Connecting element for an electronic component, electronic component and method for assembling an electronic component

Abstract

Connector element (1) for an electronic component, comprising - a connecting area (7) for connecting a printed circuit board (3) to the connector element (1), - a connector (5) for connecting the connector element (1) to another component, wherein the connector element (1) comprises a sealing region intended to be brought into contact with a mating region of a housing, wherein the sealing region comprises a groove (9) into which a sealing material can be filled in a dispensing process, wherein the groove (9) comprises a dispensing start region (11), wherein the dispensing start region (11) has the following: - a first width which is greater than a second width of a section of the groove (9) which comprises the entire groove (9) except for the dispensing start region (11), and - a conically shaped side wall, the tip of the cone pointing towards the depth of the groove (9).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector element for an electronic component. It further relates to an electronic component and a method for assembling an electronic component.

[0002] An electronic component, such as a control unit in a vehicle, is assembled from several parts. Typically, the electronic component includes a circuit board with a control circuit, some type of connector for providing a power supply and a data connection for the electronic component, and a housing that protects the control circuit. The housing can be formed from a metal or a plastic material and is typically connected to the connector in some way.

[0003] With a new housing type, in which the housing is connected to the connector by a sealing material distributed in a sealing area, the assembly of the electronic component was problematic. The sealing material should be dispensed after the circuit board is connected to the connector. However, the circuit board protrudes far from the connector, requiring a relatively long needle for the dispensing process. However, a long needle is difficult to handle in an automated process.

[0004] CN 1 04 883 849 A discloses housing parts between which a groove filled with a sealant is arranged. The groove is U-shaped and has widened end regions that are dovetail-shaped and beveled.

[0005] DE 10 2009 016 762 A1 discloses an electronic assembly that is to be enclosed by a plug-on housing. A groove accommodates an edge area of ​​the housing. A reservoir containing a potting compound, which emerges from the reservoir during heat treatment and wets surrounding surfaces, is also in flow connection with the groove.

[0006] DE 10 2011 006 041 A1 discloses a housing for a control device with a cover, wherein a groove filled with sealing material is formed in the housing at a connecting surface of the cover with the housing.

[0007] JP H06-21 660 A discloses a housing for an electronic device that has a groove that can be filled with adhesive. The groove has a widened portion into which the adhesive is temporarily pressed when another housing part is inserted into the groove.

[0008] DE 10 2011 006 928 A1 discloses a housing for plug contact elements which has a conically tapered opening for introducing a sealing material.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a connector element in which the dispensing process can be carried out automatically and safely in a short time.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic component having such a connector element and an economical method for assembling the electronic component.

[0011] These objects are achieved by means of the connector element, the electronic component and the method according to the independent claims.

[0012] Advantageous embodiments and developments are specified in the dependent claims, the following description and the drawings.

[0013] According to one aspect of the invention, a connector element for an electronic component is provided, comprising a connection region for connecting a printed circuit board to the connector element. The connector element further comprises a connector for connecting the connector element to another component, wherein the other component is, in one embodiment, a mating connector. The connector element comprises a sealing region intended to be brought into contact with a corresponding mating region of the housing, wherein the sealing region comprises a—preferably narrow—groove intended to be filled with the sealing material during dispensing processes. The groove comprises a dispensing start region. The dispensing start region has a width greater than the width of the groove and a conically shaped sidewall. The tip of the cone points into the depth of the groove.In other words, the conical shaped side wall tapers towards the bottom of the groove.

[0014] According to the invention, the connector element connects the printed circuit board and its electronic circuit to another component, for example to a data cable or another electronic component.

[0015] The connector has the advantage of allowing easy positioning of a dispensing needle, as the dispensing start area, thanks to its conical sidewall, serves to center the needle. The conical sidewall forms a funnel-shaped section of the groove, thus assisting in inserting the dispensing needle into the narrow groove. Since a relatively long needle is used in the dispensing process, a slight bend in the needle would cause the needle tip to miss the narrow groove. However, ensuring that the needle tip is securely located in the narrow groove before starting the dispensing process is an important prerequisite for an automated dispensing process.

