Automotive housing

Abstract

The invention relates to an automotive housing, in particular an automotive lock housing and preferably an automotive door lock housing (1, 2), which is designed to receive a conductor track structure (3, 4). The housing is formed with a housing base (1) and a housing cover (2), wherein the housing cover (2) has at least one opening (2a) for externally electrically connecting the conductor track structure (3, 4) in the housing interior to a peripheral plug-in connector (7). At least one housing plug-in connector (6), arranged in or at the opening (2a), for making electrical contact with the conductor track structure (3, 4) is also provided. A plug-in connector adapter (8), which couples the housing plug-in connector (6) to the peripheral plug-in connector (7), is additionally provided according to the invention.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Automotive housings

[0003] The invention relates to a motor vehicle housing, in particular a motor vehicle lock housing, preferably a motor vehicle door lock housing, for receiving a conductor track structure, with a housing base and a housing cover, wherein the housing cover and / or the housing base has at least one opening for the external electrical connection of the conductor track structure in the housing interior to a peripheral plug connector, and wherein at least one housing plug connector arranged in or on the opening is provided for electrically contacting the conductor track structure.

[0004] Automotive housings are enclosures that are primarily mounted inside or partially or entirely outside 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 can range from -40°C to +80°C, +100°C, or even more. Accordingly, both the housing base and the housing cover must be made of a predominantly temperature-stable and rigid plastic. The use of plastic is advisable here to ensure electrical insulation of the electrical / electronic components typically located inside. These are housed and contacted by the conductor track structure. The conductor track structure must, of course, also be temperature-resistant.Suitable plastics in this context are thermoplastics such as polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), or combinations, to name just a few. The conductor track structure is typically a stamped grid made of a metal foil, which is usually additionally plastic-molded and, if necessary, sealed with an electrically insulating potting compound. This protects the electrical / electronic components electrically contacted by the conductor track structure from environmental influences. The electrical / electronic components inside such automotive housings are typically those that operate with low-voltage direct current, perhaps 12 V, 24 V, or 48 V. These include, but are not limited to, electric motors, capacitors, resistors, control units, sensors, etc.

[0005] Functions and actuating movements can be implemented using the conductor track structure or the electrical / electronic components located thereon. For example, a motor vehicle lock can be controlled and monitored via a control unit accommodated in the conductor track structure if the housing in question is a motor vehicle lock housing. The signals and data generated at this point are generally transmitted from the motor vehicle lock in question - in the example case - to a motor vehicle control unit or from the motor vehicle control unit to the control unit inside the motor vehicle lock. Data transmission between the motor vehicle housing and the motor vehicle is generally provided by a so-called peripheral cable. With the help of the peripheral cable, the motor vehicle or a control unit therein exchanges data with the motor vehicle housing according to the invention.In principle, electrical energy can also be transmitted via the peripheral cable.

[0006] Such peripheral cables are generally provided by a motor vehicle manufacturer and serve to electrically connect the conductor track structure inside the automotive housing according to the invention. For this purpose, the peripheral cable is usually equipped with a peripheral mating connector, which is contacted by the peripheral connector supplied by the housing manufacturer together with the housing.

[0007] The closest prior art according to DE 197 55 497 C1 describes a plastic control unit housing for a motor vehicle for accommodating a printed circuit board. The control unit housing has a housing base, a housing cover, and an additional connector strip. Furthermore, at least one opening is provided in the housing cover to accommodate the connector strip. The connector strip, in turn, is connected to the printed circuit board provided inside the housing. Additionally, a further electrical contact element is provided, with the aid of which the connector pins are peripherally contacted, thus ensuring the connection to the aforementioned peripheral cable.

[0008] The further prior art according to DE 10 2004 063 814 A1 deals with an adapter for use with and in conjunction with an electronic microdrive. Adaptation between the housing connector and the peripheral cable is not possible with this. This also applies to the further prior art according to DE 10 2008 000 616 A1, which deals with an adapter solution in a different context, namely one that allows a printed circuit board housing to be secured in different mounting positions.

[0009] The state of the art has generally proven itself, but still offers room for improvement. For example, connecting the housing connector, or the peripheral connector typically coupled to it, with the peripheral mating connector on the peripheral cable remains a problem. In fact, the peripheral mating connector, including the peripheral cable, is typically provided and specified by the automobile manufacturer. In contrast, the housing connector is one that is designed by an automotive supplier during the manufacture of the automotive housing according to the invention. The same applies to the peripheral connector. Different concepts are often pursued here.Furthermore, there is the problem that the relevant automotive housings are delivered from the automotive supplier to different manufacturers, and accordingly, the housing connector, or the peripheral connector usually coupled to it, must meet and contact different peripheral mating connectors at the end of the manufacturer's peripheral cable equipped with them. There are currently no convincing solutions that allow for a degree of standardization in this area. The invention aims to remedy this.

