Automotive housing

Abstract

The present invention relates to an automotive housing, more particularly to an automotive lock housing, preferably an automotive door lock housing (1,2), designed to accommodate a conductive track structure (3,4). The housing is formed having a housing base (1) and a housing cover (2), the housing cover (2) having at least one opening (2a) for external electrical connection of the conductive track structure (3,4) inside the housing to a peripheral plug-in connector (7). At least one housing plug-in connector (6) is also provided, located in or in the opening (2a) for electrical contact with the conductive track structure (3,4). According to the present invention, a plug-in connector adapter (8) is further provided for coupling the housing plug-in connector (6) to the peripheral plug-in connector (7).

Description

Technical Field

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to an automotive housing for receiving a conductive track structure, in particular a housing for an automotive lock, preferably a housing for an automotive door lock, comprising a housing base and a housing cover, wherein the housing cover and / or the housing base has at least one opening for external electrical connection of the conductive track structure inside the housing to a peripheral plug-in connector, and at least one housing plug-in connector for making electrical contact with the conductive track structure is provided, which is arranged in or at the opening.

[0002]

[0002] An automotive housing is a housing that is mainly mounted inside a motor vehicle, or mounted wholly or partially on the outside of a motor vehicle. Due to the wide temperature range to which motor vehicles are exposed, automotive housings must also meet these requirements. In fact, temperatures in this context can range from -40°C to +80°C, +100°C, or even higher. Therefore, both the base and the cover of the housing must primarily be made of temperature-resistant and rigid plastic material. The use of plastic material is recommended here to ensure electrical insulation for the electrical / electronic components that are normally present inside. These components are accommodated and electrically contacted by the conductive track structure. Naturally, the conductive track structure must also be constructed to be temperature-resistant. Suitable plastic materials in this context are thermoplastic materials, such as polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) or combinations thereof.

[0003]

[0003] Conductive track structures are typically punched grids formed from metal foil, usually further overmolded with plastic material and optionally additionally sealed with an electrically insulating potting compound. This protects electrical / electronic components that are electrically in contact with the conductive track structure from environmental impacts. Electrical / electronic components inside this type of automotive housing are operated by low voltage DC, for example, 12V, 24V, or 48V. This includes, but is not limited to, electric motors, capacitors, resistors, control units, sensors, etc.

[0004]

[0004] Functions and operating motions can be implemented using a conductive track structure and electrical / electronic components placed on it. For example, if the housing is a housing for an automobile lock, the automobile lock can be controlled and monitored via a control unit housed in the conductive track structure. Signals and data generated at this point are generally transmitted from the automobile lock to the vehicle-side control unit, or from the vehicle-side control unit to a control unit inside the automobile lock in this embodiment. Data transmission between the automobile housing and the automobile is typically handled by what is called a peripheral cable. The peripheral cable allows the automobile or its internal control unit to exchange data with the automobile housing according to the present invention. In principle, electrical energy can also be transmitted via the peripheral cable.

[0005]

[0005] Such peripheral cables are generally provided by automobile manufacturers and serve to provide electrical connections to conductive track structures located inside the housing of the automobile housing according to the present invention. For this reason, peripheral cables typically have a corresponding peripheral plug-in connector, which contacts a peripheral plug-in connector supplied together with the housing by the housing manufacturer.

[0006]

[0006] The nearest prior art, DE 197 55 497 C1, discloses a housing for an automotive control unit made of plastic material for housing a circuit board. This control housing includes a housing base, a housing cover, and a plug-in strip. Furthermore, at least one opening for housing the plug-in strip is provided in the housing cover. The plug-in strip is then connected to a circuit board provided inside the housing. In addition, electrical contact elements are provided so that plug pins are made contact around the periphery, i.e., connection to the aforementioned periphery cable is provided.

[0007]

[0007] Further prior art DE 10 2004 063 814 A1 deals with a micro electric drive and an adapter for use in combination with a micro electric drive. This does not allow adjustment between the housing plug-in connector and the peripheral cable. This also applies to further prior art DE 10 2008 000 616 A1, where the adapter solution deals with a different situation, namely, the ability to secure the circuit board housing in different mounting positions.

