Motor vehicle lock unit

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock unit (1) having at least one electric component carrier (10, 11) arranged in a housing (2). In addition, at least one part (12), in particular a sensor, is provided on the electric component carrier (10, 11). According to the invention, a first electric component carrier (10) and a second electric component carrier (11) are provided, which are mounted in a plane-parallel manner and one above the other in such a way that at least one electrical connecting element (15) of one electric component carrier (10) passes through an opening (16) in the other electric component carrier (11) and is brought into contact with the respective electric component carrier (11).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Motor vehicle locking unit

[0003] The invention relates to a motor vehicle lock unit with at least one electrical component carrier arranged in a housing, and with at least one component present on the electrical component carrier, in particular a sensor.

[0004] A wide variety of motor vehicle lock units with dedicated control electronics are known in practice and are used, for example, in conjunction with electric motor drives for locking or unlocking in automotive applications. The control electronics typically consist of or include one or more electronic component carriers. The electronic component carriers can also be provided in addition to the control electronics. The electronic component carriers transmit received signals, such as those from upstream sensors, to a central control unit as part of the control electronics and / or inside an associated vehicle body.

[0005] Support elements for electrically contactable components, in particular so-called electrical component supports, which, in addition to securing the electrical components, also enable the power supply of locking components in motor vehicle locks, are known, for example, from DE 10 2008 057 478 A1. The electrical component support described therein is used in this case in motor vehicle locks, in particular for doors or flaps therein. The electrical component support specifically uses a dimensionally stable wire to connect electrically contactable components to a plug. Similar electrical component supports are also known from WO 2014 / 005571, where such electrical component supports are used, in particular, for a motor vehicle with conductor tracks embedded in an electrically insulating material and electrical connections in a housing.The electrical component carrier, which can be equipped with electrical components, is used in a motor vehicle, particularly in a motor vehicle lock, to control the vehicle if necessary. To protect the electrical components from any environmental influences and thus ensure long-term functionality, the electrical component carrier is provided with a base part made of electrically insulating material and an electrical conductor track for connecting electrical components. The conductor track is completely encased in the material of the base part.

[0006] The generic prior art according to US 10047 548 B2 describes a housing arrangement for control electronics of a locking arrangement of a vehicle. The control electronics of the locking arrangement are mounted in an internal cavity, with the control electronics having a double-sided connector provided in the outer wall. The connector is equipped with a first section facing away from the outer wall outside the internal cavity and a second section facing away from the outer wall inside the internal cavity in order to connect the control electronics to an electrical system of the vehicle outside the housing arrangement.

[0007] Here, attention is paid to the housing arrangement forming an outer wall defining an inner cavity for mounting the control electronics, which serves to enclose the control electronics and prevent contact between the control electronics and environmental contamination. The housing arrangement is selected such that a plurality of conductors are also present through the outer wall, with which the control electronics are coupled to the lock components outside the inner cavity. These conductors make it possible, in the manner described, to connect the control electronics to a number of components outside the inner cavity in such a way that the components can be arranged at different levels and at different angles relative to one another.

[0008] These conductors, which are installed inside the walls, make installation somewhat difficult, and also result in a spatial separation of the control electronics and the components. Furthermore, the housing arrangement described in the prior art of this type provides for the control electronics to be positioned laterally or horizontally relative to the lock components. This spatial separation, or the resulting distance between the control electronics and the components to be controlled, results in a housing arrangement in which the control electronics have to travel in some cases inconvenient and comparatively long distances to reach the components to be controlled. This is a significant disadvantage of the prior art of this type, since it is particularly important in lock units for use in motor vehicles to connect components such as sensors to the control electronics in a space-saving and simple manner.

[0009] The invention is therefore based on the technical problem of further developing such a motor vehicle locking unit in such a way that a space-saving design is observed.

[0010] To solve this technical problem, a generic motor vehicle lock unit is characterized in that at least one first electrical component carrier and a second electrical component carrier are provided, which are mounted parallel to the plane and one above the other in such a way that at least one electrical connection element of one electrical component carrier passes through an opening in the other electrical component carrier and is or will be contacted with the respective electrical component carrier. In the context of the present invention, the plane-parallel and superimposed mounting means a procedure in which the two typically predominantly plate-shaped electrical component carriers, with their thereby defined planes, are placed parallel to one another and one above the other. As a result, the two electrical component carriers can be stacked and generally mounted without offset.

[0011] The invention advantageously works with an electrically conductive connecting element on one of the two electrical component carriers. This allows a plug-in electrical component carrier with a connected plug or plug-socket to be connected to another connecting electrical component carrier with a connected connecting element. The two or more electrical component carriers are thus mounted one above the other in a particularly space-saving manner. This is achieved according to the invention and particularly advantageously in that at least one one-sided connecting element, preferably in a right-angled arrangement relative to the connecting electrical component carrier, passes through a mostly cylindrical opening in the plug-in electrical component carrier and, during this process, contacts the electrical component carriers with one another and with the component.

[0012] Of course, it is also and just as much within the scope of the invention if such connecting elements or openings through which the connecting elements pass are present on both opposite electrical component carriers and are plugged into one another during assembly. Combinations of more than two electrical component carriers are also conceivable, in which, for example, the electrical component carrier placed in the middle has connecting elements on both sides and is accordingly contacted on both sides with other electrical component carriers. To prevent electrical short circuits between the electrical component carriers, spacers can also be used between the individual electrical component carriers. Apart from that, it is only important that the respective flat electrical component carriers at least largely overlap when viewed from above. This means that their surfaces can be of different sizes.

