Electromechanical assembly and control device

Abstract

The invention relates to an electromechanical assembly (10) for a control device (100), comprising a plug terminal strip (12) made of plastic, and comprising a receiving opening (22) formed in the plug terminal strip (12) to receive a plug module (20), wherein the plug module (20) has a module housing (24) which can be inserted in the receiving opening (22) of the plug terminal strip (12) in the direction of a longitudinal axis (28) of the module housing (24) up to an end position, wherein the plug module (20) has at least one connection pin (14) which is designed for contacting a circuit board (104) of the control device (100), wherein the module housing (24) has a guide portion (30) with at least two side faces (36 to 39) which are opposite in relation to the longitudinal axis (28) and interact in a form-fitting manner with mating surfaces (41 to 44) formed in the receiving opening (22) of the plug terminal strip (12).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] title

[0003] Electromechanical assembly and control unit

[0004] Technical area

[0005] The invention relates to an electromechanical assembly for a control unit, which is characterized by a particularly advantageous arrangement of a connector module, in particular in the form of a high-frequency interface, in the region of a connector terminal block of the assembly. Furthermore, the invention relates to a control unit with an electromechanical assembly designed according to the invention.

[0006] State of the art

[0007] From DE 102 56374 B3, it is known to arrange a plug module in the area of ​​a plug terminal block. The module module comprises a two-part module housing. The two elements of the module housing are inserted from opposite sides of the plug terminal block into a receiving opening in the plug terminal block and locked together to secure the plug module to the plug terminal block.

[0008] Furthermore, it is known from DE 10 2017 113 415 A1 to arrange a press-in socket and a support sleeve in an adapter housing of a plug module, which can be pressed into the adapter housing.

[0009] From DE 10 2009 023 292 B4, it is also known to form an electrical connector with a contact carrier from two contact carrier units that can be connected to one another via guide surfaces and positioned relative to one another. Disclosure of the invention

[0010] The electromechanical assembly according to the invention for a control unit with the features of claim 1 has the advantage that it is arranged particularly reliably and firmly fixed in the receiving opening of a connector terminal block, enabling a relatively simple assembly process for forming the assembly and comprising a small number of components. Furthermore, highly precise positioning of the connector module relative to the receiving opening in the connector terminal block, as well as of the at least one connection pin of the connector module relative to a circuit board arranged in a control unit, is enabled, ensuring simple assembly and connection between the connection pin of the connector module and the circuit board.

[0011] Against the background of the above explanations, it is therefore provided in an electromechanical assembly for a control unit with the features of claim 1 that said assembly has a plug terminal block made of plastic, as well as a receiving opening formed in the plug terminal block for receiving a plug module, wherein the plug module has a module housing which can be inserted in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the module housing into the receiving opening of the plug terminal block up to an end position, wherein the plug module has at least one connection pin which is designed to contact a printed circuit board of the control unit, wherein the module housing has a guide section with at least two side surfaces which are opposite in relation to the longitudinal axis and which interact in a form-fitting manner with counter surfaces formed in the receiving opening of the plug terminal block,and wherein the module housing in the region of the guide section has locking sections with elevations and / or depressions on opposite sides outside the side surfaces, which interact with depressions and / or elevations formed in the receiving opening outside the counter surfaces to form a force-locking connection in the final position of the module housing in the receiving opening of the plug connection strip.

[0012] Advantageous further developments of the electromechanical assembly for a control unit according to the invention are set forth in the subclaims. In a preferred structural design of the locking sections to minimize the cross-section of the guide area, it is provided that the locking sections are formed in the region of corner regions of the module housing arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and to the plane of the side surfaces and extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis, and that the cross-section of the module housing in the region of the guide section, with the exception of the corner regions, is rectangular.

[0013] A particularly safe and reliable locking or particularly high extraction forces are made possible if four locking sections are formed at the four corner areas of the guide section.

[0014] It is further preferred that the connector terminal block, on the side facing away from a connector collar, has at least one extension protruding from the receiving opening to form an axial stop for achieving the final position of the module housing in the receiving opening. This reliably limits the insertion path of the module housing during mechanical insertion or pressing into the receiving opening, thus also precisely positioning the at least one connection pin to the circuit board in the longitudinal direction.

[0015] The process of pressing the module housing into the receiving opening can be optimized if the module housing and / or the receiving opening are / is conical in shape, at least in some areas, when viewed in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

[0016] The module housing preferably has an opening extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis for receiving a socket insert, wherein the at least one connection pin is received in the socket insert in a force-fitting manner, and wherein the socket insert is pressed into the opening. The socket insert and / or the module housing can furthermore have electromagnetic shielding in a known manner, particularly if the plug module is designed as an Ethernet connection.

[0017] In order to optimize the module housing with a view to easy insertion into the receiving opening and achieving the final position relative to the plug connection strip, it is provided that the module housing has two additional sections on either side of the guide section as viewed in the direction of the longitudinal axis, wherein the additional section facing the plug connection strip has a smaller cross-sectional area and the other additional section has a larger cross-sectional area than the guide section.

