Electrical contact arrangement and electrical device

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electrical contact arrangement comprising a flat cable (6) with at least one electrical contact (61) on a first flat side (60), configured for electrical contacting an electrical contact (41) of a component (4), and a preload element (3) which is arranged on a second flat side (62) of the flat cable (6) opposite the electrical contact (61), wherein the preload element (3) is configured to exert a preload force F on the electrical contact (61).

Description

State of the art

[0001] The present invention relates to a contact arrangement and an electrical device, in particular a control unit for a vehicle, with a combined sealing and contacting function, especially for flexible films, without an additional connector.

[0002] Especially when connecting flexible cables, electrical contact is not always optimal in certain applications. It is common practice to solder SMD connectors onto a circuit board to connect the flexible cable. The flexible cable is then inserted into the connector soldered to the circuit board for signal transmission and can be unplugged as needed. Alternatively, the flexible cable can be soldered directly to the circuit board, but this makes it difficult to separate the cables. While soldered connectors typically allow for trouble-free connections within a control unit, sealing problems can arise when using a flexible cable for contact from outside the control unit. Disclosure of the invention

[0003] The electrical contact arrangement according to the invention, with the features of claim 1, has the advantage that simple and reliable electrical contacting of an electrical component, e.g., a printed circuit board or a substrate, or the like, is possible. This enables a reliable, preferably releasable, electrical contact between a flat cable and the printed circuit board or the like. According to the invention, this is achieved by the electrical contact arrangement comprising a flat cable with at least one electrical contact on a first flat side. The electrical contact is configured for electrical contacting an electrical contact of a component, in particular a printed circuit board or the like. The electrical contact arrangement further comprises a preload element, which is arranged on a second flat side of the flat cable opposite the electrical contact on the first flat side of the flat cable.Thus, the pre-tensioning element can directly press the electrical contact of the flat cable against an electrical contact of the component, such as a printed circuit board. This ensures a reliable electrical connection.

[0004] The dependent claims describe preferred embodiments of the invention.

[0005] Preferably, the electrical contact arrangement further comprises a seal that completely and radially encloses the flat cable circumferentially. The seal is particularly designed to provide a reliable seal for the electrical contact of the flat cable in conjunction with a housing. The seal thus extends perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the flat cable.

[0006] The pretensioning element is preferably arranged on the flat cable. It is particularly preferred that the pretensioning element is made of the same material as the seal. Alternatively, the pretensioning element is arranged on the housing part. In this case as well, it is preferred that the pretensioning element and the seal are made of the same material.

[0007] Preferably, the pretensioning element extends over the entire width of the flat cable on the second flat side.

[0008] Preferably, the pretensioning element is arranged perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the flat cable. This allows a uniform pretension to be applied to all electrical contacts of the flat cable.

[0009] Preferably, the flat cable includes a multitude of electrical contacts on the first flat side to provide a multitude of electrical contacts with the electrical component.

[0010] The sealing element and / or the preload element are preferably made of an elastic material. Silicone or EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber) is particularly preferred as the elastic material. The flat cable is also preferably a flexible film, especially with a plurality of electrical contacts. This allows for a secure connection, particularly in a vehicle, between, for example, a busbar and a control unit or the like.

[0011] The present invention further relates to an electrical device, in particular a control unit, of a vehicle, comprising an electrical component, in particular a printed circuit board or the like, with at least one electrical device contact, a housing of the electrical device and an electrical contact arrangement according to the invention.

[0012] Preferably, the electrical device comprises a positioning device with a first part on the flat cable and a second part on the electrical device. The second part is designed to be complementary to the first part. Preferably, the first part on the flat cable has one or more holes in the flat cable, and the second part has a complementary projecting element. This allows the flat cable to be hooked onto the second part before the assembly process and electrical contact with its first part. Preferably, the flat cable has two holes, and the electrical device has two projecting elements. Particularly preferably, the projecting elements are formed integrally with the housing of the electrical device. The projecting elements also preferably hold a printed circuit board, which has corresponding recesses. This allows the projecting element to perform multiple functions.

[0013] Preferably, the electrical device includes a stop designed to limit deformation of the preload element during the assembly process. The stop thus ensures that a defined preload is exerted from the preload element via the flat cable onto the electrical contacts.

[0014] The stop is particularly preferably formed on the circuit board.

