Electrical connection arrangement between a printed circuit board and a housing

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical connection arrangement (100) between a printed circuit board (1) and a housing (5), preferably a housing (5) of a control unit, comprising a contact element (10; 10a) which is connected in the region of a contact surface (16; 16a) to a surface (2) of the printed circuit board (1) by a material-to-material connection, in particular a soldered connection, comprising at least one elastically arranged contact section (12, 14; 32) formed on the contact element (10; 10a) by forming, and comprising a counter-element (28; 28a) arranged on the housing (5) which is arranged in abutting contact with the at least one contact section (12, 14; 32) for electrically contacting the at least one contact section (12, 14; 32).

Description

Technical area

[0001] The invention relates to an electrical connection arrangement between a printed circuit board and a housing using a contact element, which is characterized by a particularly secure connection or contact. State of the art

[0002] From DE 20 2006 008 439 U1 electrical connection arrangements with the features of the preamble of claim 1 are known. Thus, a Fig. 2 of the aforementioned document, a circular blank with a central through-hole for the passage of a counter element and a contact section bent from the through-hole of the circular blank out of the plane of the circular blank. In connection with the Fig. 5 of the document discloses a contact element with two oppositely arranged contact sections for forming a clamping connection with the mating element of a housing. The two contact sections are formed by bending tab-shaped sections of a contact surface of the contact element, defined by incisions. Thus, the contact surface, which is connected to the surface of a printed circuit board, in particular soldered, has a bone shape or the shape of a capital "I."

[0003] From DE 197 35 409 A1, annular contact elements are also known which, for example, have a centrally arranged hole through which a pin-shaped counter-element of the control unit protrudes and bends contact sections out of the plane of the contact elements. Disclosure of the invention

[0004] The electrical connection arrangement according to the invention between a printed circuit board and a housing with the features of claim 1 has the advantage that the contact surface of the contact element used to form the integral connection, in particular in the form of a soldered connection, has a maximum size due to its round or rectangular closed shape and therefore enables a particularly secure or firm connection to the printed circuit board. Furthermore, simple forming or bending processes are sufficient to form the at least one contact section. Further material processing, in particular the formation of additional punching or separating cuts as in the aforementioned prior art, is not required.

[0005] Against the background of the above explanations, an electrical connection arrangement according to the invention between a printed circuit board and a housing with the features of claim 1 therefore has a contact element which is connected in the region of a contact surface to a surface of the printed circuit board by a materially bonded connection, in particular a soldered connection. The contact element has at least one contact section formed by forming, which is arranged in abutting contact with a counter-element formed on the housing, which serves to electrically contact the at least one contact section. The connection arrangement according to the invention is characterized in that the contact surface has a round or rectangular shape, and in that the at least one contact section is formed by forming an edge section delimiting the contact surface.

[0006] Advantageous further developments of the electrical connection arrangement according to the invention between a printed circuit board and a housing are listed in the subclaims.

[0007] In a first concrete geometric design or realization of the contact element, it is provided that two contact sections are provided, extending from opposite edge regions of the rectangular contact surface, and that the contact element is designed as a stamped / bent part.

[0008] Such a contact element is particularly advantageously used with a counter element which is web-shaped.

[0009] In an alternative embodiment of the contact element, it can also be provided that an annular contact section is provided, that the contact surface is round, and that the contact element is designed as a stamped / deep-drawn part.

[0010] Such a contact element is used in particular in applications in which the counter element on the housing is designed in a pin-shaped manner with a preferably round cross-section.

[0011] To avoid transverse forces on the contact surface, it is advantageous if the counter element is aligned flush with a center of gravity of the contact surface.

[0012] The contact element is preferably made of spring steel, so that at least one contact section is arranged elastically spring-loaded. Such a design allows the circuit board to be opened or connected to the housing several times without compromising the contact connection.

[0013] A further improvement in the connection between the contact element and the surface of the circuit board can be achieved by providing the contact surface with at least one through-hole. This (small) through-hole can, for example, allow solder to be dispensed or to escape, thus forming a kind of riveted connection with the contact element.

[0014] A particularly simple and precise assembly is achieved if the at least one contact section forms a funnel-like insertion opening for the counter element.

[0015] The contact element described so far is preferably used to form an electrical ground connection between the circuit board and the housing.

[0016] Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention and from the drawings. Short description of the drawings Fig. 1 shows a perspective partial view of an interior of a control unit in the region of an electrical connection arrangement between a printed circuit board and a housing of the control unit, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a connecting arrangement according to Fig. 1 contact element used and Fig. 3 a side view and top view of a Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 modified electrical connection arrangement. Embodiments of the invention

[0017] Identical elements or elements with the same function are provided with the same reference numbers in the figures.

[0018] In the Fig. 1 shows an electrical connection arrangement 100 between a printed circuit board 1 and a housing 5 using a contact element 10. The housing 5 is, in particular, the housing 5 of a control unit, for example, a control unit for automotive applications. The housing 5 typically has a housing base (not shown) and a housing cover 6. In the illustrated embodiment, the connection arrangement 100 is formed between the printed circuit board 1 and the housing cover 6. Of course, it is also within the scope of the invention to form the connection arrangement 100 between the printed circuit board 1 and another element of the housing 5. The connection arrangement 100 serves, in particular, to form an electrical ground connection between an electronic circuit (not shown) of the printed circuit board 1 and the housing 5, which is inevitably formed during assembly of the housing cover 6.