[0010] The invention is based on the technical problem of further developing such a motor vehicle housing in such a way that a certain standardization of the connection between the peripheral connector or peripheral mating connector on the part of the automobile manufacturer and the housing connector on the part of the automobile supplier is achieved and can be provided.

[0011] To solve this technical problem, the invention proposes, starting from a generic motor vehicle housing, that a connector adapter is additionally implemented which couples the housing connector with the peripheral connector.

[0012] In the context of the present invention, the term "housing connector" refers to the plug or corresponding socket provided by the manufacturer of the automotive housing, typically an automotive supplier. In contrast, the peripheral connector or peripheral mating connector is a plug or socket specified and provided by the automobile manufacturer. With the help of the connector adapter, the desired mechanical and electrical connection between the housing connector on the one hand and the peripheral connector or peripheral mating connector on the other hand can be provided and implemented.

[0013] The invention is based on the realization that such a connector adapter can easily be adapted to the specific and different requirements of the respective peripheral connector on the one hand and the housing connector on the other. In this case, it is possible to realize and implement a certain standardization in such a way that the housing connector is designed consistently for all automotive housings according to the invention, i.e. independently of the motor vehicle subsequently equipped with it and consequently of the peripheral connector or peripheral mating connector provided by the motor vehicle manufacturer. The adaptation of the housing connector standardized in this way to the respectively changing peripheral connector or peripheral mating connector is now carried out according to the invention with the help of the connector adapter.This means that only an adjustment of the connector adapter (and, if applicable, the peripheral connector) is required, but not of the housing connector.

[0014] As a result, a consistent and standardized housing connector can be used for all automotive housings according to the invention. Furthermore, a standardized interface to the conductor track structure can be implemented. This means that the conductor track structure, the interface located on or at it, as well as the housing connector and the housing itself can be retained for all versions of the housing according to the invention and can therefore be standardized. Only the connector adapter in conjunction with the peripheral connector is then adapted to the requirements of the motor vehicle to be equipped with the housing. This leads to comprehensive cost advantages because a large proportion of the components can be retained regardless of the manufacturer. These components include, in particular, the circuit board and theThe conductor track structure, a contact strip located on it, and the housing connector, as well as the housing and the electrical / electronic components housed inside, are the main advantages.

[0015] In this context, it should be emphasized that both the peripheral connector and the connector adapter are typically adapted to the requirements of the automobile manufacturer. This is because the manufacturer provides the peripheral cable with the end-side peripheral mating connector, which must be electrically and mechanically contacted with the peripheral connector when the housing according to the invention is installed. In principle, however, it is also possible to dispense with such a peripheral connector if the peripheral cable is contacted directly with the connector adapter or the housing connector. In this case, the peripheral connector and the peripheral mating connector coincide and merely define one peripheral connector, which in such a case also functionally coincides or can coincide with the housing connector.

[0016] As a rule, however, the design is such that at least the connector adapter, the peripheral connector, and the housing connector are functionally separate and define a structural unit. This structural unit is provided by the housing manufacturer together with the housing so that a direct electrical and mechanical connection can be established with the peripheral mating connector at the end of the peripheral cable during assembly of the housing in or on the associated motor vehicle via the adapted connector adapter and, if applicable, the peripheral connector. The structural unit in question, comprising at least the connector adapter, the peripheral connector, and the housing connector, is generally plugged into the opening in the housing cover. In principle, the structural unit can also be accommodated in the opening in the housing base.Typically, however, the housing base is designed like a trough and accommodates the conductor track structure. The housing cover is placed on the housing base with a seal in between. Beforehand, the assembly consisting of the connector adapter, the peripheral connector, and the housing connector is inserted into the opening of the housing cover. This allows the assembly or the housing connector to be contacted with the conductor track structure located inside the housing when the housing cover is placed on the housing base.

[0017] To implement and realize this in detail, the assembly is typically equipped with a stop for the opening. The stop can engage above or below the opening. Furthermore, the design ensures that the assembly in question engages in the opening with its peripheral connector or housing connector. This positions and aligns the assembly within the opening of the housing cover, while the stop ensures that the assembly does not fall out of the cover. In this context, the stop can functionally coincide with the connector adapter or be part of it.

