Printed circuit board device and electronic device

Abstract

Printed Circuit Board Device and Electronic Device This printed circuit board device (10) comprises a printed circuit board (14), a connector plug-in socket (20) fixed to the printed circuit board (14), and a battery holder (22) for vertically holding a button cell (24) relative to a principal extension plane (16) of the printed circuit board (14). The battery holder (22) comprises a first and a second metal sheet (26) for contacting a first and a second pole of the button cell (24), respectively. The metal sheets (26) partially enclose a retaining volume for holding the button cell (24). The metal sheets (26) include mounting sections (28) through which they are mounted onto corresponding mounting elements (30) of the connector plug-in socket (20). Figure for abbreviation: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Printed circuit board device and electronic device

[0001] The invention relates to a printed circuit board device and an electronic device.

[0002] For electronic vehicle installation devices, such as digital tachographs, vehicle data recorders or on-board units, it is necessary to provide battery cell support systems which ensure that the batteries remain in their intended final mounting position even in the event of vibrations and shocks, thus ensuring a reliable power supply for the vehicle installation device.

[0003] Button cell holders designed to hold button cells are often configured for horizontal placement of the button cells. Horizontal placement refers to a principal surface of the button cell being aligned parallel to a principal surface of a printed circuit board to which the button cell holder is fixed. As a result, the button cell holder occupies a significant amount of space on the printed circuit board, which is therefore unavailable for other components on the board.

[0004] The provision of a button cell holder, even if it holds the button cell vertically, requires additional installation space because it must be securely mounted on the printed circuit board.

[0005] A common battery holder is described in document DE 103 21 250 A1 in combination with a housing for a tachograph. The housing includes a battery holder and at least one fastening element arranged to attach the battery holder to the housing. The housing allows for the interchangeable mounting of a battery while preventing manipulation of the components inside the housing during battery replacement. When the battery holder is mounted on the housing, the fastening element is accessible only from inside the housing.

[0006] Digital tachographs also include a plug-in socket. An example of this plug-in socket is described in document DE 102 18 891 AL

[0007] The objective of the present invention is to provide a battery support that requires less installation space and ensures stable battery retention.

[0008] The objective is achieved by the object as defined below. Advantageous developments with other practical and non-trivial embodiments of the invention are specified in the following description and drawings.

[0009] A first aspect of the present invention relates to a printed circuit board device. The printed circuit board device comprises a printed circuit board and a pluggable connector socket, which is attached to the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board device also includes a battery holder for vertically holding a button cell relative to a principal extension plane of the printed circuit board. In other words, the battery holder is configured to hold the button cell in a so-called vertical position in which the button cell is arranged perpendicular to the principal extension plane of the printed circuit board. By holding the button cell in the vertical position, the space required on the principal extension plane of the printed circuit board is reduced compared to holding the button cell in a horizontal position.

[0010] The battery holder comprises a first metal plate intended to make contact with a first terminal of the button cell and a second metal plate intended to make contact with a second terminal of the button cell. One of the terminals is a positive terminal and the other is a negative terminal. The principal extension planes of the metal plates are oriented parallel to each other. In other words, each of the metal plates comprises a respective principal extension plane in which the principal extension planes of the metal plates are parallel. The principal extension planes of the metal plates are also oriented perpendicular to the principal extension plane of the printed circuit board.

[0011] The metal sheets at least partially enclose a retaining volume designed to hold the button cell. In other words, the battery holder is configured to hold the button cell within the retaining volume, the retaining volume being at least partially defined by the metal sheets. The retention volume is therefore arranged between the metal sheets.

[0012] The metal sheets include mounting sections through which they are mounted onto corresponding mounting elements of the connector plug. In other words, to arrange the metal sheets as described above, the metal sheets are mounted onto the connector plug. The mounting section can be a specific region of the metal sheet formed for the mechanical connection of the metal sheet to the connector plug. The mounting elements of the connector plug can be configured as parts of a connector plug housing that have a shape designed to receive the mounting section and / or to retain the mounting section. The connector plug comprises the mounting elements, each of the mounting elements being configured to retain the respective mounting section of one of the metal sheets.

