Motor vehicle electrical component assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle electrical component assembly, which is equipped with an electrical component (1) and with a component carrier (2) having conductor tracks (4) for making electrical contact with the component (1). The component (1) is received in a receptacle (5) in the component carrier (2) without potting compound. According to the invention, a sealing protrusion (3a) which seals the receptacle (5) is provided on a cover (3) of the component carrier (2), and when the cover (3) is united with the component carrier (2) in the assembly direction (M), the sealing protrusion (3a) sealingly engages the receptacle (5).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Automotive electrical component arrangement

[0003] The invention relates to a motor vehicle electrical component arrangement, comprising an electrical component and a component carrier with conductor tracks for electrically contacting the component, wherein the component is received in a receptacle of the component carrier without the need for encapsulation compound.

[0004] Automotive electrical component assemblies refer to arrangements of components used in and on a motor vehicle. As a result, specific requirements for the intended use must be met. This typically includes not only covering a wide temperature range of approximately -60 °C to +100 °C without any observed impairment of the components' functionality. In addition, such electrical component assemblies usually have to be sealed against moisture and dust to ensure functional reliability over long periods of time. For this purpose, so-called component carriers are generally used, on or with the help of which the electrical components are positioned and held. For this purpose, the component carriers are equipped with conductor tracks through which the components are electrically contacted.In most cases, additional sealing with casting compound is provided.

[0005] The components discussed here are, by way of example and not limitation, switches or sensors in general, as well as electric motors, LEDs, etc. The conductor tracks can be glued to the component carrier (made of plastic) or embedded in the component carrier. Such component assemblies are typically used in conjunction with electromotive drive units that move actuators. These can be window lift drives, spindle drives, seat adjustments, etc. Particularly preferred are automotive electrical component assemblies used in conjunction with motor vehicle locking systems.At this point, the component carrier carries, for example, drives for electrically opening or locking the locking device as well as one or more sensors with the aid of which the respective functional position of the motor vehicle locking device can be queried.

[0006] The generic prior art according to DE 10 2014 222 428 A1 concerns a component carrier-switch assembly. For this purpose, an interface between a switch and the component carrier is implemented. According to claim 2 therein, it is also possible for the switch not to be encapsulated with the component carrier. For this purpose, an annular seal is provided in connection with the interface in question between the component carrier and the switch.

[0007] However, such a ring seal can only be realized and implemented with considerable design effort. This is because the ring seal must usually be manufactured separately from the component carrier and then combined with it. Furthermore, there is a risk that the ring seal could be damaged during assembly of the switch and thus could not adequately protect the contacts inside. The invention aims to remedy this situation.

[0008] The invention is based on the technical problem of further developing such an automotive electrical component assembly in such a way that, while eliminating the need for a potting compound, the design and assembly costs are reduced. To solve this technical problem, a generic automotive electrical component assembly within the scope of the invention is characterized in that a sealing projection closing the receptacle is provided on a cover of the component carrier, wherein the cover, when joined to the component carrier in the assembly direction, engages sealingly in the receptacle with the sealing projection.

[0009] The invention is based, first of all, on the realization that attaching the component to the component carrier requires placing the component in the receptacle of the component carrier. During this process, the component is not only mechanically received in the receptacle. Rather, electrical contact is typically also made between the component and one or more conductor tracks at the same time. For this purpose, the component in question can be equipped with, for example, plug contacts, solder contacts, or clamp contacts, which establish the desired electrical connection with corresponding mating contacts of the associated conductor track. In most cases, an attempt will be made at this point to establish a solder-free electrical connection, for example by equipping the switch with plug contacts that are plugged onto or into corresponding mating plug contacts at the end of the associated conductor track.

[0010] To protect the exposed area within the image, which is inevitably present and observed at this point and contains the electrical connection between the component in question and the conductor track, from corrosion, the current state of the art uses a potting compound that seals the electrical connection in this area. This is time-consuming and costly.

[0011] For this purpose, the generic prior art according to DE 10 2014 222 428 A1 uses an additional seal. However, according to the invention, neither the potting compound nor the seal are required. Instead, the previously described free space is closed by the sealing projection on the cover as soon as the cover is joined to the component carrier in the assembly direction.

