CONTROL BOARD FOR A CAR HEADLIGHT

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a control board for a motor vehicle headlight, on which at least one connector group with identical connectors for connecting connector counterparts is arranged printed circuit boards that are clearly assigned to the respective connectors of a connector group.

[0002] The automotive industry places high demands on electrical connectors, particularly with regard to the different environmental conditions prevailing in parts of the vehicle.

[0003] For example, a vehicle's headlight is exposed to high temperatures and vibration loads, and these special requirements for connector systems limit the available selection of suitable connectors on the market.

[0004] Furthermore, when assembling circuit boards or control boards, for example, which are connected to other components by means of an electrical connector system, it must be ensured that the connectors cannot be mixed up or plugged in incorrectly.

[0005] To ensure this, connector families with their own mechanical coding system are typically used, with each connector and its associated counterpart having its own mating mechanism. However, certain system specifications, for example, in printed circuit boards, may require connector connections that do not implement or provide any coding. GB2503597A discloses a printed circuit board according to the preamble of the independent claim. WO2008 / 134809A1 teaches complementary side edges for connecting two compatible printed circuit boards and preventing the connection of incompatible printed circuit boards.

[0006] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a control board to avoid the above-mentioned disadvantages and other limitations of the prior art.

[0007] This object is achieved in that the printed circuit boards each have a coding geometry on at least one side edge resulting from their shape and, in the case of adjacent printed circuit boards that are correctly plugged in in the sense of their assignment, the coding geometry of a side edge of a printed circuit board is complementary to a coding geometry of an adjacent side edge of a neighboring printed circuit board.

[0008] In this way, connectors or connector systems that originally have no coding are equipped with a coding system that is determined by the respective arrangement of the connectors within a connector group and the resulting correlating geometry of the printed circuit boards of the connector counterparts.

[0009] Connectors used to connect printed circuit boards include stackable PCB connectors, mezzanine connectors, backplane connectors and FH connectors, although this list is not exhaustive.

[0010] According to the invention, only board-to-board connections are taken into account, ranging from rigid or solid printed circuit boards, for example single-sided or double-sided standard printed circuit boards, as well as multilayer boards, to thin, flexible flexible printed circuit boards.

[0011] Furthermore, the number of individual connectors required for connector families with coding options per component is significantly lower than when using a single connector of the same design. This results in a significant cost reduction.

[0012] It can be provided that at least two adjacent circuit boards of different connector groups complement each other through their respective shapes. Furthermore, it can be provided that the coding geometries of the circuit boards have recesses and projections that deviate from a straight line and complement each other.

[0013] It can be useful if the coding geometries of the circuit boards are curved and / or jagged, whereby any conceivable pattern can be used.

[0014] According to the invention, it is provided that at least one connector group has a first and a second connector, wherein plugging a circuit board onto a connector not assigned to this circuit board prevents plugging another circuit board onto the other connector within the connector group.

[0015] Advantageously, the connectors of a connector group are arranged in a row with a constant spacing on the control board, with the plug-in directions of the connectors being aligned parallel to each other.

[0016] This also takes into account a rotation of the plug directions by 180° to each other, so that plugs can be arranged with opposite plug directions.

[0017] Furthermore, it can be provided that the plugs of a plug group are arranged in a row with a constant spacing on the control board, wherein the plugging directions of at least two adjacent plugs are aligned obliquely to each other.

[0018] Advantageously, the plug connections between the connectors and the connector counterparts of the circuit boards are detachable.

[0019] The invention is described in more detail below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1a top view of a control board with two connector groups comprising three connectors each, Fig. 2 a top view of the control board Fig. 1 with connected circuit boards, Fig. 3 a detailed view of two circuit boards with complementary shapes, Fig. 4 a detailed view of three circuit boards with complementary shapes, Fig. 5 a detailed view of complementary circuit boards of two connector groups, Fig. 6 a plan view of a control board with two connector groups comprising two connectors each, Fig. 7 a top view of the control board Fig. 6 with connected circuit boards, Fig. 8 a top view of the control board Fig. 6 with plugged-in circuit boards on connectors not assigned to these circuit boards, Fig. 9a plan view of another exemplary control board comprising two connector groups with two connectors each, Fig. 10 a top view of the control board Fig. 9 with connected circuit boards, Fig. 11 a top view of the control board Fig. 9 with plugged-in circuit boards on connectors not assigned to these circuit boards, Fig. 12 another example of a control board with two connector groups, each comprising two connectors arranged at a tilt angle to each other, Fig. 13 a top view of the control board Fig. 12 with connected circuit boards, Fig. 14 a top view of the control board Fig. 12 with a printed circuit board connected to a connector not assigned to this printed circuit board, Fig. 15 another example with offset and twisted connectors of a connector group on a control board, and Fig. 16another example with twisted connectors of a connector group on a control board.