[0013] The invention has the advantage that the battery holder, which holds the button cell battery, is securely attached to the printed circuit board by the plug-in connector. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a separate battery holder with mounting elements to ensure stable attachment of the battery holder to the printed circuit board. Instead, the supplied plug-in connector is used to secure the battery holder and provide the necessary stability.

[0014] The invention also includes embodiments which offer additional technical advantages.

[0015] According to another embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the mounting elements of the plug-in connector provides a guide channel, which is configured to guide the mounting section of the corresponding sheet metal into a defined snap-in position within a snap-in opening of the mounting element of the plug-in connector. In other words, the plug-in forms at least one guide channel, which is dimensioned to guide the mounting section of the corresponding sheet metal towards the snap-in opening formed by the mounting element of the plug-in connector.

[0016] The mounting section of the corresponding metal plate includes a snap tab, which is designed to bend as it passes through the guide channel. The snap tab is configured to snap into the snap opening when it reaches the snap position within the snap opening. In other words, the metal plate includes the snap tab, which is configured to snap into the snap opening to mount the metal plate onto the connector plug. The snap tab is designed to bend as it is inserted and guided along the guide channel. This design allows the tab to easily snap into the snap opening, providing an advantageous method for mounting the metal plate onto the connector plug.

[0017] According to another embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the metal sheets comprises a fastening device configured to fix the metal sheet to the printed circuit board in a corresponding position. In other words, at least one of the metal sheets comprises a fastening device in which the metal sheet is fixed to the printed circuit board by the fastening device. The fastening device may also be designed to provide an electrical connection between the metal sheet and the printed circuit board. The metal sheet is fixed to the printed circuit board by the fastening device. The fastening device may include a fastening tab at a lower edge of the metal sheet, i.e., a portion of the metal sheet that is bent. at a 90-degree bend angle relative to the main extension plane of the metal sheet. The fastening device may include pin elements for pin-in-paste mounting or for surface-mount (SMD) mounting of the metal sheet onto the printed circuit board. This embodiment has the advantage of allowing direct connection of the metal sheet to the printed circuit board.

[0018] According to another embodiment of the invention, at least one of the metal sheets comprises at least one retaining tab that projects from the principal extension plane of the respective metal sheet into the retaining volume. At least one retaining tab is configured to press against the button cell when the button cell is arranged in the retaining volume. At least one retaining tab can be bent out of the principal extension plane of the metal sheet with a degree of bending between 10 and 60 degrees. At least one retaining tab can be arranged so that the button cell bends it when inserted into the retaining volume along a predefined assembly direction. The bent retaining tab presses against the button cell in the retaining volume. At least one retaining tab ensures proper mechanical and electrical contact between the button cell and the metal sheet.The metal sheet may include multiple retaining tabs. Each metal sheet may include at least one of the retaining tabs.

[0019] According to another embodiment of the present invention, one of the metal sheets comprises an end plate portion that projects perpendicularly from the principal extension plane of the respective metal sheet. In other words, the end plate portion of the principal extension plane is configured to partially enclose the retaining volume. The end plate portion is arranged at one end of the respective metal sheet. The end plate portion of the metal sheet may be a region of the metal sheet that is bent out of the principal extension plane of the metal sheet at a bend angle of 90 degrees. A bend axis of the fold may be perpendicular to the principal extension plane of the printed circuit board. The end plate portion is configured to partially enclose the retaining volume.The end plate is configured to prevent the button cell from leaving the holding volume in a direction parallel to the main extension plane of the respective metal plate. The end plate can also be configured to make electrical contact with a casing surface of the button cell.

[0020] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the end sheet metal portion includes an upper tab configured to limit the movement of the button cell battery away from the printed circuit board. In other words, the part The end plate may include the portion of the end plate that incorporates the upper tab. The upper tab may be bent from an upper edge of the side tab of the end plate toward the connector plug. The upper tab may at least partially cover one upper side of the support volume.

[0021] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a mounting plane for the mounting section of the metal sheet is arranged parallel to the main extension plane of the metal sheet. In other words, the mounting section has a mounting plane parallel to the main extension plane of the metal sheet. Thus, to mount the metal sheet onto the connector plug, the metal sheet is moved along a direction parallel to the main extension plane of the metal sheet.

