ELECTRONICS MODULE AND MANUFACTURING PROCESS

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic module according to the preamble of claim 1 and a manufacturing method according to the preamble of claim 9.

[0002] Two-sided fastening devices for the plug-in connection of two components are known in the prior art. For example, DE 740 1200 U and BE 824 335 disclose a double-sided dowel suitable for connecting a door frame to a frame element. Furthermore, electronic components or modules closed on one side, in which a printed circuit board is fastened inside, are known in the prior art. For example, US 5,535,100 B discloses fastening the printed circuit board (PCB) to the underside of a housing using a spacer. This is done by inserting and fastening plastic spacer and fastening elements with snap hooks into a housing wall. The printed circuit board is placed on top and clamped. US 10,928,441 B2 discloses a fastening for a circuit board using screws, on which the circuit board is mounted in a floating manner by adjusting the height using several nuts along the screws.Further connections for electronic modules consisting of two housing halves are known from DE 92 14 673 U1 and DE 91 10 871 U1.

[0003] The disadvantage of these designs is that they require numerous fastening components and high manufacturing costs. Furthermore, a large area of ​​the circuit board is used for fastening, which is no longer functionally usable for the actual electrical or data-conducting processes.

[0004] It is the object of the present invention to propose an improved fastening for printed circuit boards in a housing of an electronic module which avoids the aforementioned disadvantages.

[0005] This object is achieved according to the invention by an electronic module according to the features of claim 1 and a manufacturing method according to the features of claim 9. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the respective associated subclaims.

[0006] According to this, the object is achieved by a locking bolt for connecting components of an electronic module, which serves for force-fitting and / or form-fitting insertion into an at least partially enclosing receiving element, comprising at least one support section and a first bolt section with a head end and a connecting neck section, wherein at least one single-part or multi-part cutting and / or friction ring is arranged in the region of the head end and / or the neck section.

[0007] The core of the invention is that a second bolt section is arranged on the rear side of the support section, wherein the second bolt section also has a head end and a connecting neck section, and wherein at least one single- or multi-part cutting and / or friction ring is arranged in the region of the head end and / or the neck section. Cutting and / or friction ring are not to be understood as limiting and refer to all surface geometries or properties of the locking bolt or sections thereof that lead to cutting and / or pressing into an opposite and / or encompassing surface of a receiving element.

[0008] This provides the great advantage that, by simply plugging or pressing together, the circuit board is centered and permanently pressed onto the receiving elements of the housing base by the projecting support section of the locking pin, and, on the other hand, the housing top can also be easily pressed onto all locking pins at the same time in just one process step.

[0009] The locking bolt can in principle be designed symmetrically with respect to the two bolt sections, wherein the second bolt section is advantageously shorter than the first bolt section, wherein, depending on the thickness of the circuit board, the length of the second bolt section is 0.25 times to 0.75 times the length of the first bolt section.

[0010] In an improved embodiment, at least one of the head ends is designed as a mushroom-shaped or cap-shaped extension, with the circumferential lower edge being designed as a cutting ring. Alternatively or additionally, the outer surface of the mushroom-shaped or cap-shaped head end can have knurled or barbed surfaces, particularly in the edge region.

[0011] The surfaces of a cutting and / or friction ring can be designed in a variety of ways, with possible designs including barbs, knurling, or pointed grooves, either over the entire circumference or in sections. What all cutting and / or friction surface geometries have in common is that they are easy to insert in the direction of installation and, by gripping the wall or wall sections of a receiving element, firmly imprint themselves on it, making it impossible to remove or twist it without damaging it.

[0012] A further improved embodiment provides for a single- or multi-part cutting and / or friction ring to be arranged on at least one neck section, ideally with multiple cutting and / or friction rings. The above applies analogously to the surface geometries.

[0013] The locking bolt is advantageously made of a metal, in particular a non-rusting metal or a plastic, in particular of PVC (polyvinyl chloride), PP (polypropylene), POM (polyoxymethylene) or PET (polyethylene terephthalate).

[0014] The electronic module according to the invention comprises a housing lower part, a printed circuit board (circuit board) and a housing upper part, wherein the printed circuit board has at least one through-opening for fastening with a fastening means, which is introduced and fastened with a first end through the through-opening in a flush-arranged receiving element of the housing lower part in a force-fitting and / or form-fitting manner.