[0016] Typically, it is not desirable to simply widen the groove to solve problems with needle insertion into the groove. First, this would require a larger amount of sealing material, and second, a wider groove would require more space on the connector element, which is generally undesirable.

[0017] By providing a dispensing start area with the conical sidewall as part of the narrow groove, needle insertion into the groove is facilitated. This enables the use of an automated dispensing process.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the groove follows a contour of the connector of the connector element. For example, the groove extends completely around the connector in the circumferential direction, particularly in plan view along a connection direction of the connector. The connection direction is in particular the direction in which the mating connector can be inserted into the connector. In one development, the groove has four sections which, particularly in plan view along the connection direction, form a rectangular shape. A rectangular shape in the present context basically includes a rectangular shape with rounded edges. The dispensing start region with the conically shaped side wall can be particularly advantageous for dispensing into such circumferentially closed groove shapes.

[0019] In one embodiment, the dispensing start area consists of one of the four sections spaced from the edges of the rectangular shape. This allows for particularly easy tolerance compensation for the dispensing needle during the start of the dispensing process.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the invention, the conically shaped side wall is arranged on the inner portion of the groove, whereas the outer portion of the groove is formed the same both in the discharge start region and outside.

[0021] According to this embodiment, the discharge start region is not visible from the exterior of the connector element, meaning that the groove is not widened outward to form the discharge start region. In fact, the groove is only widened toward the interior of the connector element to form the discharge start region.

[0022] This has the advantage that the exterior of the connector element does not have to be changed, but can be formed uniformly.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the sealing material is an adhesive. According to this embodiment, the housing can be connected to the connector element via the adhesive, optionally in combination with embedded clips (catches).

[0024] According to one embodiment, the connector element is manufactured from a plastic material by injection molding. The connector element preferably has a plastic base body that is a one-piece—in particular injection-molded—part. For example, the connector element consists of the base body and a plurality of electrically conductive—in particular metallic—connecting elements.

[0025] This has the advantage that the connector element can be formed very cost-effectively.

[0026] According to one aspect of the invention, the electronic component is provided which comprises at least one circuit board, a housing arranged around the circuit board and the described connector element.

[0027] The circuit board can protrude from the connector element with a projection distance D with D > 5*b or even D > 10*b, where b is the width of the groove.

[0028] According to this embodiment, the projection distance D is comparatively large. This complicates the dispensing process because a long needle must be used. However, the dispensing start area offers the possibility of reliably centering the needle in the narrow groove for an automated dispensing process.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the electronic component is a control unit of a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system of a vehicle.

[0030] According to one aspect of the invention, a method for assembling the electronic component is provided, the method comprising connecting the circuit board to the connection region of the connector element and dispensing sealing material into the narrow groove starting at the dispensing start region, wherein the sealing material is dispensed by positioning the needle substantially parallel to the plane of the circuit board. The method further comprises disposing a housing around the circuit board, wherein a mating region of the housing contacts the sealing region.

[0031] Further advantages, advantageous embodiments and developments of the connector elements, the electronic component and the method for assembling the electronic component will become apparent from the embodiments described below in conjunction with the schematic figures. Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the connector element with a printed circuit board according to an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 2 shows a side view of the connector element according to Fig. 1, Fig. 3 shows a second side view of the connector element according to Fig. 1, Fig. 4 shows a plan view of the connector element with a printed circuit board according to Fig. 1 and Fig. 5 shows a second perspective view of the connector element according to Fig. 1.

[0032] Fig. Figure 1 shows a connector element 1 manufactured from plastic material using an injection molding process. The connector element 1 serves to connect an electronic circuit on the printed circuit board 3 to another electronic component not shown in the figures, for example, to a data cable and a power supply.

[0033] The connector element 1 has a connector 5 for connecting the connector element 1 to the other component. The printed circuit board 3 is arranged on a first side 6 of the connector element 1 in a connection area which is Fig. 1 is not shown. The connector 5 is arranged on a second side 8 of the connector element 1, which is opposite the first side 6.