[0022] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a mounting plane for the metal sheet mounting section is arranged perpendicular to the main extension plane of the metal sheet. In other words, the metal sheet mounting section for mounting the metal sheet onto the connector plug is perpendicular to the main extension plane of the metal sheet. Therefore, to mount the metal sheet onto the connector plug, the metal sheet must be moved in a predefined assembly direction perpendicular to the main extension plane of the metal sheet.

[0023] According to another embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the mounting elements of the plug-in connector is configured as a spacer element to maintain a predetermined distance between the metal sheets. In other words, the spacer element is configured to hold one metal sheet at a predetermined distance from the other. This arrangement creates the holding volume between the principal extension planes of the two metal sheets at the predetermined distance.

[0024] According to another embodiment, the mounting elements are materially linked to the pluggable connector socket.

[0025] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the connector plug is designed in accordance with ISO 16844-1. In other words, the connector plug is configured as a connector plug of a digital tachograph as defined in ISO 16844-1.

[0026] A second aspect of the present invention relates to a device comprising a housing and a printed circuit board device according to the first aspect of the present invention. The printed circuit board device is arranged in a final assembly position by the housing. The housing may at least partially enclose the printed circuit board device.

[0027] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a wall of the housing is arranged above the battery holder, and movement of the button cell out of the battery holder's retention volume is limited by the wall. The wall may be a tear-off wall or the top wall of the housing. A distance between the printed circuit board and the wall is selected, which prevents the button cell from leaving the battery holder's retention volume.

[0028] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the device is configured as an electronic vehicle installation device. The device can be configured as a digital tachograph, a vehicle data recorder, a tolling device, and / or as an on-board unit. According to another embodiment, the electronic device is configured as an on-board unit for a vehicle.

[0029] The invention also includes combinations of the features of the embodiments described.

[0030] The following describes an example of an implementation of the invention. The figures show:

[0031] [Fig-1] is a schematic illustration of a printed circuit board device,

[0032] [Fig.2] is a schematic illustration of the battery holder holding the button cell;

[0033] [Fig.3] is another schematic illustration of the battery holder holding the button cell;

[0034] [Fig.4] is another schematic illustration of the battery holder holding the button cell;

[0035] [Fig.5] is a schematic illustration of mounting elements;

[0036] [Fig.6] is a schematic illustration of a mounting section of one of the sheet metal parts metallic and the corresponding mounting element; and

[0037] [Fig.7] is a schematic illustration of a device comprising a printed circuit board device.

[0038] The embodiment explained below is a preferred embodiment of the invention. However, in this embodiment, the described components each represent individual features of the invention, which must be considered independently of one another and which each develop the invention independently of one another. They must therefore also be considered as components of the invention individually or in a manner other than the combination shown. Furthermore, the described embodiment can also be supplemented by other features of the invention already described.

[0039] In the figures, the elements which perform the same function are marked by identical reference signs.

[0040] Fig. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a printed circuit board device.

[0041] The printed circuit board device 10 can be configured for an electronic device 12, which may be an electronic vehicle installation device. The printed circuit board device 10 may include a printed circuit board 14 extending onto a main extension plane 16. Electronic components 18 for operating the electronic device 12 may be fixed to the printed circuit board 14. To provide a communication interface to the electronic components 18, the printed circuit board device 10 may include a connector plug 20. The connector plug 20 may be fixed to the printed circuit board 14. The connector plug 20 may be designed according to ISO 16844-1.To power the electronic components 18, the printed circuit board device 10 may include a battery holder 22 designed to vertically house a button cell 24 within a retaining volume. The battery holder 22 may include a first metal plate 26 that connects to a first terminal of the button cell 24 and a second metal plate 26 that connects to a second terminal of the button cell 24. Each of the metal plates 26 extends onto a respective principal extension plane 50. The principal extension planes 50 of the metal plates 26 may be arranged parallel. The principal extension planes 50 of the metal plates 26 may be separated by a predefined distance 52. The principal extension planes 50 of the metal plates 26 may be oriented perpendicular to the principal extension plane 16 of the printed circuit board 14.