[0018] In an alternative embodiment, it is also possible for the assembly comprising the connector adapter, the peripheral connector, and the housing connector to also include the housing cover or the housing base. Typically, the housing cover and the connector adapter, as well as the peripheral connector and the housing connector, form a single-piece assembly. This assembly can be designed as a plastic injection-molded part. To ensure that the housing connector can make direct contact with the conductor track structure when the housing cover is placed on the housing base, the housing connector is generally designed as a housing socket that can be plugged onto a plug comprising connector pins on the conductor track structure, or onto a contact strip. The connector pins on the conductor track structure define the contact strip mentioned above.The housing connector or the pluggable housing socket created at this point is plugged onto this contact strip or the plug defined by it. The plug connection is established automatically and simultaneously when the housing cover is placed on the housing base and connected to it. The intermediate seal ensures that the housing is generally hermetically sealed against moisture, dust, etc., or other environmental influences.

[0019] As already explained, the peripheral connector installed with the housing usually includes a peripheral mating connector that connects to the peripheral cable. The peripheral mating connector can be a peripheral plug that connects to the respective peripheral cable, or a peripheral socket. This will be explained in more detail in the context of the example.

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

[0021] Fig. 1 A to 1 C show a section of the housing according to the invention together with the assembly comprising the connector adapter, the peripheral connector and the housing connector in a first variant and

[0022] Fig. 2A and 2B show the structural unit in question in a second modified embodiment.

[0023] The figures show a motor vehicle housing. The motor vehicle housing is, by way of example and quite specifically, a motor vehicle lock housing, and in particular a motor vehicle door lock housing 1, 2. For this purpose, the housing is composed of a trough-shaped housing base 1 and a housing cover 2 closing the housing base 1. For this purpose, a seal (not shown) is implemented between the housing base 1 and the housing cover 2, which ensures a media-tight closure of the housing or motor vehicle door lock housing 1, 2 formed in this way. In addition, a conductor track structure 3, 4 is implemented. The conductor track structure 3, 4 is located inside the housing 1, 2 composed of the trough-shaped housing base 1 and the housing cover 2.

[0024] For this purpose, the conductor track structure 3, 4 in the exemplary embodiment is composed, without limitation, of a stamped grid 3 and a plastic seal 4. The stamped grid 3 can be a stamped grid 3 made of copper sheet or copper foil. With the help of the seal 4, electrical / electronic components not expressly shown on the conductor track structure 3, 4 are electrically sealed to the stamped grid 3, just like the stamped grid 3 itself. Also important for the following considerations are connector pins 5, which can be a component of the stamped grid 3 or are electrically and mechanically connected to the stamped grid 3. The connector pins 5 as a whole define a contact strip, which, according to the exemplary embodiment, is contacted by a housing plug connector 6. For this purpose, the housing plug connector 6 in the exemplary embodiment is athe contact strip implemented at this point pluggable housing socket 6.

[0025] What is important for the following considerations is the fact that the housing base 1, the housing cover 2 with an associated opening 2a and the contact strip or the plug pins 5 as well as finally the housing plug connector 6 or the housing plug socket 6 realized at this point can be retained for all embodiments and installation locations of the housing 1, 2 according to the invention and can therefore be standardized. This also applies in whole or in part to the electrical / electronic components. In contrast, a peripheral plug connector 7 and additionally a plug connector adapter 8 ensure respective adaptation to the installation location or the motor vehicle to be equipped with it at this point, of which only a peripheral mating plug connector 9 and a peripheral cable 10 are shown in the figures in this context.

[0026] This means that the housing 1, 2 is installed in different and different motor vehicles and, for example, is contacted with a vehicle-mounted control unit 11 located there (only indicated). This is ensured by the peripheral cable 10, which is equipped at its end with the peripheral mating connector 9. The peripheral connector 7, together with the connector adapter 8, is adapted to the peripheral mating connector 9. In contrast, the housing connector 6, as well as the contact strip comprising the connector pins 5, the conductor track structure 3, 4, the tub-shaped housing base 1, and the housing cover 2 with its opening 2a, remain unchanged and are available as standard components.

[0027] To this end, the procedure is such that the opening 2a in question in the housing cover 2 is designed for the external electrical connection of the conductor track structure 3, 4 inside the housing to the peripheral connector 7. For this purpose, the housing connector 6 is provided for the electrical contact of the conductor track structure 3, 4 and is arranged in or on the opening 2a in question in the housing cover 2.