[0008]

[0008] While the prior art has demonstrated effectiveness in principle, there is still room for improvement. There are still problems in connecting housing plug-in connectors or peripheral plug-in connectors that are typically coupled thereto to the corresponding peripheral plug-in connectors on the peripheral cable. In fact, the corresponding peripheral plug-in connectors, including the peripheral cable, are typically supplied and specified by the automobile manufacturer. In contrast, housing plug-in connectors are designed by the automobile supplier when manufacturing the automobile housing according to the present invention. The same applies to peripheral plug-in connectors. At this point, different concepts are often pursued. Furthermore, there is the problem that the automobile housings in question are supplied from the automobile supplier to various manufacturers, and accordingly, housing plug-in connectors, or the peripheral plug-in connectors that are typically coupled thereto, must be compatible with and in contact with the different corresponding peripheral plug-in connectors equipped on the peripheral cable ends of the respective manufacturers. To date, there is no compelling solution that would enable some degree of standardization in this field. The invention aims to improve this situation. [Overview of the project]

[0009]

[0009] The present invention is based on the technical problem of improving such automotive housings so that a certain standardization of the connection between peripheral plug-in connectors or compatible peripheral plug-in connectors on the vehicle manufacturer side and housing plug-in connectors on the vehicle supplier side can be achieved and made available.

[0010]

[0010] In order to solve this technical problem, the present invention proposes to further provide a plug-in connector adapter in a general automotive housing that connects a housing plug-in connector to a peripheral plug-in connector.

[0011]

[0011] In the context of the present invention, the term “housing plug-in connector” refers to a plug or corresponding socket provided by the manufacturer of the automotive housing, typically the automotive supplier. In contrast, a peripheral plug-in connector or a paired peripheral plug-in connector is a plug or socket specified and provided by the vehicle manufacturer. By using a plug-in connector adapter, the present invention can provide and realize a desired mechanical and electrical connection between one housing plug-in connector and the other peripheral plug-in connector or paired peripheral plug-in connector.

[0012]

[0012] The present invention is based on the finding that this type of plug-in connector adapter can be easily adapted to the specifications and different requirements of one particular peripheral plug-in connector and the other housing plug-in connector. In this case, a certain degree of standardization can be achieved and implemented by configuring the housing plug-in connector identically in all automotive housings according to the present invention, that is, by making it independent of the peripheral plug-in connector or the peripheral plug-in connector to be paired with, provided by the vehicle that is subsequently equipped or by the vehicle manufacturer. Adapting the standardized housing plug-in connector to the respective variable peripheral plug-in connector or the peripheral plug-in connector to be paired with is done using a plug-in connector adapter according to the present invention. This means that it is the plug-in connector adapter (optionally the peripheral plug-in connector) that needs to be adapted, and not the housing plug-in connector.

[0013]

[0013] As a result, it becomes possible to use the same and standardized housing plug-in connector for all automotive housings according to the present invention. Furthermore, this enables the implementation of a standardized interface on the conductive track structure. That is, the conductive track structure, the interface placed on it, the housing plug-in connector, and the housing itself can be maintained and thus standardized for all versions of housing according to the present invention. Thereafter, only the plug-in connector adapter, in conjunction with the peripheral plug-in connector, is adapted to the requirements of the vehicle equipped in the housing. This results in significant cost advantages because most assemblies can be maintained without manufacturer dependence. These assemblies include, in particular, the circuit board or conductive track structure, the contact strip placed on it, the housing plug-in connector, and the housing and the electrical / electronic components housed inside it. These are the main advantages.

[0014]

[0014] What should be emphasized in this situation is that peripheral plug-in connectors and plug-in connector adapters are usually made to meet the requirements of the vehicle manufacturer. This is because the manufacturer provides peripheral cables with paired peripheral plug-in connectors at the end that must be electrically and mechanically contacted to the peripheral plug-in connector when the housing is assembled. However, in principle, if the peripheral cable is in direct contact with the plug-in connector adapter or the housing plug-in connector, such peripheral plug-in connectors can be omitted entirely. In that case, the peripheral plug-in connector paired with the peripheral plug-in connector is, so to speak, identical and defines only the peripheral plug-in connector, and in such cases, it may also functionally be identical to the housing plug-in connector.