[0015] The core of the inventive electrical module is that a receiving element is provided on the upper housing part, aligned with the receiving element of the lower housing part. The other end of the fastening means is inserted and secured in a similar manner, with a force-fitting and / or positive fit, into the receiving element of the upper housing part, in particular by being pressed in with a force-fitting and / or positive fit.

[0016] The term "through-holes" on a printed circuit board refers to both circumferential cutouts and openings, as well as cutouts in the edge or perimeter area that are open to the outside, i.e., not completely closed. These are not defined in their geometry and can be shaped, for example, as oval or circular cutouts.

[0017] One improvement is that the upper and lower housing parts have an edge, with the edges being sealed to one another at least in sections by a sealing layer or bonded together with an adhesive. Advantageously, the edges are sealed and / or bonded to one another along their entire length.

[0018] In a further, improved embodiment, the fastening means is designed as a locking bolt according to one of the aforementioned embodiments.

[0019] A further improvement is that at least one of the receiving elements is mounted such that a web-like support element is arranged between a housing wall and one of the receiving elements. In an alternative embodiment, at least one receiving element is mounted in a column-like or sleeve-like manner perpendicular to the circuit board on or at a housing wall, or is formed monolithically from the housing wall.

[0020] The lower housing part is defined by the fact that it is the housing part to or on which the circuit board is attached in a first step. The upper housing part is defined analogously by the fact that it is the other housing part that is not the lower housing part. This does not restrict the electronics module's installation position, so that the lower housing part can also be positioned above the upper housing part in the final installation position with respect to gravity.

[0021] In the manufacturing method according to the invention for an electronic module, a printed circuit board having at least one feedthrough opening is mounted in a housing lower part with fastening means on or in at least one receiving element and then a housing upper part is attached, wherein the following steps are carried out: a) Providing the lower housing part, b) Placing the circuit board on one or more receiving elements of the lower housing part, c) Passing one or more fastening means through the feedthrough openings and pressing them into the at least one receiving element, wherein the fastening means is designed as a locking bolt according to one of the aforementioned embodiment variants and d) Pressing the head end of the second bolt section into at least one receiving element of the upper housing part.

[0022] In particular, an electronic module according to one of the above-mentioned embodiments is produced.

[0023] An improvement of the manufacturing process consists in that before step d), the pressing in of the upper housing part, a sealing and / or adhesive material is applied at least in sections to a housing edge.

[0024] The particular advantage is that a direct, force-locking connection is created between the housing's upper and lower sections, even when an adhesive or glue is applied. No additional fastening devices are required, including holding and fastening devices that temporarily ensure the required contact pressure while the adhesive cures and dries. The electronics module can be transported and moved immediately, even while the adhesive is drying and curing.

[0025] Advantageously, at least one cutting and / or friction ring is pressed into each receiving element of the upper and lower housing sections in a form-fitting and force-fitting manner.

[0026] Further details and advantages of the invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings.

[0027] They show: Fig. 1a ), b) a first embodiment of the locking bolt, Fig. 2a ), b) two further embodiments of the locking bolt and a schematic, alternative embodiment and Fig. 3a ), b) and c) three steps of the manufacturing process of an electronic module.

[0028] In the Figure 1a) the locking bolt 1 is shown as a side view, which has a lower first bolt section 2, an upper second bolt section 3 and a support section 4 arranged therebetween, which has a larger diameter than the two bolt sections 2, 3. The locking bolt 1, according to the Figures 1a) and Figure 1b) is rotationally symmetrical to the vertical axis Z, although the invention is not restricted to this. Both bolt sections 2, 3 each have a head end 5, 6, which is each connected to the support section 4 by a neck section 7, 8. Both head ends 5, 6 are shaped as mushroom-head or cap-like extensions of the respective neck sections 7, 8 and have a cutting edge 5.1, 6.1 at their lower end facing the support section 4. On the first bolt section 2, which is twice the length of the second bolt section 3, a cutting and / or friction ring 9 is arranged, the circumferential surface of which is inclined towards the free end in the direction of the axis Z in order to facilitate insertion into a receiving element 23. On its lower side facing the support element 4, this has a cutting edge 9.1.