[0015] Preferably, the electrical device comprises a housing with a base body designed to accommodate a printed circuit board or the like, a lid, and an additional cover. The tensioning element is preferably arranged on the cover. Alternatively, the tensioning element is arranged on the flat cable. More preferably, the seal is designed to seal between the cover of the electrical device and the base body of the housing. drawing

[0016] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 A schematic sectional view of an electrical device with an electrical contact arrangement according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention along line BB of Fig. 4, Fig. 2 a schematic sectional view along line CC of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 a schematic exploded view of the electrical device of Fig. 1, Fig. 4 a schematic cross-sectional view of the electrical device of Fig. 1 along line AA from Fig. 6, Fig. 5 a schematic representation of the assembly of a flat cable to the electrical device, Fig. 6 a schematic top view of the electrical device of Fig. 1, Fig. 7 a schematic sectional view during an assembly process of an electrical device with an electrical contact arrangement according to a second embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 8 a schematic sectional view of an electrical device with an electrical contact arrangement according to a third embodiment of the invention. Preferred embodiments of the invention

[0017] The following refers to the Fig. 1 to 6 an electrical device 1, in particular a control unit of a vehicle, with an electrical contact arrangement 10 according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention is described in detail.

[0018] As from Fig. As can be seen in Figure 1, the electrical contact arrangement 10 comprises a flat cable 6, which is particularly located in the Fig. 3, Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 is evident. The flat cable 6 is a flexible film with a plurality of electrical contacts 61. The electrical contacts 61 are arranged exposed at the end of the flat cable 6 (see Figure 5). Fig. 5) As particularly evident from Fig. 1 and Fig. As can be seen in Figure 3, the electrical contacts 61 of the flat cable 6 are arranged on a first flat side 60 of the flat cable. The electrical contacts 61 of the flat cable are configured to enable electrical contact with electrical contacts 41 of an electrical component, which in this embodiment is a printed circuit board 4.

[0019] The electrical contact arrangement 10 further comprises a preload element 3, which, as can be seen in particular from Fig. As can be seen in Figure 1, the pretensioning element 3 acts on a second flat side 62 of the flat cable 6. The pretensioning element 3 exerts a pretensioning force F perpendicular to the flat cable 6 (see Figure 1). Fig. 1).

[0020] As from Fig. As can be seen in Figure 1, the pretensioning element 3 is arranged on the second flat side opposite the electrical contacts 61 of the flat cable. Fig. Figure 1 shows the contacted state between the flat cable 6 and the electrical contacts 41 of the circuit board 4.

[0021] The electrical contact arrangement 10 further comprises a seal 9, which completely surrounds the flat cable 6 radially on its circumference. The seal 9 is made in detail of Fig. 2. In the assembled state, the seal 9 provides a seal between a base body 20 of a housing 2 of the electrical device 1 and a cover 5. The cover 5 is a separate component that is arranged between the base body 20 and a lid 21 of the housing. The cover 2 can be, as shown, a type of additional lid component that is fixed to the base body 20 by means of screws 7 (see Figure 2). Fig. 3 and Fig. 4) or a lever mechanism.

[0022] As from Fig. 1 and Fig. As can be seen in Figure 4, exactly two screws are provided for fixing the cover 5 to the base body 20 of the housing 2, which are located in a line with the preloading element 3. This allows for a particularly compact design. It also allows predetermined preload forces F to be applied to the preloading element 3.

[0023] The cover 5 thus allows separate access to the electrical contacts of the electrical device 1 without having to remove the cover 21 from the base body 20. This facilitates, for example, the replacement of the seal 9 or the preload element 3 of the electrical device 1.

[0024] As from Fig. As can be seen in Figure 1, the pretensioning element 3 and the seal 9 are thus arranged in a space 50 formed by the cover 5 and the rest of the housing. A strain relief 55 for the flat cable 6 is provided between the cover 5 and the base body 20 of the housing 2.

[0025] To maintain a defined preload force F across the mounted cover 5, a stop 11 is provided. The stop 11 is formed integrally with the cover 5 (see figure). Fig. 3) and the circuit board 4 defines the end position of the cover 5 over the stop 11 with its position (see. Fig. 4).

[0026] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 5, a positioning device 8 is provided for easy assembly, ensuring that the flat cable 6 is securely connected to the circuit board 4. The positioning device 8 comprises a first part 81 and a second part 82. The first part 81 is formed on the flat cable 6 and includes two holes. These two holes are located laterally on the flat cable, outside the electrical contact areas. The second part 82 of the positioning device 8 is integrally formed with the base body 20 of the housing and forms a projecting element, in this embodiment a projecting cylindrical rod. For pre-assembly of the flat cable 6, the two holes are simply slid over the projecting elements, thus positioning the flat cable 6 relative to the circuit board 4 and, consequently, ensuring the correct positioning of the electrical contacts of these two components.