[0020] Fig. 1 shows a control board 100 of a vehicle headlight with connector groups arranged thereon, each with three identical connectors 200, where each on the control board 100 arranged plugs 200 can be constructed identically.

[0021] The term "plug group" refers to those plugs that are identical in construction and arranged and spaced from each other in such a way that the observer has the impression of belonging together, whereby plug groups have a different number of plugs than other plug groups. 200 Likewise, identical plugs can 200 are grouped into plug groups based on their functions.

[0022] Within a connector group, each connector 200a separate circuit board 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 411, 412, 413, 414 assigned, each of which has an identically constructed plug counterpart 300 which is suitable for use with the identical plugs 200 to establish a plug connection within a plug group.

[0023] The plugs shown in the figures 200 each have a preferred plug-in direction for the plug counterparts which are constructed in the same way in the figures and other examples 300 where the plug counterparts 300 twisted 180 degrees to the plugs 200 be plugged in.

[0024] For ease of illustration, the circuit boards 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 411, 412, 413, 414 arranged connector counterparts 300 when plugged in and with the connector upright on the control board 100, also drawn and provided with a border, as for example in Fig. 2 ,although these would not actually be visible in the top views.

[0025] It should be noted that the plugs shown in the figures 200 and plug counterparts 300 - and their plug-in system - serve only as an illustrative example and any conceivable type of plug and plug counterparts, as well as plug-in systems or plug-in connection systems, can be provided.

[0026] Since the circuit boards 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 411, 412, 413, 414 generally have different functions implemented, it must be ensured that the printed circuit boards 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 411, 412, 413, 414 when assembled on the connectors assigned to them 200 be infected.

[0027] To achieve this, the circuit boards 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 411, 412, 413, 414 a connector group are shaped differently so that at least one side edge has a coding geometry 500, 600, 530, 630, 540, 640 where, when assembling all circuit boards 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 411, 412, 413, 414a connector group on the respective connectors 200, the coding geometry 500, 600, 530, 630, 540, 640 for adjacent circuit boards that are correctly connected in terms of their assignment 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 411, 412, 413, 414 is complementary.

[0028] Here, the coding geometry 500, 530, 540 a side edge of a circuit board 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 411, 412, 413, 414 to a coding geometry 600, 630, 640 an adjacent side edge of a neighboring circuit board 400 complementary.

[0029] Apart from the complementary shapes, the plug counterparts 300 on the respective circuit boards 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 411, 412, 413, 414 such a position that when a circuit board is plugged in 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 411, 412, 413, 414 on one of these circuit boards 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 411, 412, 413, 414 unassigned connector 200 at least one more plug 200 is concealed within the connector group, so that plugging in another circuit board 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 411, 412, 413, 414 on this hidden plug200 is prevented.

[0030] In this respect, one could also speak of an "asymmetric" position of the connector counterparts 300 on the respective circuit boards 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 411, 412, 413, 414 speak, which means that the circuit board 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 411, 412, 413, 414 together with the connector counterpart arranged on it 300 has no axial and / or point symmetries, even if the shape of the circuit board 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 411, 412, 413, 414 without plug counterpart 300 has or has had such symmetry.

[0031] In Fig. 2 is a possible embodiment of the plugged circuit boards 400 on the control board 1 out of Fig. 1 shown, whereby the circuit boards 400 have a rectangular shape and two plug counterparts 300 such a position on the respective circuit boards 400 a connector group as described above.

[0032] It should be noted that printed circuit boards are generally, and where appropriate for reasons of clarity or readability, only provided with the reference symbol "400", whereby in the Fig. 10,11 , 13 and 14 Due to necessary explanations, more specific reference symbols are used for the circuit boards contained therein.