[0012] The invention is based on the further finding that the component carrier, together with the one or more components mounted thereon and electrically contacted, is generally covered by means of an additionally attached cover. For this purpose, the component carrier can, for example, be arranged inside a housing or itself represent a component of the housing. In any case, the attachment of the cover, as a generally additional component of the housing, ensures that, according to the invention, the sealing projection on the cover properly closes the receptacle in the area of ​​the electrical connections between the component and the associated conductor track. This is because the sealing projection engages in the receptacle to form a seal when the cover and the component carrier are joined in the assembly direction.

[0013] In this way, the sealing projection ensures that any remaining free areas within the component's receptacle are sealed by the sealing projection. This eliminates the need for additional encapsulation compound and the prior installation of a seal, resulting in advantages during manufacturing and assembly. Furthermore, the cover can generally be removed from the component carrier, allowing access to the component, particularly its electrical connection or contact area with the associated conductor track, if necessary and for repair purposes. These are the key advantages.

[0014] It is generally understood that the cover for the component carrier does not necessarily have to cover the entire surface of the component carrier. This means that variants in which the cover only partially covers the component carrier, for example, in the area of ​​the component or multiple components, are equally within the scope of the invention. In either case, mounting the cover relative to the component carrier in the mounting direction not only ensures the desired coverage of the component carrier, but also ensures that the receptacle with the component placed therein is sealed by the sealing projection.

[0015] According to an advantageous embodiment, the sealing projection is equipped with at least one sealing lip for sealing. The sealing lip can be molded onto the sealing projection. An embodiment in which the sealing lip is injection-molded onto the sealing projection has proven particularly advantageous. This is achieved advantageously in particular because the cover and thus the sealing projection are generally designed as plastic molded parts, in particular plastic injection-molded parts. The sealing lip, for example made of an elastomeric plastic, can therefore be injection-molded directly onto the sealing projection in this way, for example in a two-component injection molding process. The component carrier is usually also a plastic molded part, in particular a plastic injection-molded part.The relevant conductor track or conductor track structure can be enclosed in the plastic, for example, by inserting a lead frame into a plastic injection mold for producing the component carrier and overmolding it with the plastic of the component carrier. Of course, other manufacturing methods are also conceivable, for example, by gluing the conductor tracks as a conductor track foil to the component carrier (also made of plastic).

[0016] In order to optimize the sealing effect of the sealing lip provided on the sealing projection, the sealing lip can be connected to the sealing projection transversely to the installation direction. However, it is also alternatively or additionally possible for the sealing lip to be connected to the sealing projection in the installation direction. In the first case, the sealing lip therefore has an extension transverse to the installation direction, while the second case corresponds to the extension of the sealing lip in the installation direction. Both are also possible. The sealing projection is generally designed as a plug-in pin or at least one plug-in pin. It is also possible for two or more spaced-apart plug-in pins to be used, which, in conjunction with the cover, ensure sealing of the receptacle or the remaining free area in the receptacle. In this context, the plug-in pin or the two or more plug-in pins can be equipped with a sealing formation.The sealing formation can be a flexible area provided on the respective plug pin. This flexible area can be defined, similar to the sealing lip, for example, by injecting elastomeric plastic.

[0017] Another advantageous variant provides for the plug pin and the receptacle to be equipped with corresponding bevels. This ensures that when the cover is joined to the component carrier, the bevel on the plug pin automatically slides along the corresponding bevel or counter-bevel of the receptacle, thus ensuring the desired seal of the receptacle.

[0018] The result is an automotive electrical component assembly that offers particular manufacturing and assembly advantages. Such advantages are observed in essentially all applications of the component assembly in question. Typically, such a component assembly is used in conjunction with an electric motor drive. This electric motor drive can be placed inside a motor vehicle lock housing. In this case, the component carrier may coincide with a wall of the associated housing. A separate design of the component carrier from the housing is also conceivable.