[0034] The Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 show side views of the connector element 1. From these views it can be seen that the circuit board 3 protrudes from the connector element 1 by the projection distance D.

[0035] The Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 shows the connector element 1 from the first side 6. On the first side 6, the connection area 7 is arranged, in which the printed circuit board 3 is connected to the connection element 1. The connection area 7 is surrounded by a peripheral edge 10 that encloses the groove 9, which is to be filled with a sealing material in a dispensing process. The peripheral edge 10 and the groove 9 follow an outline of the connector 5, so that in plan view they extend completely in the circumferential direction around the connector 5 in a main extension plane of the peripheral edge 10, which is also the connection direction of the connector 5. The groove 9 has four sections 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, which form a rectangular shape in plan view along the connection direction, as in Fig. 4 is shown.

[0036] In an area of ​​the peripheral edge 10, the groove 9 widens to form the discharge start area 11 with a conically shaped side wall. Fig.Figure 5 shows the funnel-shaped geometry of the groove 9 in the discharge start area 11. The discharge start area 11 consists of one of the four sections and is located at a distance from each of the edges of the groove 9.

[0037] To apply the sealing material, a dispensing needle is inserted from above into the dispensing start area 11, while the circuit board 3 has already been connected to the connector element 1. Either a robot arm guides the relatively long needle through the groove 9 around the circuit board 3, or the needle is held in place and the connector element 1 is rotated by a robot arm. Due to the funnel-shaped geometry of the groove 9 in the dispensing start area 11, the needle can be inserted safely and easily into the groove 9.

Claims

[1] Connector element (1) for an electronic component, comprising - a connecting area (7) for connecting a printed circuit board (3) to the connector element (1), - a connector (5) for connecting the connector element (1) to another component, wherein the connector element (1) comprises a sealing region intended to be brought into contact with a mating region of a housing, wherein the sealing region comprises a groove (9) into which a sealing material can be filled in a dispensing process, wherein the groove (9) comprises a dispensing start region (11), wherein the dispensing start region (11) comprises: - a first width which is greater than a second width of a section of the groove (9) which comprises the entire groove (9) except for the discharge start region (11), and - a conically shaped side wall, the tip of the cone pointing towards the depth of the groove (9). [2] Connector element (1) according to claim 1, wherein the groove (9) extends completely in the circumferential direction around the connector (5). [3] Connector element (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the groove (9) has four sections (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d) which, in plan view along a connecting direction of the connector (5), form a rectangular shape. [4] Connector element (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein one of the four sections (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d) comprises the dispensing start region (11) and the dispensing start region (11) is spaced from the edges of the rectangular shape. [5] Connector element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an inner portion of the groove (9) has the conically shaped side wall, whereas an outer portion of the groove (9) is shaped the same both in the discharge start region (11) and outside. [6] Connector element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing material is an adhesive. [7] Connector element (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the connector element (1) is made by injection molding from a plastic material. [8] Electronic component comprising at least one printed circuit board (3), a housing arranged around the printed circuit board (3) and a connector element (1) according to one of the preceding claims. [9] Electronic component according to the preceding claim, wherein the printed circuit board (3) protrudes from the connector element (1) with a projection distance D with D > 5*b, where b is the second width. [10] Electronic component according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the printed circuit board (3) protrudes from the connector element (1) with a projection distance D with D > 10*b, where b is the second width. [11] Electronic component according to one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the electronic component is a control unit of a selective catalytic reduction system of a vehicle. [12] A method of assembling the electronic component according to any one of claims 8 to 11, the method comprising: - connecting the circuit board (3) to the connection area (7) of the connector element (1); - Dispensing a sealing material into the groove (9) starting in the dispensing start area (11), wherein the sealing material is dispensed by a needle which is parallel to the plane of the circuit board (3); - Arranging the housing around the circuit board (3), wherein the mating area of the housing touches the sealing area.

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