[0033] In the previously mentioned examples, the shape of the circuit boards 400 designed as a rectangle, with another possible example for the shape of the circuit boards 400 in Fig. 3 is shown.

[0034] Here are two circuit boards 400 which are essentially rectangular in shape, with the adjacent sides or edges of the circuit boards in an upright plug-in connection 400 each have a complementary zigzag pattern.

[0035] Other patterns or shapes can also be used to complement the shape of the printed circuit boards 400 be used, such as arched shapes, whereby several different shapes can be used on one circuit board 400 can be realized. Fig. 4 shows such an embodiment in which for adjacent circuit boards 400 different complementary shapes are realized.

[0036] Until now, only printed circuit boards 400 and their shapes within a connector group are taken into account, whereby at least two circuit boards adjacent to different connector groups 400 can complement each other through their respective design, as in Fig. 5 shown.

[0037] It should be added that the specific Fig. 4 and 5The different coding geometries contained in the drawing are not all provided with reference symbols, since these figures are only intended to illustrate the principle used, and the shapes used for the individual coding geometries are to be understood symbolically.

[0038] Through the targeted complementary design of the circuit boards 400 It should be excluded that when plugging in or assembling all circuit boards 400 a connector group, to a connector not assigned to them 200 be infected.

[0039] In the Figs. 6, 7 and 8 shown example, with exactly two plugs 200 In a connector group, the shape and position of the connector counterparts 300 on the respective circuit boards 400 chosen so that even an incorrect connection of a circuit board 400 to an unassigned connector 200causes the other plug 200 the connector group is covered, so that plugging in another circuit board 400 This means that in a connector group with two identical connectors 200 only one plug 200 through a circuit board 400 may be occupied, since incorrect connection of a circuit board 400 to an unassigned connector 200 is immediately apparent.

[0040] Please note that the plug groups from the example in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 have different plug directions. The plug directions of the plugs 200 a connector group in a common direction, whereby the connectors 200 the other connector group are arranged in the opposite direction.

[0041] In the Figs. 9, 10 and 11 In the example shown, the control board 100 a first and second connector group AWAYwhere the plugs of the first plug group A have mirrored plug directions, and the plugs of the second plug group B each with the first plug group A are arranged in opposite plug-in directions.

[0042] In contrast to the Figs. 6, 7 and 8 In the example shown, the circuit boards 401, 402, 403, 404 of the in Figs. 9, 10 and 11 shown example due to the arrangement of the plug directions of the plugs 200 rotated by 180 degrees within their respective connector group, but not in the sense of their assignment, can also be plugged in at the same time, whereby simultaneous plugging of the circuit boards 401, 402, 403, 404 an unassigned connector group AWAY due to the arrangement of the plug directions of the plugs 200 is prevented.

[0043] Fig. 11 shows one in the first connector group A unassigned circuit board 403the second connector group B, which allows the connection of another circuit board 401 the first connector group A prevented, as well as one in the second plug group B unassigned circuit board 402 the first connector group A, which allows the connection of another circuit board 404 the second connector group B prevented.

[0044] Fig. 12,13 and 14 show another example, where the plugs 200 the respective plug groups AWAY In addition to the alignment of the plug-in direction, according to the example from Figs. 9, 10 and 11 , are twisted or tilted towards each other.

[0045] On the assigned circuit boards 411, 412, 413, 414 this twisted plug 200, is the plug counterpart 300 also rotated by the same angle, so that with an upright connection of all circuit boards 411, 412, 413, 414this connector group the shapes or coding geometries 500, 600 from neighboring circuit boards 411, 412, 413, 414 complement each other.

[0046] This additional tilt angle ensures that the circuit boards 411, 412, 413, 414 exclusively in the sense of their assignment to the respective plugs 200 can be arranged.

[0047] By "arranged twisted to each other" we mean in the broadest sense that the plugs 200 a connector group preferably in a row with constant spacing on the control board 100 are arranged, wherein the plugging directions of at least two adjacent plugs 200 are not aligned parallel to each other.

[0048] Fig. 14 shows one of the first connector groups A assigned circuit board 411, which once within the first plug group A on a connector not assigned to it 200is plugged in, as well as once arranged or plugged in on a plug 200 of this circuit board 411 unassigned second connector group B. In both cases it is immediately apparent that connecting another circuit board 412, 413, 414 is not possible or the coding geometries 500, 600 not complementary.

