Electrical Contact Elements

Abstract

The present invention further proposes a contact carrier with at least one electrical contact element and a method for manufacturing an electrical contact element for contacting a printed circuit board, the contact carrier having a contact web and a contact lug arranged on a section of the contact strip, the contact lug extending at least partially with the contact strip and angled in a region towards the printed circuit board, the angled region having a first side for contacting the printed circuit board or a conductor path and a second side opposite the first side, the second side of the angled region being arranged at least partially on the contact web such that the second side is supported by the contact web. The present invention further proposes a contact carrier with at least one electrical contact element and a method for manufacturing an electrical contact element for contacting a printed circuit board.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical contact element for contacting a printed circuit board according to the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a contact carrier with at least one electrical contact element and to a method for manufacturing an electrical contact element. [Background technology]

[0002] Such an electrical contact element includes a contact strip having a contact web and a contact lug arranged on a section of the contact strip, the contact lug extending at least partially together with the contact strip in the extension direction of the contact strip and angled in a region facing the printed circuit board, the angled region having a first surface for contacting the printed circuit board and a second surface opposite the first surface.

[0003] In the prior art, such electrical contact elements are often mounted on printed circuit boards, also known as conductor plates, using the surface-mounted device (SMD) soldering technique. In SMD soldering, a printed circuit board is typically mounted with a contact carrier, also known as an electrical component, that carries a number of such electrical contact elements. For this, the angled areas of the contact lugs are placed flat on soldering pads coated with soldering paste and then passed through a soldering oven together with the contact carrier. To ensure that all electrical contact elements are in contact with the soldering paste, the height difference between the contacts must be less than the thickness of the soldering paste. Typical values ​​for the so-called "coplanarity" are in the range of 150 μm to 100 μm. The contact lugs may also be angled to increase the contact surface toward the printed circuit board.

[0004] Such electrical contact elements are described by way of example in US Pat. No. 5,629,499, ... and US Pat. No. 5,629,499.

[0005] However, the electrical contact elements known from the prior art have the disadvantage that such angling may not be performed with sufficient accuracy and reproducibility to meet the coplanarity requirements. In particular, if an elastic material is used for the electrical contact elements, there is a risk that the contact strip will only deform in the elastic region and will bounce back when the electrical contact element is attached, thereby not meeting the coplanarity requirements. In the worst case, this can lead to a temperature drop in the solder joint and an interruption of the electrical contact. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] German Patent Application Publication No. 102018000204 [Patent Document 2] German Patent Invention No. 102012105995 [Patent Document 3] European Patent No. 2639894 [Patent Document 4] European Patent Application Publication No. 1930987 Search Report Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide an electrical contact element that allows angling with reproducible precision to meet coplanarity requirements, regardless of the elasticity of the material used for the electrical contact element. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] This problem is solved by a product with the features of claim 1.

[0009] Thus, the second surface of the angled region is at least partially disposed on the contact web such that the second surface is supported by the contact web.

[0010] The electrical contact elements may be integrally formed, for example as pressed parts, or may consist of multiple pieces of electrically conductive material, and establish an electrical connection from the electrical contact elements to conductor paths or connection contacts on a printed circuit board.

[0011] For this purpose, the contact element includes a contact strip having a contact web and contact lugs arranged on a section of the contact strip. The term "contact web" can be used to denote, for example, a strip-like section of the contact strip extending at least partially along the surface of the contact strip, e.g., along the surface of the contact strip facing the printed circuit board in the assembled state. The contact lugs can be arranged on the side of the contact strip or formed integrally with the contact strip. For this purpose, when manufacturing the electrical contact element, the contact strip and the contact lugs can first be positioned in a plane. The contact lugs are then angled, preferably at an angle of less than 90°, in the region facing the printed circuit board. In this context, "angled" can be understood as bending the material of the contact lugs. For example, a contact element with angled contact lugs can be formed approximately I-shaped when viewed from the side.

[0012] A first surface of the angled region faces the printed circuit board in the assembled state and is used for electrical contact with the printed circuit board or for electrical contact with contact areas or conductor paths disposed on the printed circuit board.

[0013] A second surface of the angled region opposite the first surface is at least partially disposed on the contact web so as to be supported by the contact web, which may be achieved, for example, by bending the contact lug relative to the contact strip, for example by bending the contact lug around the portion where it is disposed on the contact strip.