[0015]

[0015] However, the design is typically such that at least the plug-in connector adapter, peripheral plug-in connector and housing plug-in connector are functionally separated and define a structural unit. This structural unit is provided by the housing manufacturer together with the housing, thereby allowing electrical and mechanical connections to the paired peripheral plug-in connector at the end of the peripheral cable, via the fitted plug-in connector adapter and, optionally, the peripheral plug-in connector, to be established directly when the housing is assembled in or on the vehicle.

[0016]

[0016] The structural unit, consisting of at least a plug-in connector adapter, a peripheral plug-in connector, and a housing plug-in connector, is generally inserted into an opening in the housing cover. In principle, the structural unit can also be installed in an opening in the housing base. However, the housing base is typically designed in a trough shape to accommodate a conductive track structure. The housing cover is installed on the housing base with a seal interposed between them. First, the structural unit consisting of the plug-in connector adapter, the peripheral plug-in connector, and the housing plug-in connector is inserted into the opening in the housing cover. As a result, when the housing cover is installed on the housing base, the structural unit or the housing plug-in connector is simultaneously in contact with the conductive track structure located inside the housing.

[0017]

[0017] To implement and realize this in detail, the structural unit is typically equipped with a stopper for the opening. The stopper may overreach or underreach the opening. Furthermore, the design is selected so that the structural unit engages with the opening with its peripheral plug-in connector or housing plug-in connector. As a result, the structural unit is installed and aligned within the opening of the housing cover, while the stopper prevents the structural unit from falling out of the cover. In this situation, the stopper may functionally match or be a component of a plug-in connector adapter.

[0018]

[0018] In alternative designs, the structural unit consisting of a plug-in connector adapter, a peripheral plug-in connector, and a housing plug-in connector may also be further provided with a housing cover or a housing base. The usual approach here is to define an integrated structural unit in which the housing cover and the plug-in connector adapter, as well as the peripheral plug-in connector and the housing plug-in connector, are integrated. In this case, this structural unit may be constructed as an injection-molded plastic part.

[0019]

[0019] In order that the housing plug-in connector can make direct contact with the conductive track structure when the housing cover is installed on the housing base, the housing plug-in connector is generally designed as a plug made from plug pins on the conductive track structure, or as a housing plug-in socket that can be inserted into a contact strip. The plug pins on the conductive track structure define the aforementioned contact strip. The housing plug-in connector, i.e., the plug-in housing plug-in socket implemented herein, is inserted into this contact strip, or the plug defined thereby. In this case, when the housing cover is installed and connected on the housing base, the plug-in connection is established automatically and simultaneously. In this situation, the intervening seal generally ensures that the housing is sealed against moisture, dust, and other environmental influences.

[0020]

[0020] As already described, peripheral plug-in connectors installed with the housing typically include a pair of peripheral plug-in connectors connected to a peripheral cable. This pair of peripheral plug-in connectors may, in more detail, be a peripheral plug or a peripheral plug-in socket that can be connected to the peripheral cable. This will be described in more detail in the context of an exemplary embodiment. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0021]

[0021] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to drawings showing a single exemplary embodiment. [Figure 1A] Figure 1A shows a cross-sectional view of the housing according to the present invention in a first modified example, along with a structural unit consisting of a plug-in connector adapter, a peripheral plug-in connector, and a housing plug-in connector. [Figure 1B] Figure 1B shows a cross-sectional view of the housing according to the present invention in a first modified example, along with a structural unit consisting of a plug-in connector adapter, a peripheral plug-in connector, and a housing plug-in connector. [Figure 1C] Figure 1C shows a cross-sectional view of the housing according to the present invention in a first modified example, along with a structural unit consisting of a plug-in connector adapter, a peripheral plug-in connector, and a housing plug-in connector. [Figure 2A] Figure 2A shows a second modified embodiment of the structural unit. [Figure 2B] Figure 2B shows a second modified embodiment of the structural unit.

[0022] Detailed description of the invention

[0023]

[0022] The figure shows an automobile housing. Specifically, the automobile housing is an automobile lock housing, and more particularly an automobile door lock housing 1, 2, as an embodiment. The housing consists of a trough-shaped housing base 1 and a housing cover 2 that closes the housing base 1. A seal (not shown) is provided between the housing base 1 and the housing cover 2 to ensure media-tight closure of the housing or automobile door lock housing 1, 2 formed in this manner. In addition, conductive track structures 3, 4 are provided. The conductive track structures 3, 4 are placed inside the housing 1, 2 which is composed of the trough-shaped housing base 1 and the housing cover 2.