[0018] Furthermore, the invention also comprises a control unit, in particular for motor vehicle applications, with an electromechanical assembly designed according to the invention as described so far.

[0019] Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention and from the drawings.

[0020] Short description of the drawings

[0021] Fig. 1 shows a control unit in a perspective view,

[0022] Fig. 2 shows a partial area of ​​the control unit of Fig. 1 in the area of ​​a plug connection strip on the side facing an interior of the control unit in a perspective view,

[0023] Fig. 3 a module housing of a plug module in a perspective view,

[0024] Fig. 4 shows a section of the plug connection strip with a plug module inserted into a receiving opening in a cross-section and

[0025] Fig. 5 shows a longitudinal section through the receiving opening in the connector block with the connector module arranged therein. Embodiments of the invention

[0026] Identical elements or elements with the same function are provided with the same reference numbers in the figures.

[0027] Figure 1 shows a control unit 100 that can be used, in particular but not restrictively, for automotive applications. For example, when used in a semi-autonomous or autonomously driving vehicle, the control unit 100 is used to acquire sensor data and process it to control drive elements or similar components of the motor vehicle.

[0028] The control unit 100 has a housing 102, which is typically formed in at least two parts and consists either of plastic and / or metal, for example, of non-cutting formed and machined sheet metal parts or of die-cast aluminum components. A connector block 12 is arranged on one end of the housing 102 as part of an electromechanical assembly 10. The electromechanical assembly 10 establishes an electrical connection between the control unit 100, in particular to a wiring harness (not shown) of the motor vehicle.

[0029] Furthermore, at least one printed circuit board 104 or similarly designed circuit carrier (shown only in part) is arranged within the housing 102, which comprises electronic components or an electronic circuit in a known manner. The printed circuit board 104 is electrically connected to the electromechanical assembly 10 by a plurality of connection pins 14 arranged in the area of ​​the connector terminal block 12 being electrically connected to the printed circuit board 104, for example, by soldering or press-fitting connections.

[0030] The connector terminal block 12 is formed as an injection-molded plastic part and comprises, for example, two circumferential connector collars 16, via which connectors (not shown) on the wiring harness side can be connected to the control unit 100. Furthermore, the connection pins 14 are arranged within the cross-section of the connector collar 16 in a known manner in order to make contact with the wiring harness-side connectors. Furthermore, a connector module 20 is arranged within the cross-section of one connector collar 16 and connected to the connector terminal block 12. The connector module 20 is used for data transmission and is designed as a high-frequency interface in the form of an Ethernet connection 21.

[0031] To accommodate the plug module 20, the plug connection strip 12 has a receiving opening 22, as best seen in Figs. 2 and 4. The plug module 20 comprises a plastic module housing 24 with an opening 25, wherein a socket insert 26 is inserted or pressed into the opening 25, which force-fits two connection pins 14, which are typically bent at a right angle in the region of the interior of the housing 102 and connected to the printed circuit board 104.

[0032] The module housing 24, shown in detail in Fig. 3, has a longitudinal axis 28, along which the module housing 24 or the plug module 20 can be inserted, in particular pressed, into the receiving opening 22 of the plug connection block 12 until an end position is reached. In addition, the module housing 24 has a guide section 30, viewed in the direction of the longitudinal axis 28, approximately in a central region, with two additional sections 32, 34 being arranged on opposite sides of the guide section 30 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 28. One additional section 32 is oriented towards the interior of the housing 102 and has a larger cross-section or a larger cross-sectional area than the guide section 30, while the other additional section 34 is arranged in the region inside the plug collar 16, i.e. on the side facing away from the interior of the housing 102 and has a cross-section orhas a cross-sectional area which is smaller than that of the guide section 30 and the receiving opening 22 in order to insert the module housing 24 by inserting the other additional section 34 into the receiving opening 22.

[0033] The guide section 30 is approximately rectangular or square in the direction of its cross-section running perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 28 and has four side surfaces 36 to 39, which interact in a form-fitting manner with partial sections having counter surfaces 41 to 44 formed in the receiving opening 22 (Fig. 4). In the four corner regions 46 of the cross-section of the guide section 30, cutouts 48 are arranged, each extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis 28 and having a rectangular cross-section. The cutouts 48 have side wall sections 50 running parallel to the side surfaces 36 and 38, which are designed, at least in some regions, as locking sections 52 (Figs. 3 and 5).

[0034] The locking sections 52 comprise, as can be seen particularly from a synopsis of Figs. 3 and 5, a plurality of elevations 54 and / or depressions 56 arranged one behind the other in the direction of the longitudinal axis 28. When the module housing 24 is installed, the elevations 54 and / or depressions 56 interact with opposing depressions 58 and / or elevations 60 formed in the receiving opening 22 (Fig. 5) to form a force-locking connection. As can also be seen from Fig. 5, the side surfaces 36 to 39 of the module housing 24 have a width B that is greater than the width b of the counter surfaces 41 to 44 in the region of the receiving opening 22.