[0042] To hold the metal sheets 26 in place, each metal sheet 26 may include a respective mounting section 28 designed to secure the metal sheet 26 to the corresponding mounting elements 30 of the connector plug-in socket 20. The mounting elements 30 may be materially connected to the connector plug-in socket 20. A respective section of the mounting sections 28 may include a snap-on tab 32. The snap-on tab 32 may be configured to snap into a snap-on opening 34 of the corresponding mounting element 30 to secure the metal sheet 26 to the connector plug-in socket 20. To assemble the metal sheets onto the connector plug-in socket 20, the mounting elements 30 may provide guide channels 36 configured to guide the mounting sections 28 into their final position during assembly.When the mounting section 28 is guided through the guide channel 36, the respective snap tab 32 folds. When the snap tab 32 reaches a corresponding snap opening 34, the snap tab 32 engages in the snap opening 34. The channels of . The guides 36 also define the orientation of the metal sheets 26. When a mounting plane of the mounting section 28 is parallel to the main extension plane 50, the metal sheet 26 must be moved parallel to the main extension plane 50 in the guide channel 36 during assembly. When the mounting plane of the mounting section 28 is perpendicular to the main extension plane 50, the metal sheet 26 must be moved in the guide channel 36 perpendicular to the main extension plane 50 during assembly. To adjust the predefined distance 52 between the metal sheets 26, one of the mounting elements 30 can be designed as a spacer element 56. The mounting elements 30 can protrude from a side wall 54 of a housing 38 of the connector plug-in socket 20.The mounting elements 30 can be configured to provide an electrical connection to the metal sheets 26, if the button cell 24 is to be connected to the plug-in connector 20.

[0043] Each of the metal sheets 26 can be fixed to the printed circuit board 14 by means of a respective fixing device 40 of the metal sheet 26. The fixing device 40 may include a fixing tab 58 perpendicular to the main extension plane 50 of the metal sheet 26 and parallel to the main extension plane 16 of the printed circuit board 14. The fixing device 40 may include pin elements for electrically and / or mechanically fixing the metal sheet 26 to the printed circuit board 14.

[0044] One of the metal sheets 26 may include an end plate portion 42 that projects perpendicularly from the principal extension plane 50 of the respective metal sheet. The end plate portion 42 may include a lateral tab 44 that may be oriented perpendicularly to the principal extension plane 50. The lateral tab 44 may project towards the other metal sheet. The lateral tab 44 may be oriented perpendicularly to the principal extension plane 16 of the printed circuit board 14. An upper tab 46 may extend from an upper edge of the lateral tab 44. The end plate portion 42 may be designed to restrict movement of the button cell 24 in a direction parallel to the principal extension planes 50 of the metal sheets 26.

[0045] To make contact with the button cell 24 and to hold the button cell 24 in the holding volume, the metal sheets 26 may include retaining tabs 48. The retaining tabs 48 may be bent out of the main extension plane 50 of the respective metal sheet 26 in the holding volume to press against the button cell 24.

[0046] Figure 2 shows a schematic illustration of the battery holder supporting a battery button.

[0047] The button cell can be arranged vertically with respect to the main extension plane 16 of the printed circuit board 14. The retaining tabs 48 of the metal sheets 26 can come into contact with the cup surface and the cover surface of the button cell.

[0048] Fig. 3 shows another schematic illustration of the battery holder holding the button cell.

[0049] Fig. 4 shows another schematic illustration of the battery holder holding the button cell.

[0050] Fig. 5 shows a schematic illustration of mounting elements.

[0051] Figure 6 shows a schematic illustration of a mounting section of one of the metal sheets and the corresponding mounting element.

[0052] The mounting section 28 may include the snap tab 32 designed to bend when guided through the guide channel 36, and then snap into the corresponding snap opening 34 of the mounting element 30 when it reaches its final position.

[0053] Fig. 7 shows a schematic illustration of a device comprising a printed circuit board device.

[0054] The printed circuit board device 14 is arranged in a final assembly position by the housing 60. A wall 62 of the housing 60 is arranged above the battery holder 22, in which the movement of the button battery 24 out of the holding volume of the battery holder 22 is limited by the wall 62.

[0055] Overall, the example shows how a battery holder integrated into a pluggable connector socket is provided by the invention.