[0024]

[0023] Therefore, for this reason, in an exemplary embodiment, without limitation, the conductive track structures 3, 4 are composed of a punched grid 3 and a seal 4 made of plastic material. The punched grid 3 may be a punched grid 3 made of a copper plate or copper foil. By means of the seal 4, the electrical / electronic components placed on the conductive track structures 3, 4 and not explicitly shown are electrically sealed with respect to the punched grid 3, and the punched grid 3 itself is also electrically sealed. What is essential for the following discussion is the plug pin 5, which is either a part of the punched grid 3 or electrically and mechanically connected to the punched grid 3. The plug pins 5 collectively define a contact strip, which according to the exemplary embodiment is brought into contact with the housing plug-in connector 6. In an exemplary embodiment, the housing plug-in connector 6 is a housing plug-in socket 6 that can be inserted onto the plug pin 5 or the contact strip provided herein.

[0025]

[0024] In the following discussion, what is essential is that the housing base 1, the housing cover 2 having the associated opening 2a, the contact strip and / or the plug pins 5, and finally the housing plug-in socket 6 or the housing plug-in connector 6 provided herein are retained for all embodiments and installation locations of the housings 1, 2 according to the present invention, and can be standardized in this sense. This also applies in whole or in part to the electrical / electronic components. In contrast, the peripheral plug-in connector 7 and additionally the plug-in connector adapter ensure the adaptation to the installation location or the vehicle equipped therewith at this point, and in this context, only the mated peripheral plug-in connector 9 and the peripheral cable 10 are shown in the figure.

[0026]

[0025] That is, the housings 1 and 2 are assembled into a variety of different automobiles and brought into contact with, for example, the vehicle-side control unit 11 (only shown there). This is ensured by a peripheral cable 10 attached to an end provided with a mating peripheral plug-in connector 9. The peripheral plug-in connector 7, together with the plug-in connector adapter 8, is adapted to the mating peripheral plug-in connector 9. In contrast, the housing plug-in connector 6, similar to the contact strip composed of plug pins 5, the conductive track structures 3 and 4, the trough-shaped housing base 1, and the housing cover 2 having the opening 2a, remains unchanged and exists as a standard component.

[0027]

[0026] For this reason, in particular, the opening 2a of the housing cover 2 is configured to externally electrically connect the conductive track structures 3 and 4 inside the housing to the peripheral plug-in connector 7. For this purpose, a housing plug-in connector 6 for making electrical contact with the conductive track structures 3 and 4 is provided, which is arranged in or at the opening 2a of the housing cover 2.

[0028]

[0027] According to the present invention, there is further provided a plug-in connector adapter 8 that couples the housing plug-in connector 6 to the peripheral plug-in connector 7. In fact, the configuration according to the illustrated exemplary embodiment is such that, within the scope of FIGS. 1A to 1C, the plug-in connector adapter 8, the peripheral plug-in connector 7, and the housing plug-in connector 6 ultimately define the structural unit 6, 7, 8. The structural unit 6, 7, 8 is configured as an injection-molded plastic part. The structural unit 6, 7, 8 is inserted into the opening 2a of the housing cover 2, as can be further seen from the examples in FIGS. 1B and 1C.

[0029]

[0028] In this case, as shown in the modified example in Figure 1B, the structural units 6, 7, and 8 are inserted into the opening 2a, and the plug-in connector adapter 8, designed as a stopper, is selected to be designed to underreach the opening 2a. In contrast, as shown in the modified example in Figure 1C, the structural units 6, 7, and 8 are again inserted into the opening 2a of the housing cover 2, but in this case, the plug-in connector adapter 8, designed as a stopper, is selected to be designed to overreach the opening 2a.

[0030]

[0029] In the case initially referred to in Figure 1B, the peripheral plug-in connector 7 is inserted into the opening 2a of the housing cover 2. In contrast, in the modified example shown in Figure 1C, the housing plug-in connector 6 is inserted into the opening 2a of the housing cover 2.