[0014] Disposing on a contact web may be understood to mean that the second surface of the angled region is mechanically connected to or rests on the contact web. Such disposition on the contact web advantageously allows for reproducible angling, regardless of the material used, to meet coplanarity requirements.

[0015] In one example, the contact lugs are arranged transversely on sections of the contact strip in the extension direction of the contact strip. For example, the contact strip may be essentially rectangular and extend from a first end region to a second end region with its long side in the direction of travel. The contact webs may then be formed by the short sides of the rectangle in the second end region, which short sides face the printed circuit board in the assembled state. A transverse arrangement can be understood, for example, as an arrangement on the long side, with the contact lugs arranged on the long side, for example, in the form of hooks.

[0016] Advantageously, such an arrangement of the contact lugs allows for a particularly easy manufacture of the electrical contact element, since it can be stamped in one piece, for example from sheet metal, and finished by a subsequent bending process.

[0017] In another example, the contact lugs may be positioned differently on the contact strip, for example, the contact lugs may be formed by cutting a U-shaped cut into the contact lug material and bending it out of the plane of the contact lug.

[0018] In one example, the angled region extends at an angle of less than or equal to 90°, in particular less than 90°, between the two surfaces of the contact lug.

[0019] In another example, it is also possible to choose an angle equal to or greater than 90°, in particular an angle greater than 90°.

[0020] For example, this may result in contact lugs that are generally I-shaped when viewed from the side.

[0021] Advantageously, when the angled region is placed on the contact web, particularly if such an angle is less than 90°, the angled region can be supported on the contact web with a pretension corresponding to the angle, for example by bending the contact lug relative to the contact strip.

[0022] In one example, the contact lug is adapted to be bent around a section of the contact strip to position the second surface of the angled region on the contact web.

[0023] Thereby, advantageously, the angled area is slidable on the contact webs of the contact strip so as to be supported by the contact webs.

[0024] In one example, at least one chamfer is provided on the peripheral region of the contact web and / or angled region.

[0025] This advantageously allows the angled area to slide more easily over the contact web of the contact strip.

[0026] In one example, the angled region is oriented perpendicular to the contact web.

[0027] This advantageously allows a plurality of electrical contact elements to be arranged side by side on the printed circuit board and to be electrically contacted from opposite sides of the printed circuit board.

[0028] In one example, the electrical contact element comprises at least one connecting element, in particular a spring element, which is arranged at one end of the contact strip opposite the contact web and adapted for electrical connection with a conductor.

[0029] The connection elements may be configured as spring elements, for example, or alternatively as pin elements, socket elements, clamp elements, solder elements, or a combination of various such elements.

[0030] Advantageously, for electrical contact, the conductor can be connected to the electrical contact element via a plug connection formed by the connection element.

[0031] In one example, the first surface of the angled region is adapted to be soldered to a printed circuit board, particularly to a contact surface on the printed circuit board.

[0032] For example, soldering paste or adhesive can simply be applied using a stencil and melted or hardened around the periphery by heat.

[0033] Advantageously, any height differences or slight positioning errors remaining during mounting are automatically corrected by the surface tension of the liquid solder.

[0034] In one example, the electrical contact elements are integrally formed from a resilient, electrically conductive material.

[0035] Advantageously, the electrical contact elements can be easily and quickly formed in one piece by the bending operations described herein, thereby eliminating the need to join or assemble multiple components.

[0036] Furthermore, in one example, the electrical contact element is advantageously configured for this purpose as a pressed part.

[0037] The invention also relates to a contact carrier having at least one electrical contact element, in particular a plurality of electrical contact elements, as described herein.

[0038] The contact carrier may be an electrical component, for example a surface mounted device (SMD), which may for example be a passive component, such as a diode, but may also be configured as a semiconductor, for example an integrated circuit.

[0039] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an electrical contact element for contacting a printed circuit board, the method comprising the steps of: providing a contact strip having a contact web and contact lugs arranged on the contact strip, the contact lugs being arranged on a section of the contact strip and extending at least partially together with the contact strip in the extension direction of the contact strip; angling a section of the contact strip, the angled section having a first side for contacting the printed circuit board and a second side opposite the first side; bending the contact lugs around the section of the contact strip and arranging the second side on the contact web so that the contact lugs are supported by the contact web.