[0035] It should also be mentioned that the elevations 54 and / or depressions 56 on the module housing 24 or the depressions 58 and / or elevations 60 in the receiving opening 22 can also be designed in the form of barbs or similar geometries. Furthermore, the plastic material of the module housing 24 and the plug connection block 12 can be different, in particular have different hardnesses, so that, for example, the module housing 24 deforms less or not at all when forming the force-fitting connection with the plug connection block 12 compared to the plug connection block 12. Furthermore, it can be provided that the receiving opening 22 and / or the module housing 24 are / is conical in shape, viewed in the direction of the longitudinal axis 28, at least in the region of the locking sections 52, such that the cross-section of the aforementioned elements tapers towards the plug collar 16.This allows the required press-in force of the module housing 24 into the receiving opening 22 to be influenced, in particular such that the (full) press-in force only needs to be applied immediately before the module housing 24 reaches its axial end position in the receiving opening 22. Furthermore, such a conicity can also facilitate the demolding of the plug connection strip 12 or the module housing from an injection molding tool.

[0036] 2 and 5 also show that, in the region of the receiving opening 22 on the side facing away from the plug collar 16, four extensions 62 protrude from the receiving opening 22. When the module housing 24 is pressed into the receiving opening 22, the extensions 62, which are formed as an extension of the recesses 58 and elevations 60 of the receiving opening 22, form an axial stop for achieving the (axial) final position of the module housing 24 in the plug connection block 12, in that the section 32 rests against the extensions 62 with its end face 64 running perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 28 (Fig. 5).

[0037] To assemble the plug module 20 or the module housing 24, the module housing 24 is pushed or pressed in the direction of the longitudinal axis 28 into the receiving opening 22 of the plug connection strip 12 up to the end position shown in Fig. 5. The elevations 54 and / or recesses 56 of the locking sections 52 engage with the recesses 58 and / or elevations 60 in the receiving opening 22.

[0038] The electromechanical assembly 10 described so far can be modified or altered in a variety of ways without deviating from the inventive concept.

Claims

Claims 1 . Electromechanical assembly (10) for a control unit (100), comprising a plug terminal block (12) made of plastic, comprising a receiving opening (22) formed in the plug terminal block (12) for receiving a plug module (20), wherein the plug module (20) has a module housing (24) which can be inserted in the direction of a longitudinal axis (28) of the module housing (24) into the receiving opening (22) of the plug terminal block (12) up to an end position, wherein the plug module (20) has at least one connection pin (14) which is designed to contact a printed circuit board (104) of the control unit (100), wherein the module housing (24) has a guide section (30) with at least two side surfaces (36 to 39) which are opposite one another with respect to the longitudinal axis (28) and which interact in a form-fitting manner with counter surfaces (41 to 44) formed in the receiving opening (22) of the plug terminal block (12),and wherein the module housing (24) in the region of the guide section (30) has, on opposite sides outside the side surfaces (36 to 39), locking sections (52) with elevations (54) and / or depressions (56), which interact with depressions (58) and / or elevations (60) formed in the receiving opening (22) outside the counter surfaces (41 to 44) to form a force-locking connection in the final position of the module housing (24) in the receiving opening (22) of the plug connection strip (12).

2. Assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking sections (52) are formed in the region of corner regions (46) of the module housing (24) arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (28) and to the plane of the side surfaces (36 to 39) and extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis (28), and in that the cross section of the module housing (24) in Area of ​​the guide section (30), with the exception of the corner areas (46), is rectangular.

3. Assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that four locking sections (52) are formed at the four corner regions (46) of the guide section (30).

4. Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the plug connection strip (12) has, on the side facing away from a plug collar (16), at least one extension (62) projecting from the receiving opening (22) for forming an axial stop for achieving the end position of the module housing (24) in the receiving opening (22).

5. Assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that the at least one extension (62) is formed in extension of the recesses (58) and / or elevations (60) in the receiving opening (22).

6. Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the module housing (24) and / or the receiving opening (22) are / is conical at least in some regions when viewed in the direction of the longitudinal axis (28).

7. Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the module housing (24) has an opening (25) extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis (28) for receiving a socket insert (26), wherein the at least one connection pin (14) is received in a force-fitting manner in the socket insert (26), and wherein the socket insert (26) is pressed into the opening (25).

8. Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the module housing (24) has, viewed in the direction of the longitudinal axis (28), two additional sections (32, 34) on both sides of the guide section (30), wherein the additional section (34) facing the plug connection strip (12) has a smaller cross-sectional area and the other additional Section (32) has a larger cross-sectional area than the guide section (40).

9. Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the plug module (20) is designed as an Ethernet connection (21).

10. Control unit (100) with an electromechanical assembly (10) designed according to one of claims 1 to 9.

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