particular different numbers of contact wires in the contact carrier, wherein a position of the plug connection (3, 13, 14, 15, 44) on the printed circuit board is always the same for the control devices of the control device group. [9] Control unit group according to claim 8, characterized bythat in one control device (2) at least one contact (13, 14, 15) is designed for a function, the corresponding opening (42) of which is kept free in the other control device (2). [10] Vehicle (1) with a control unit (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that at least one function is assigned to a spatial location, in particular vehicle zone (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56) of the vehicle (1). [11] Vehicle (1) according to claim 10, characterized by that the vehicle zone (51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56) is selected from the vehicle zones front, rear, right side, left side, front right (52), rear right (54), front left (51), rear left (53), front center (55), rear center (56) or vehicle center.

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