[0019] Either way, the component in question can be placed in the component carrier's receptacle, simultaneously establishing the desired electrical connection to the conductor track or a conductor track structure. The open space thus created inside the receptacle is then sealed, as the lid sealing the component carrier engages the receptacle with its sealing projection. This represents the key advantages.

[0020] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing which merely represents an exemplary embodiment; in the drawings:

[0021] Fig. 1 shows the automotive electrical component arrangement according to the invention in a first embodiment,

[0022] Fig. 2A and 2B a further second variant,

[0023] Fig. 3 a third embodiment and

[0024] Fig. 4A and 4B show a fourth embodiment.

[0025] The figures depict an automotive electrical component arrangement. Within the scope of the exemplary embodiment, and not by way of limitation, the electrical component arrangement is an electrical component in the form of an electrical switch 1. Accordingly, the electrical component arrangement in question is housed entirely in a housing 2, 3, which may, for example, be a drive housing for accommodating an electric motor drive within. According to the exemplary embodiment, the automotive electrical component arrangement, together with its electrical component or switch 1, is housed within a lock housing 2, 3. The lock housing 2, 3 is a lock housing 2, 3 of a motor vehicle door lock, which accommodates not only the switch 1 but also a locking mechanism (not shown) and an actuating lever arrangement.Using switch 1, for example, the position of a rotary latch as part of the locking mechanism can be queried.

[0026] For this purpose, the electrical component or switch 1 is held by a component carrier 2 with embedded and merely indicated conductor tracks 4 for electrically contacting the component 1, and is mounted inside the housing 2, 3. According to the exemplary embodiment, the component carrier 2 represents a component of the lock housing 2, 3, which of course is only exemplary and not restrictive. In fact, the lock housing 2, 3 in question is composed of, on the one hand, a base or component carrier 2 and, on the other hand, a cover 3 covering and closing the base or component carrier 2.

[0027] The switch 1 is not only mounted on the component carrier 2, but is also electrically contacted with the conductor tracks 4. This can be achieved via a so-called insulation displacement connection, i.e., generally by electrically coupling plug connections 1a on the switch 1 with corresponding mating plug connections or connecting pieces 4a of the conductor tracks 4. For this purpose, the connecting pieces or mating plug connections 4a of the conductor tracks 4 penetrate the surface of the component carrier 2, because otherwise the conductor tracks 4 would be embedded in the component carrier 2. In fact, the component carrier 2 is a plastic injection-molded part into which the conductor tracks 4 are embedded, for example, as a stamped part during the plastic injection molding process.

[0028] For this purpose, the component or switch 1 is placed in a receptacle 5 that completely or partially encloses the switch 1, as indicated in Fig. 1. This is usually done so that the switch 1 or component completely fills the receptacle 5 in question as part of the component carrier 2, except for a free area 6. The electrical contact between the connectors 1a of the switch 1 and the terminals or mating connectors 4a of the conductor tracks 4 is established in the free area 6.

[0029] According to the invention, the receptacle 5 or the free space 6 remaining at this location can now be closed using a sealing projection 3a on the cover 3 of the component carrier 2. As soon as the cover 3 is combined with the component carrier 2 to form the housing or lock housing 2, 3, the sealing projection 3a in question on the cover 3 engages directly and sealingly in the receptacle 5 or in the remaining free space 6. The combination between the component carrier 2 and the cover 3 takes place in an assembly direction M indicated in Fig. 1. This is basically reproduced and shown in principle in Fig. 1. As soon as the cover 3 is mounted, the free space 6 is sealed by the sealing projection 3a. The receptacle 5 is then also completely closed because the housing of the switch 1 closes the remaining surface of the receptacle 5 - except for the free space 6.

[0030] In the variant according to Figures 2A and 2B, it can be seen that the sealing projection 3a is equipped with, for example, a circumferential sealing lip 7 for this purpose. According to the exemplary embodiment, the sealing lip 7 is integrally formed onto the sealing projection 3a. In fact, an embodiment has proven particularly advantageous in which the sealing lip 7 is not only made of a flexible, rubber-elastic plastic. Rather, the sealing lip 7 can also be injection-molded onto the cover 3 or the sealing projection 3a during production, whereby a so-called two-component plastic injection molding process is used here.