[0031]

[0030] In the modified form shown in Figures 2A and 2B, the structural units 6, 7, and 8, consisting of the plug-in connector adapter 8, peripheral plug-in connector 7, and housing plug-in connector 6 described above, are further provided with a housing cover 2. That is, a structural unit 2; 6, 7, and 8 is recognized here, and according to the exemplary embodiment, this is configured as an integrated structural unit 2; 6, 7, and 8 consisting of a housing cover, housing plug-in connector 6, peripheral plug-in connector 7, and finally plug-in connector adapter 8, and according to the exemplary embodiment, it is again designed as an injection-molded plastic part.

[0032]

[0031] The housing plug-in connector 6 is a housing plug-in socket 6 that can be inserted into the plug pins 5. According to an exemplary embodiment, the peripheral plug-in connector 7 may be designed as a peripheral plug or peripheral socket that can be connected to the peripheral cable 10. For this purpose, the peripheral cable 10 is equipped with a paired peripheral plug-in connector 9 at its end, which is configured as a corresponding paired peripheral plug or paired peripheral plug-in socket, thereby establishing a corresponding electrical and mechanical connection with the peripheral plug or peripheral plug socket in the form of the peripheral plug-in connector 7.

[0033]

[0032] In principle, the peripheral plug-in connector 9 that is paired with the peripheral plug-in connector 7 can also be functionally combined. In this case, the peripheral cable 10 is directly contacted by the plug-in connector adapter or stopper 8. In this case, for example, each end of the peripheral cable 10 is provided with a plug-in socket or plug pin, which are inserted into the corresponding plug pin or plug-in socket as the peripheral plug-in connector 7 on the plug-in connector adapter 8, or inserted onto the corresponding plug pin or plug-in socket. However, this is not shown in detail. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0034] Automotive door lock housing 1, 2, Housing base 1, Housing cover 2, opening 2a, Conductive track structure 3,4, Punching grid 3, Plastic material seal 4, 5 pins for plug Plug-in connector for housing 6, Peripheral plug-in connector 7, Plug-in connector adapter 8, Structural units 2; 6, 7, 8, 9 peripheral plug-in connectors that can be paired together. Peripheral cables 10, Control unit 11.

Claims

1. An automotive housing for receiving a conductive track structure (3, 4), particularly an automotive lock housing, preferably an automotive door lock housing (1, 2), The housing comprises a housing base (1) and a housing cover (2), wherein the housing cover (2) and / or the housing base (1) have at least one opening (2a) for externally electrically connecting the conductive track structure (3, 4) inside the housing to a peripheral plug-in connector (7), and at least one housing plug-in connector (6) is provided in or positioned in the opening (2a) to make electrical contact with the conductive track structure (3, 4). An automotive housing further provided with a plug-in connector adapter (8) for connecting the housing plug-in connector (6) to the peripheral plug-in connector (7).

2. The housing according to claim 1, characterized in that at least the plug-in connector adapter (8), the peripheral plug-in connector (7), and the housing plug-in connector (6) define a structural unit (6, 7, 8).

3. The housing according to claim 2, characterized in that the structural units (6, 7, 8) are inserted into the opening (2a) of the housing cover (2).

4. The housing according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the structural unit (6, 7, 8) has a stopper (8) for the opening (2a).

5. The housing according to claim 4, characterized in that the stop portion (8) overreachs or underreaches the opening (2a).

6. The housing according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the structural unit (6, 7, 8) engages with the opening (2a) with its peripheral plug-in connector (7) or its housing plug-in connector (6).

7. The housing according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the structural unit (6, 7, 8) further comprises the housing cover (2) or the housing base (1).

8. The housing according to claim 7, wherein the housing cover (2) and the plug-in connector adapter (8), like the peripheral plug-in connector (7) and the housing plug-in connector (6), define an integrated structural unit (2; 6, 7, 8) and are configured, for example, as injection-molded plastic parts.

9. The housing according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the housing plug-in connector (6) is configured as a housing plug-in socket (6) that can be inserted into a contact strip consisting of plug pins (5) on the conductive track structure (3, 4).

10. The housing according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the paired peripheral plug-in connector (9) is configured as a peripheral plug or peripheral plug-in socket that can be connected to a peripheral cable (10), and the peripheral plug or peripheral plug-in socket can be connected to the peripheral plug-in connector (7) which is correspondingly configured as a peripheral plug-in socket or peripheral plug.

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