[0049] Figs. 15 and 16 show further examples according to the invention. Here, the arrangements of the plugs 200 and plug directions on three plugs 200 a connector group, where Fig. 16 the plugs 200 twisted to each other and additionally arranged offset from each other.

[0050] It should be noted that the connected or correctly connected circuit boards are arranged coplanarly on the control board, ie the connected circuit boards extend essentially in a common plane. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0051] Control board 100 Plug 200 Plug counterpart 300 circuit board 400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 411, 412, 413, 414 Coding geometry 500, 600, 530, 630, 540, 640, first connector group A second connector group B

Claims

1. Control board (100) for a motor vehicle headlamp, on which at least one plug group (A, B) with identical plugs (200) for plugging in plug counterparts (300) is arranged, having printed circuit boards (400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 411, 412, 413, 414), the plug connections between the plugs (200) and the plug counterparts (300) of the printed circuit boards (400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 411, 412, 413, 414) being detachable, characterized in that the printed circuit boards (400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 411, 412, 413, 414) each have on at least one side edge a coding geometry (500, 600, 530, 630, 540, 640) resulting from their shape and, in the case of adjacent printed circuit boards (400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 411, 412, 413, 414), the coding geometry (500, 530, 540) of a side edge of a printed circuit board (400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 411, 412, 413, 414) is complementary to a coding geometry (600, 630, 640) of an adjacent side edge of an adjacent printed circuit board (400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 411, 412, 413, 414), wherein the connector counterparts (300) on the respective printed circuit boards have such a position that, when a printed circuit board is plugged onto a connector not assigned to this printed circuit board, at least one further connector (200) within the connector group is covered, so that plugging of a further printed circuit board onto this covered connector (200) is prevented.

2. Control board (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the coding geometries (500, 600, 530, 630, 540, 640) of at least two printed circuit boards (400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 411, 412, 413, 414) which are adjacent in different connector groups and correctly plugged in in terms of their assignment complement each other.

3. Control board (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the coding geometries (500, 600, 530, 630, 540, 640) of the printed circuit boards (400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 411, 412, 413, 414) have recesses and projections which deviate from a straight line and complement each other.

4. Control board (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that the coding geometries (500, 600, 530, 630, 540, 640) of the printed circuit boards (400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 411, 412, 413, 414) are arcuate and / or serrated.

5. Control board (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the plugs (200) of a plug group are arranged in a row with constant spacing on the control board (100), the plug directions of the plugs (200) being aligned parallel to one another.

6. Control board (100) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least one plug group has exactly two plugs (200), wherein plugging a printed circuit board (400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 411, 412, 413, 414) onto one of these printed circuit boards (400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 411, 412, 413, 414) to a connector (200) not assigned to this printed circuit board (400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 411, 412, 413, 414), prevents the connection of another printed circuit board (400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 411, 412, 413, 414) to the other connector (200) within the connector group.

7. Control board (100) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the plugs (200) of a plug group are arranged in a row with constant spacing on the control board (100), the plug directions of at least two adjacent plugs (200) being aligned at an angle to one another.

8. Control board (100) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the plugs (200) of a plug group are arranged in a row with constant spacing on the control board (100), the plug directions of at least two adjacent plugs (200) being aligned orthogonally to one another.

9. Control board (100) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the plugs (200) of a plug group are arranged in a row on the control board (100), at least one plug (200) having a position offset from the row.

10. Control board (100) according to claim 9, characterized in that the plug-in directions of at least two adjacent plugs (200) are aligned at an angle to one another.

11. Control board (100) according to claim 10, characterized in that at least one plug group has exactly three plugs (200), wherein plugging a printed circuit board (400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 411, 412, 413, 414) onto one of these printed circuit boards (400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 411, 412, 413, 414) to a plug (200) not assigned to this printed circuit board (400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 411, 412, 413, 414), prevents the plugging of a further printed circuit board (400, 401, 402, 403, 404, 411, 412, 413, 414) to other plugs (200) within the plug group.

12. Motor vehicle headlamp with at least one control board (100) according to one of claims 1 to 11.