[0027] The preload element 3 and the seal 9 are made of an elastomeric material, preferably of the same elastomeric material and in particular of EPDM rubber or silicone.

[0028] Seal 9 seals as described in Fig. 2 shown, on both narrow sides and on one long side, which is formed on the first flat side 60 of the flat cable, on the base body 20 and on a second long side on the cover 5.

[0029] Thus, a seal can be achieved by means of the seal 9, and a force-fit electrical connection can be established between the electrical contact 61 of the flat cable 6 and the electrical contact 41 of the printed circuit board 4. The flat cable 6 is preferably a flexible film. The flat cable is guided inside the housing of the electrical device, and the electrical connection is made slightly offset along the length of the flat cable 6 inside the housing to provide a seal. Due to the elasticity of the material of the seal 9 and the preload element 3, the elastic materials are compressed and clamped, creating a sealing effect and a contacting effect. The seal and the contact are spatially close to each other but separate.

[0030] Both the seal 9 and the tensioning element 7 are arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the flat cable 6. The tensioning element 3, which completely surrounds the flat cable 6, is thus aligned parallel to the tensioning element 3. This allows, in particular, a secure and simple way to achieve a flexible foil contact with a seal for a vehicle's control unit.

[0031] It should be noted that it is also possible for the prestressing element 3 to be formed by two elastic elements, one of which is located on the flat cable 6 and the other on the inside of the cover 5.

[0032] Fig. Figure 7 shows an electrical device 1 with an electrical contact arrangement 10 according to a second embodiment of the invention. Identical or functionally equivalent parts are designated with the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment.

[0033] In contrast to the first embodiment, in the second embodiment the pretensioning element 3 is also arranged on the flat cable 6 next to the seal 9 (see figure). Fig. 7) Mounting the cover 5 (arrow M) thus creates a compression and a corresponding force build-up for electrical contact and at the seal 9 for sealing. Otherwise, the second embodiment corresponds to the first embodiment, so reference can be made to the description given there.

[0034] Fig. Figure 8 shows an electrical device with an electrical contact arrangement 10 according to a third embodiment of the invention, wherein identical or functionally identical parts are again designated with the same reference numerals.

[0035] As from Fig.As can be seen in Figure 8, this embodiment does not have a seal, but only the preloading element 3. Such an embodiment is used, for example, when there are no media outside the electrical device 1 that could damage the interior of the electrical device in any way. Otherwise, this embodiment corresponds to the preceding embodiments, so reference can be made to the description given there.

Claims

[1] Electrical contact arrangement comprising: - a flat cable (6) with at least one electrical contact (61) on a first flat side (60), designed for electrical contacting an electrical contact (41) of a component (4), and - a pretensioning element (3) which is arranged on a second flat side (62) of the flat cable (6) opposite the electrical contact (61), wherein the pretensioning element (3) is configured to exert a pretensioning force F on the electrical contact (61). [2] Contact arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a seal (9) which completely radially surrounds the flat cable (6) on its circumference. [3] Contact arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pretensioning element (3) is arranged on the flat cable and / or wherein the pretensioning element (3) is arranged on a housing part of a housing. [4] Contact arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pretensioning element (3) is arranged over an entire width of the flat cable (6) on the second flat side (62). [5] Contact arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pretensioning element (3) is designed such that the pretensioning element extends perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the flat cable (6). [6] Contact arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the flat cable (6) has a plurality of electrical contacts (61) on the first flat side (60). [7] Contact arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the preload element (3) is made of an elastic material, in particular silicone or EPDM rubber. [8] Contact arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the flat cable (6) is a flexible film. [9] Electrical device, in particular control unit of a vehicle, comprising: - an electrical component, in particular a printed circuit board (4) with at least one electrical contact (41), - a housing (2), and - an electrical contact arrangement according to one of the preceding claims. [10] Device according to claim 9, further comprising a positioning device (8), with a first part (81) on the flat cable (6) and a second part (82) on the electrical device, wherein the second part is designed to be complementary to the first part. [11] Device according to one of claims 9 or 10, further comprising a stop (11) which is configured to limit a deformation of the preload element (3). [12] Device according to one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the seal (9) is arranged between a cover (5) on the housing (2) and a base body (20) of the housing (2).

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