[0028] Additionally, and in accordance with the invention, the connector adapter 8 is implemented, which couples the housing connector 6 to the peripheral connector 7. In fact, the design according to the illustrated embodiment is such that, within the scope of Figs. 1A to 1C, the connector adapter 8, the peripheral connector 7, and the housing connector 6 ultimately define a structural unit 6, 7, 8. The structural unit 6, 7, 8 is formed as a plastic injection-molded part. The structural unit 6, 7, 8 is also inserted into the opening 2a of the housing cover 2, as can be seen from the illustration in Figs. 1B and 1C.

[0029] In the variant according to Fig. 1B, the design is such that the assembly 6, 7, 8 is inserted into the opening 2a, and the connector adapter 8, designed as a stop 8, engages below the opening 2a in question. In the variant according to Fig. 1C, on the other hand, the design is such that the assembly 6, 7, 8 is again inserted into the opening 2a of the housing cover 2, but in this case the connector adapter 8, designed as a stop 8, engages over the opening 2a.

[0030] In the first case shown in Fig. 1B, the peripheral connector 7 is inserted into the opening 2a of the housing cover 2. In contrast, in the second variant shown in Fig. 1C, the housing connector 6 is inserted into the opening 2a of the housing cover 2.

[0031] 2A and 2B, the previously mentioned assembly 6, 7, 8 comprising the connector adapter 8, the peripheral connector 7, and the housing connector 6 additionally comprises the housing cover 2. This means that here we see an assembly 2; 6, 7, 8 which, according to the exemplary embodiment, is composed as a one-piece assembly 2; 6, 7, 8 of the housing cover, the housing connector 6, the peripheral connector 7, and finally the connector adapter 8, and which, according to the exemplary embodiment, is again designed as a plastic injection-molded part. The housing connector 6 is the housing connector socket 6 that can be plugged onto the connector pins 5. The peripheral connector 7, according to the exemplary embodiment, can be designed as a peripheral plug or peripheral connector socket that can be connected to the peripheral cable 10.For this purpose, the peripheral cable 10 is equipped at the end with the peripheral mating connector 9, which is correspondingly designed as a peripheral mating plug or peripheral mating plug socket in order to be able to establish a corresponding electrical and mechanical connection with the peripheral plug or the peripheral plug socket in the form of the peripheral connector 7.

[0032] In principle, the peripheral connector 7 and the peripheral mating connector 9 can also be functionally identical. In this case, the peripheral cable 10 is contacted directly at the connector adapter or the stop 8. In this case, for example, plug sockets or plug pins may be implemented at the end of the wire of the peripheral cable 10, which are inserted or plugged into corresponding plug pins or plug sockets as the peripheral connector 7, for example, on the connector adapter 8. However, this is not shown in detail.

[0033] List of reference symbols

[0034] Motor vehicle door lock housing 1 , 2

[0035] Case back 1

[0036] Housing cover 2

[0037] Opening 2a

[0038] Conductor track structure 3, 4

[0039] Lead frame 3

[0040] Plastic sealing 4

[0041] Connector pins 5

[0042] Housing connector 6

[0043] Peripheral connector 7

[0044] Connector adapter 8

[0045] Unit 2; 6, 7, 8

[0046] Peripheral mating connector 9

[0047] Peripheral cable 10

[0048] Control unit 11

Claims

Patent claims 1. Motor vehicle housing, in particular motor vehicle lock housing, preferably motor vehicle door lock housing (1, 2), for receiving a conductor track structure (3, 4), with a housing base (1) and a housing cover (2), wherein the housing cover (2) and / or the housing base (1) has at least one opening (2a) for the external electrical connection of the conductor track structure (3, 4) in the housing interior to a peripheral plug connector (7), and wherein at least one housing plug connector (6) arranged in or on the opening (2a) is provided for electrically contacting the conductor track structure (3, 4), characterized in that a plug connector adapter (8) is additionally realized, which couples the housing plug connector (6) to the peripheral plug connector (7).

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

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

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

5. Housing according to claim 4, characterized in that the stop (8) engages over or under the opening (2a).

6. Housing according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the assembly (6, 7, 8) engages with its peripheral connector (7) or its housing connector (6) in the opening (2a).

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

8. Housing according to claim 7, characterized in that the housing cover (2) and the connector adapter (8) as well as the peripheral connector (7) and the housing connector (6) define a one-piece structural unit (2; 6, 7, 8) which is designed, for example, as a plastic injection-molded part.

9. Housing according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the housing plug connector (6) is designed as a housing plug socket (6) which can be plugged onto a contact strip composed of plug pins (5) on the conductor track structure (3, 4).

10. Housing according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a peripheral mating connector (9) is designed as a peripheral plug or peripheral socket connectable to a peripheral cable (10), which can be connected to the peripheral plug connector (7) correspondingly designed as a peripheral socket or peripheral plug.

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