[0019] The contact element 10 is in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the contact element 10 is formed as a stamped / bent part and consists of a (thin) spring sheet. The contact element 10 is formed from a rectangular stamped part by bending two edge sections 11 arranged on opposite sides of the contact element 10, which, when bent, form contact sections 12, 14. Furthermore, the contact element 10 has a rectangular contact surface 16 delimited by the two contact sections 12, 14, which is preferably fully connected to a surface 2 of the printed circuit board 1, preferably by a soldered connection, most preferably by a reflow soldered connection.

[0020] Furthermore, it can optionally be provided that the contact element 10 has at least one through-hole 18 in the region of its contact surface 16. As a result, when forming a soldered connection, solder can penetrate through the at least one through-hole 18 and, in the solidified state of the solder, form a riveted connection, so that in addition to the integral connection, a force-fit connection is simultaneously formed by the soldered connection.

[0021] The two contact sections 12, 14 are arranged symmetrically to a center plane 20 of the contact element 10, which also intersects the center of gravity SP of the contact surface 16. The two contact sections 12, 14 have two spring sections 22 arranged at an oblique angle α of, for example, 45°, which extend toward the center plane 20 and are adjoined, on the side facing away from the contact surface 16, by insertion sections 24 which are bent back toward the contact surface 16. The insertion sections 24 form a funnel-like insertion opening 26.

[0022] The insertion opening 26 serves to position or install a Fig. 1, which is connected to the housing 5 or the housing cover 6. The counter element 28 preferably has a length in the direction of the center plane 20 that corresponds at least to the width of the contact sections 12, 14. When inserting the counter element 28 between the two contact sections 12, 14, these are first bent in the direction of the contact surface 16 and thereby receive the counter element 28 by clamping. The two contact sections 12, 14 cause the counter element 28 to be in the direction indicated by the double arrow 30 in the Fig. 1 marked direction to the contact element 10.

[0023] In the Fig. 3 is a Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 shows a modified contact element 10a. The contact element 10a is designed as a stamped / deep-drawn part and is formed from a disc-shaped blank of the spring sheet. According to the illustration of the Fig.3, the contact surface 16a of the contact element 10a is round. Furthermore, only a single contact section 32 is provided, which extends radially around a longitudinal axis 31 and is formed by deforming the edge section 11a that extends radially around the longitudinal axis. This contact section 32 has an insertion opening 26a in the shape of a funnel and completely surrounds the counter element 28a, which preferably has a round cross-section, at its periphery. The contact element 10a ensures that the counter element 28a is fully positioned or fixedly received in a horizontal plane.

[0024] The connection arrangement 100 or the contact element 10, 10a described so far can be modified in many different ways without deviating from the inventive concept. 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 20 2006 008 439 U1

[0002] DE 197 35 409 A1

[0003]

Claims

[1] Electrical connection arrangement (100) between a printed circuit board (1) and a housing (5), preferably a housing (5) of a control device, comprising a contact element (10; 10a) which is connected in the area of ​​a contact surface (16; 16a) to a surface (2) of the printed circuit board (1) by a material-bonded connection, in particular a soldered connection, comprising at least one elastically arranged contact section (12, 14; 32) formed on the contact element (10; 10a) by forming, and comprising a counter element (28; 28a) arranged on the housing (5) which is arranged in contact with the at least one contact section (12, 14; 32) for electrical contacting, characterized by , that the contact surface (16; 16a) has a round or rectangular shape, and that the at least one contact section (12, 14; 32) is formed by reshaping an edge section (11; 11a) that bounds the contact surface (16; 16a). [2] Connection arrangement according to claim 1, characterized by , that two contact sections (12, 14) extending from opposite sides of the rectangular contact surface (16) are provided, and that the contact element (10) is designed as a stamped / bent part. [3] Connection arrangement according to claim 2, characterized by , that the counter element (28) is formed in a web-like shape on the housing (5). [4] Connection arrangement according to claim 1, characterized by , that the contact section (16a) is ring-shaped, that the contact surface (16a) has a round shape, and that the contact element (10a) is designed as a stamped / deep-drawn part. [5] Connection arrangement according to claim 4, characterized by , that the counter element (28a) is formed in a conical shape with a preferably round cross-section on the housing (5). [6] Connection arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by, that the counter element (28; 28a) is aligned with a centroid (SP) of the contact surface (16; 16a). [7] Connection arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by , that the contact element (10; 10a) is made of spring steel. [8] Connection arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that the contact surface (16) has at least one through hole (18). [9] Connection arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by , that at least one contact section (12, 14; 32) forms a funnel-shaped insertion opening (26; 26a) for the counter element (28; 28a). [10] Connection arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by , that the contact element (10; 10a) forms an electrical ground connection.

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