[0029] Figure 1b ) shows the locking bolt 1 according to Figure 1a) in the installed position. The first bolt section 2 of the locking bolt 1 is guided through the through-hole 11 of the printed circuit board 10 and into the opening 23.1 of the receiving element 3. The support section 4 presses the printed circuit board 10 onto the upper edge of the receiving element 23 of the housing base 21 (not shown). Fig. 3 ), while the cutting edge 6.1 of the head end 6 and the cutting edge 9.1 of the cutting and friction ring 9 cut into the inner wall 23.2 of the receiving element 23 and are thus fixed in a force-locking and form-locking manner and can only be removed by destructive means. The upper head end 5 of the second bolt section 3 is still free, so that a housing upper part 22, or its receiving elements 24, can be attached and fastened thereon, as shown in Figure 3 shown.

[0030] In the Figures 2a) and 2b) further embodiments of the locking bolt 1 are shown, which have in common that no mushroom- or cap-like head is formed, but a plurality of cutting and / or friction rings 9, 14, 15, 16 are provided. In the embodiment according to Figure 2a ) three circumferential, parallel cutting and / or friction rings 9 are arranged on the lower, first bolt section 2 and two circumferential, parallel cutting and / or friction rings 14 are arranged on the upper, second bolt section 3. Of these, the deepest one is provided with a surface knurling, which is indicated by the dotted surface. As shown in the Figure 2b) As shown by way of example, the cutting and / or friction rings can also be interrupted or tooth- or claw-like, as shown for the three cutting and / or friction rings 15, 16. These consist of a plurality of circumferentially arranged number or claw elements. In embodiments not shown, the two bolt sections 2, 3 are identically shaped, so that the locking bolt 1 is symmetrically shaped overall.

[0031] The locking pin 1 thus performs two functions: on the one hand, it holds the printed circuit board 11 (circuit board) and, on the other hand, it also fixes the upper housing part 22. In other words, it acts as a type of sandwich connector that connects the two housing halves, consisting of the upper housing part 22 and the lower housing part 21, and, in the previous assembly step, also permanently (non-removably) locks the printed circuit board 11 (circuit board).

[0032] During the assembly step, the locking pin 1 thus assumes the fixation and positioning between the housing base 21 and the printed circuit board 11, while the housing top 22 is brought closer and pressed on under the application of force. Furthermore, the locking pin 1 permanently connects these parts because it remains in the finished module housing 20.

[0033] In the Figure 3a) the first steps of the manufacturing process are shown. The housing base 21 is prepared and the circuit board 10 is placed from above in the direction of arrow A, aligned with the openings 11, on the receiving elements 23, only one of which is shown. The receiving element 23 is attached to a web-like support element 27 on the housing wall 25. The locking pin 1 is then moved in the direction B and pressed in, so that the circuit board 10 is fixed to the receiving element 23. At the same time as the aforementioned steps or subsequently, in the example shown, a liquid sealant and adhesive 12 is applied to the housing edge 21.1 of the housing base 21. In an embodiment not shown, the housing edge or the housing wall can also have a tongue and groove shape, so that a sealant and adhesive 12 is poured into the groove, for example.Alternatively, in a manufacturing variant not shown, the adhesive is applied to the upper housing part 22.

[0034] After completing the steps according to the Figure 3a ), as in Figure 3b ), the upper housing part 22 is brought from above in direction D, wherein the direction D corresponds to the axial direction Z of the inserted locking pin 1. The upper housing part 22 is pressed onto all head parts 5 of the second pin sections 3, wherein the bevelled or round head shape enables automatic centering of the entire upper housing part 22 and its receiving elements 24. Figure 3c) finally shows the sealed electronic module 20, in which the two receiving elements 23, 24, which press the two housing parts tightly together via web-like support elements 27, 28 on the respective housing walls 25, 26 through the pressed-in locking pins 1, press the two housing parts together. The printed circuit board 10 is held and centered in parallel and without additional fastening means.