[0040] In the following, the idea on which the invention is based will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0041] [Figure 1A] FIG. 1 illustrates an electrical contact element according to an embodiment. [Figure 1B] FIG. 1 illustrates an electrical contact element according to an embodiment. [Figure 2A] FIG. 2 shows a provided contact strip with a contact web and contact lugs arranged on the contact strip. [Figure 2B] FIG. 2 shows a provided contact strip with a contact web and contact lugs arranged on the contact strip. [Figure 3A] FIG. 10 shows a contact strip with angled regions. [Figure 3B] FIG. 10 shows a contact strip with angled regions. [Figure 4A] FIG. 10 shows the contact lug while it is being bent around the section of the contact strip on which it is located to place the second surface on the contact web. [Figure 4B]FIG. 10 shows the contact lug while it is being bent around the section of the contact strip on which it is located to place the second surface on the contact web. [Figure 5] 1A-1D illustrate steps of a method for manufacturing an electrical contact element. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0042] FIG. 1A is a schematic front view of an electrical contact element 1 according to one embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a side view.

[0043] The illustrated electrical contact element 1 comprises a contact strip 3 with a contact web 5 and contact lugs 7 arranged on the contact strip 3 .

[0044] In the illustrated embodiment, the contact strip 3 is essentially rectangular in shape and extends with its long side in the direction of travel from a first end region to a second end region which, in the assembled state, faces the printed circuit board (not shown). As shown, the contact web 5 is formed by the short side of the rectangle in the second end region. The illustrated contact lugs 7 are arranged on the long sides of the contact strip 3.

[0045] Furthermore, Figures 1A and 1B show that the contact lugs 7 are angled or bent in the region 9 facing the printed circuit board, preferably at an angle of less than 90°.

[0046] A first face 11A of the angled region 9, facing towards the printed circuit board, is used for contacting the printed circuit board or contact areas or conductor paths arranged on the printed circuit board.

[0047] A second face 11B of the angled region 9, opposite the first side face 11A, is at least partially arranged on the contact web 5 so as to be supported by the contact web 5. For this purpose, the contact lug 7 is bent relative to the contact strip 3 around a section 15 where the contact lug 7 is arranged on the contact strip 3.

[0048] Furthermore, in the illustrated example, the electrical contact element 1 has two connecting elements 13A, 13B configured as spring elements and arranged at the end of the contact strip 3 opposite the contact web 5 and adapted for electrical connection with a conductor.

[0049] 2 to 4 show the electrical contact element 1 at the individual manufacturing steps of the method shown in FIG.

[0050] In particular, FIGS. 2A and 2B show a provided contact strip 3 with a contact web 5 and contact lugs 7 arranged on the contact strip 3 .

[0051] In the illustrated embodiment, the contact strip 3 may be configured as a pressed-in part. The two connection elements 13A, 13B configured as spring elements may be realized by bending the material of the contact strip 7. The spring elements are shown in the figures only as an example. As an alternative to the illustrated spring elements, other contact means such as pin elements, socket elements, clamp elements, soldering elements, etc. may also be used.

[0052] As can be seen from Figures 2A and 2B, the contact lugs 7 are arranged on the sides of the contact strips 3 or are formed integrally with the contact strips 3. In Figures 2A and 2B, the contact strips 3 and the contact lugs 7 initially lie in a common first plane.

[0053] 3A and 3B show a contact strip 3 having an angled region 9. FIG.

[0054] As shown, the contact lugs 7 are angled at an angle α, preferably less than 90°, in the region facing the printed circuit board. For this purpose, the contact lugs 7 are bent approximately in the middle into a second plane which is arranged at an angle α to the first plane.

[0055] The section 15 in which the contact lugs 7 are arranged on the contact strip 3 and the region 9 angled towards the printed circuit board are arranged at a 90° angle to each other as shown.

[0056] The side view of FIG. 3B shows the I-shaped structure of the electrical contact element 1 with the angled region 9 of the contact lug 7 .

[0057] A first face 11A of the angled region 9 facing towards the printed circuit board is used for contacting the printed circuit board or contact areas or conductor paths arranged on the printed circuit board.

[0058] 4A and 4B show the contact lug 7 while it is being bent around the section 15 of the contact strip 3 in which it is located to position the second surface 11B on the contact web 5. As shown, bending around the section 15 bends the contact lug 7 into a third plane. The bending direction is indicated by the arrow shown in FIG. 4A. Further bending in the direction of the arrow causes the second surface 11 of the angled region to slide further over the contact web 5, supported by the contact web 5, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.