[0056] Reference signs

[0057] 10 printed circuit board device

[0058] 12 electronic device

[0059] 14 printed circuit board

[0060] 16 main extension plane of the printed circuit board

[0061] 18 electronic component

[0062] 20 pluggable connector

[0063] 22 battery holder

[0064] 24 button cell batteries

[0065] 26 sheet metal

[0066] 28 assembly section

[0067] 30 mounting element

[0068] 32 snap-on tab

[0069] 34 snap-in opening

[0070] 36 guidance channels

[0071]

[0072]

[0073]

[0074]

[0075]

[0076]

[0077]

[0078]

[0079]

[0080]

[0081]

[0082]

[0083] 38 Plug-in connector housing 40 Fastening device 42 End plate portion 44 Side tab 46 Top tab 48 Retaining tab 50 Main extension plane of the sheet metal 52 Predefined distance 54 Side wall 56 Spacer element 58 Fastening tab 60 Electronic device housing 62 Wall

Claims

Demands

1. Printed circuit board device (10), comprising a printed circuit board (14), a pluggable connector socket (20) fixed to the printed circuit board (14) and a battery holder (22) for vertically holding a button cell (24) relative to a principal extension plane (16) of the printed circuit board (14), characterized in that - the battery holder (22) comprises a first metal sheet (26) intended to make contact with a first pole of the button cell (24) and a second metal sheet (26) intended to make contact with a second pole of the button cell (24), in which the principal extension planes (50) of the metal sheets (26) are oriented parallel to each other and perpendicular to the principal extension plane (16) of the printed circuit board (14); - the metal sheets (26) at least partially enclose a holding volume intended to hold the button cell (24);and - the metal sheets (26) include mounting sections (28) through which they are mounted onto corresponding mounting elements (30) of the pluggable connector socket (20).;

2. Printed circuit board device (10), according to claim 1, characterized in that - at least one of the mounting elements (30) of the connector plug-in socket (20) provides a guide channel (36), configured to guide the mounting section (28) of the corresponding metal sheet (26) towards a snap-in opening (34) of the mounting element (30) of the connector plug-in socket (20); and - the mounting section (28) of the corresponding metal sheet (26) includes a snap-in tab (32) which is designed to bend when the snap-in tab (32) passes through the guide channel (36) and to snap into the snap-in opening (34) when it reaches the snap-in opening (34).

3. Printed circuit board device (10), according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that - at least one of the metal sheets (26) includes a fastening device (40), in which the metal sheet (26) is fixed to the printed circuit board (14) by the fastening device (40).

4. Printed circuit board device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - at least one of the metal sheets (26) comprises at least one retaining tab (48) projecting from the principal extension plane (50) of the respective metal sheet (26) into the retaining volume, in which at least one retaining tab (48) is configured to press the button cell (24) into the retaining volume.

5. Printed circuit board device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - one of the metal sheets (26) comprises an end sheet portion (42) which projects perpendicularly from the principal extension plane (50) of the respective metal sheet (26), in which the end sheet portion (42) is configured to partially enclose the holding volume.

6. Printed circuit board device (10), according to claim 5, characterized in that the end sheet metal portion (42) includes an upper tab (46), configured to limit movement of the button cell (24) away from the printed circuit board (14).

7. Printed circuit board device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a mounting plane of the mounting section (28) of at least one of the metal sheets (26) is arranged parallel to the main extension plane (50) of the respective metal sheet (26).

8. Printed circuit board device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a mounting plane of the mounting section (28) of at least one of the metal sheets (26) is arranged perpendicular to the main extension plane (50) of the respective metal sheet (26).

9. Printed circuit board device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the mounting elements (30) of the pluggable connector socket (20) is configured as a spacer element (56) to maintain a predefined distance (52) between the metal sheets (26).

10. Printed circuit board device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mounting elements (30) are materially linked to the pluggable connector socket (20).

11. Printed circuit board device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pluggable connector socket (20) is designed in accordance with ISO 16844-1.

12. Electronic device (12) comprising a housing (60) and a printed circuit board device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the printed circuit board device (10) is arranged in a final assembly position by the housing (60).

13. Electronic device (12) according to claim 12, characterized in that a wall (62) of the housing (60) is arranged above the battery holder (22), in which the movement of the button cell (24) out of the holding volume of the battery holder (22) is limited by the wall (62).

14. Electronic device (12) according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the electronic device (12) is configured as an on-board unit for a vehicle.

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