[0035] In a variant not shown, the receiving elements 23, 24 are attached solely or additionally to the housing cover 29, or the housing cover is formed in sections as receiving elements 23, 24. The receiving elements 23, 24 can, in particular, be single-part or multi-part sleeves. List of reference symbols

[0036] 1Locking bolt 2Bolt section, first 3Bolt section, second 4Support section 5Head end, second 5.1Cutting ring 6Head end, first 6.1Cutting edge 7Neck section, first 8Neck section, second 9Cutting and / or ring 9.1Cutting edge 10Printed circuit board 11Through opening 12Sealing or adhesive material 14Cutting and friction ring 15Cutting and friction ring 20Module housing 21Lower housing section 21.1Housing edge 22Upper housing section 22.1Housing edge 23Receiving element 23.1Opening 23.2Inner wall 24Receiving element 25Housing wall 26Housing wall 27Supporting element 28Supporting element A, B, D directions Z-axis, axis of symmetry

Claims

1. Electronics module (20) comprising a housing lower part (21), a printed circuit board (10), a fastening means and a housing upper part (22), the printed circuit board (10) having at least one through-opening (11) for fastening with the fastening means, which is force-fittingly and / or form-fittingly introduced by way of a first end through the through-opening (11) into a receiving element (23), arranged in line, of the housing lower part (21) and fastened, a receiving element (24) arranged in line with the receiving element (23) of the housing lower part (21) being provided on the housing upper part (22), the other end of the fastening means being force-fittingly and / or form-fittingly introduced into the at least one receiving element (23) of the housing upper part (22) and fastened, the fastening means being in the form of a locking bolt (1) comprising at least one protruding support portion (4) and a first bolt portion (2) with a head end (6) and a connecting neck portion (8), at least one single-part or multi-part cutting and / or friction ring (6.1, 9.1) being arranged in the region of the head end (6) and / or the neck portion (8), a second bolt portion (3) being arranged on the rear side of the protruding support portion (4), the second bolt portion (3) having a head end (5) and a connecting neck portion (7), and at least one single-part or multi-part cutting and / or friction ring (5.1) being arranged in the region of the head end (5) and / or the neck portion (7), and characterized in that the printed circuit board (10) is centred and permanently pressed on the receiving elements (23) of the housing lower part (21) by the protruding support portion (4) of the locking bolt (1).

2. Electronics module (20) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the second bolt portion (3) of the locking bolt (1) is shorter than the first bolt portion (2), in particular the length of the second bolt portion (3) is 0.25 times to 0.75 times the first bolt portion (2) .

3. Electronics module (20) according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the locking bolt (1) at least at one of the head ends (5, 6) is in the form of a mushroom-head-like and / or cap-like widening, the encircling lower edge of which is in the form of a cutting ring (5.1, 6.1).

4. Electronics module (20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a single-part or multi-part cutting and / or friction ring (9, 14, 15) is arranged on at least one neck portion (7, 8) of the locking bolt (1).

5. Electronics module (20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking bolt (1) is made of a metal, in particular a stainless metal, or a plastic, in particular a PVC, PP, PET or POM.

6. Electronics module (20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing upper part (22) and the housing lower part (21) have an edge (21.1, 22.1), the edges (21.1, 22.1) being adhesively bonded to one another at least in certain portions, in particular adhesively bonded to one another over the entire length.

7. Electronics module (20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a bar-like carrying element (27, 28) is arranged at least between a housing wall (25, 26) and one of the receiving elements (23, 24) .

8. Electronics module (20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one receiving element (23, 24) has a pillar-like and / or sleeve-like form and is fitted on a housing cover (29) and / or the housing cover (29) in certain portions is in the form of a pillar-like and / or sleeve-like receiving element (23, 24).

9. Production process for an electronics module (20), in which a printed circuit board (10) having at least one through-opening (11) is fitted on at least one receiving element (23, 24) in a housing lower part (21) with fastening means and then a housing upper part (22) is fastened, characterized in that the following steps are carried out: a) providing the housing lower part (21), b) placing the printed circuit board (10) onto the at least one receiving element (23) of the housing lower part (21), c) passing the at least one fastening means through the through-opening (11) and pressing it into the at least one receiving element (23), the electronics module (20) being designed with the fastening means in the form of a locking bolt (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 8, and d) pressing the head end (6) of the second bolt portion (3) into at least one receiving element (24) of the housing upper part (22).

10. Production process according to Claim 9, characterized in that, before step d), a sealing or adhesive material (12) is applied to and / or placed onto a housing edge (21.1, 22.1) at least in certain portions.

11. Production process according to either of Claims 9 and 10, characterized in that at least one respective cutting and / or friction ring (5.1, 6.1, 9, 9.1, 14, 15) is form-fittingly and / or force-fittingly pressed in each receiving element (23, 24) of the housing upper and lower part.