[0059] FIG. 5 shows the steps of a method 100 for manufacturing the electrical contact element 1 described above.

[0060] The illustrated method 100 includes the following steps:

[0061] Step 110 of providing a contact strip having a contact web and a contact lug arranged on the contact strip, the contact lug being arranged on a section of the contact strip and extending at least partially with the contact strip in the extension direction of the contact strip.

[0062] Angling a region of the contact strip, step 120, the angled region having a first surface for contacting the printed circuit board and a second surface opposite the first surface.

[0063] Step 130 of bending the contact lug around a section of the contact strip to position the second surface on the contact web so as to be supported by the contact web.

[0064] 1 Electrical Contact Elements 3 Contact Strips 5 Contact Web 7 Contact Lag 9 Angled Areas 11A, 11B First surface, second surface 13A, 13B Connection elements 15 Sections α angle 100 Method for manufacturing an electrical contact element 110 Steps to Provide 120 Angling Steps 130 bending steps

Claims

1. 1. An electrical contact element for contacting a printed circuit board, comprising: a contact strip (3) extending along a long side from a first end region, which is a short side, to a second end region, which is a short side, and having a contact web (5) formed in said second end region; and contact lugs (7) arranged on a section (15) of the contact strip (3) formed along said long side, wherein the contact lugs (7) extend at least partially together with the contact strip (3) in the extension direction of the contact strip (3) and are angled in a region (9) towards the printed circuit board, the angled region (9) having a first surface (11A) for contacting the printed circuit board and a second surface (11B) opposite to the first surface (11A), 1. An electrical contact element, characterized in that the second surface (11B) of the angled region (9) is at least partially disposed on the contact web (5) so as to be supported by the contact web (5).

2. 2. An electrical contact element according to claim 1, characterized in that the contact lugs (7) are arranged transversely to the sections (15) of the contact strip (3) in the extension direction of the contact strip (3).

3. 2. Electrical contact element according to claim 1, characterized in that the angled area (9) extends between the two surfaces of the contact lug (7) at an angle (α) of less than or equal to 90°.

4. 2. An electrical contact element according to claim 1, characterized in that the contact lug (7) is adapted to be bent around a section (15) of the contact strip (3) in order to place the second face (11B) of the angled region (9) on the contact web (5).

5. 2. Electrical contact element according to claim 1, characterized in that the peripheral area of ​​the contact web (5) and / or the angled area (9) is provided with at least one chamfer.

6. 2. Electrical contact element according to claim 1, characterized in that the angled region (9) is arranged perpendicular to the contact web (5).

7. 2. The electrical contact element according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one connecting element (13A, 13B) is arranged at the end of the contact strip (3) opposite the contact web (5) and is adapted for electrical connection with a conductor.

8. An electrical contact element as described in claim 7, characterized in that at least one connecting element (13A, 13B) is a spring element.

9. 2. An electrical contact element according to claim 1, characterized in that the first face (11A) of the angled region (9) is adapted to be soldered onto a printed circuit board.

10. An electrical contact element as described in claim 9, characterized in that a first surface (11A) of the angled region (9) is adapted to be soldered to a contact surface on a printed circuit board.

11. 10. The electrical contact element of claim 1, wherein the electrical contact element is integrally formed from a resilient conductive material.

12. 2. The electrical contact element according to claim 1, characterized in that it is configured as a pressed part.

13. A contact carrier comprising at least one electrical contact element according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. A contact carrier comprising a plurality of electrical contact elements as described in any one of claims 1 to 12.

15. 1. A method for manufacturing an electrical contact element for contacting a printed circuit board, comprising: providing (110) a contact strip (3) extending along a long side from a first end region, which is a short side, to a second end region, which is a short side, and having a contact web (5) formed in said second end region, and contact lugs (7) arranged on said contact strip (3), said contact lugs (7) being arranged on a section (15) of said contact strip (3) formed along said long side and extending at least partially together with said contact strip (3) in the extension direction of said contact strip (3); A method comprising the step (120) of angling a region of the contact strip (3), the angled region (9) having a first surface (11A) for contacting a printed circuit board and a second surface (11B) opposite the first surface (11A), and bending (130) said contact lug (7) around said section (15) of said contact strip (3) to position said second surface (11B) on said contact web (5) so as to be supported by said contact web (5).

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