[0031] It can be seen that in the variant according to Figures 2A and 2B, the flexible sealing lip 7 extends largely transversely to the mounting direction M. In this way, as shown in the mounted position in Figure 2B, the sealing lip 7 rests on the one hand against a housing of the switch 1 and on the other hand against the wall of the receptacle 5 of the component carrier 2. In any case, the receptacle 5 or the remaining free area 6 at this point is thereby sealed.

[0032] In the further variant according to Figures 4A and 4B, the design is such that the sealing lip is again connected to the sealing projection 3a, for example, molded or injection-molded thereon. In this case, however, the sealing lip 7 is connected to the sealing projection 3a in question in terms of its extension in the assembly direction M. In addition, it can be seen that the sealing projection 3a is designed as at least one plug-in pin in all cases. The plug-in pin or the sealing projection 3a and the receptacle 5 or the free area 6 remaining at this point can be equipped with corresponding bevels 8, 9, which are also observed in the embodiment according to Figure 1. The bevel 8 may be provided on the sealing projection 3a, whereas the associated counter-bevel 9 is part of the receptacle 5.

[0033] In the embodiment according to Figures 4A and 4B, the sealing lip 7 is now not only connected in the assembly direction M to the sealing projection 3a or the plug pin realized at this point, but also to the bevel 8 formed at this point. In this way, the sealing lip 7, in the assembled state, lies against the counter bevel 9 of the receptacle 5 as shown in Figure 4B and, together with the corresponding contact of bevel 8 and counter bevel 9, ensures that any gap remaining at this point is closed.

[0034] In the variant according to Fig. 3, two or more spaced-apart plug pins are provided at this location as the sealing projection 3a. The respective plug pin can additionally be equipped with a sealing formation 10. This sealing formation 10 may be an area in which an elastomeric or rubber-like plastic is additionally injection-molded onto the plug pin or the sealing projection 3a, which is deformed when the sealing projection 3a joins with the receptacle 5 and closes a gap remaining between the respective sealing projection 3a or the plug pin provided at this location, on the one hand, and the receptacle 5, on the other.

[0035] List of reference symbols:

[0036] 1 electrical switch

[0037] 1 a plug connection

[0038] 2 component carriers

[0039] 3 lids

[0040] 3a Plug pin or sealing projection

[0041] 2, 3 housings

[0042] 4 conductor track

[0043] 4a Connectors

[0044] 5 Recording

[0045] 6 outdoor area

[0046] 7 Sealing lip

[0047] 8 slopes

[0048] 9 Counter slope

[0049] 10 Sealing formation

[0050] M Mounting direction

Claims

Patent claims 1. Automotive electrical component arrangement, comprising an electrical component (1) and a component carrier (2) with conductor tracks (4) for electrical contacting the component (1), wherein the component (1) is received in a receptacle (5) of the component carrier (2) without potting compound, characterized in that a sealing projection (3a) closing the receptacle (5) is provided on a cover (3) of the component carrier (2), wherein the cover (3) engages in the receptacle (5) in a sealing manner with the sealing projection (3a) when joining the component carrier (2) in the assembly direction (M).

2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the sealing projection (3a) has at least one sealing lip (7).

3. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the sealing lip (7) is formed on the sealing projection (3a).

4. Arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that the sealing lip (7) is injection-molded onto the sealing projection (3a).

5. Arrangement according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the sealing lip (7) is connected to the sealing projection (3a) transversely to the mounting direction (M) and / or in the mounting direction (M).

6. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the sealing projection (3a) is designed as at least one plug pin.

7. Arrangement according to claim 6, characterized in that two or more spaced-apart plug pins are provided.

8. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the sealing projection (3a) has a sealing form (10).

9. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the sealing projection (3a) and the receptacle (5) are equipped with corresponding slopes (8, 9).

10. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the lid (3) and the component carrier (2) are designed as plastic molded parts, in particular plastic injection molded parts.

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