[0013] After the connection process between the connector electrical component carrier and the connecting electrical component carrier, or after the electrical connecting element has contacted the component, the connection points defined in this way and defined by the connecting element including the opening are sealed, in particular potted, according to the invention to protect the contacts from any environmental influences. A conventional, electrically insulating seal or potting compound can be used here.

[0014] Furthermore, the optionally multiple electrical component carriers are formed with at least one recess for the at least one component to be contacted. This recess according to the invention contributes to advantageous assembly in the form of a certain guidance of the component in this recess and / or enables the fastening or insertion of the component in this recess prior to assembly, thus ensuring successful contact during assembly. Furthermore, these recesses for the components are advantageous for the sealing process, as the sealing agent can thus be applied in a controlled manner in this recess. For this purpose, the recess can be formed as a tray, for example, integrally with a circuit board (made of plastic) of the electrical component carrier. Furthermore, the openings through which the respective connecting element penetrates can also be present in the recess.This means that when sealing the recess, not only the component but also the connecting element or connection point is sealed.

[0015] To prevent the penetration of foreign matter into the housing, and in particular into the area of ​​the control electronics, the invention provides for the control electronics to be arranged in a sub-housing within the housing, sealed by at least one seal. The control electronics comprises the two electrical component carriers, including the components located thereon. To prevent this penetration of foreign matter, electrical conductors leading from the control electronics to the outside or intended to control components located outside the sub-housing can run within the housing walls of the housing.

[0016] According to the invention, the existing component can be designed as a sensor, in particular a switch or Hall sensor, in order to detect, for example, an existing locking mechanism and its current position, such as pre-locking or main locking position, and to transmit the resulting signals to the control electronics or a control unit provided there.

[0017] The previously mentioned sub-housing containing the control electronics can also accommodate the two electrical component carriers, provided the control electronics are designed independently of the two electrical component carriers, which is a fundamental possibility. Furthermore, the sub-housing in question is hermetically sealed against any environmental influences, defining a sealed dry space. Furthermore, it has proven particularly advantageous in this context if the dry space in question can be modularly coupled to a locking mechanism in a wet space. Furthermore, in this context, the housing of the motor vehicle lock unit is designed such that it accommodates the sub-housing and the aforementioned locking mechanism within its interior.

[0018] In this way, a motor vehicle locking unit is provided which is or can be advantageously designed as a so-called electric lock, i.e. is equipped with an electric opening drive. The motor vehicle locking unit according to the invention is protected against environmental influences. This can essentially be attributed to the modular nature described above. This is because the two electrical component carriers and the control electronics are arranged in the partial housing defining a sealed, dry space. This module, i.e. a separate and independently functioning structural unit, is in turn coupled to the locking mechanism or can be coupled to it. The locking mechanism is arranged in a wet space and is in turn modular, i.e. designed as a closed and independently functioning unit. Both modules are then accommodated inside the housing.The housing usually represents a so-called lock cover, i.e. a hood that overlaps the partial housing and the locking mechanism and is typically connected to a lock plate as part of the locking mechanism.

[0019] In this way, simple assembly is ensured, a compact structure is provided and at the same time the necessary sealing against environmental influences is achieved, which has not been observed to this extent before.

[0020] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to drawings that represent only one exemplary embodiment. They show:

[0021] Fig. 1 both electrical component carriers of the inventive

[0022] Lock unit parallel to the plane and aligned one above the other before assembly,

[0023] Fig. 2A and 2B the assembled or connected two electrical component carriers as well as details and

[0024] Fig. 3A and 3B a global view of the motor vehicle lock unit according to the invention, as it is received as a whole in the housing and above a locking mechanism.

[0025] Figs. 3A and 3B show a schematic overview drawing of a motor vehicle lock unit 1 with at least one electrical component carrier 10, 11 arranged in the housing or lock housing 2, and with at least one component 12 contacted on the electrical component carrier 10, 11. Fig. 3B shows the entire motor vehicle lock unit 1, with the lock housing 2 positioned above a locking mechanism 4, and the housing 2 and the locking mechanism 4 together forming the motor vehicle lock unit 1. The locking mechanism 4, as usual, has a rotary latch and pawl, which are not shown in detail.

[0026] The locking mechanism 4 is arranged in a wet space. In contrast, a sub-housing 3, which will be described in more detail below, defines a dry space. The two electrical component carriers 10, 11 and a control electronics unit 5 are arranged in the sub-housing 3. The control electronics unit 5 can be designed independently of the two electrical component carriers 10, 11 or can also comprise or include the two electrical component carriers 10, 11.

[0027] Another crucial feature is that the locking mechanism 4 and the sub-housing 3 are each modular in design. The sub-housing 3, together with the control electronics 5 and the electrical component carriers 10, 11 located therein, and the locking mechanism 4 can be coupled together as modules. This can be done detachably or permanently. Furthermore, the design is such that the housing 2 accommodates the sub-housing 3 and the locking mechanism 4 within its interior, as can be seen in Fig. 3B.

[0028] Fig. 3A now schematically shows the lock housing 2, consisting of a lock cover 7 and the partial housing 3. The lock cover 7 contains, in particular, electrically controllable components 21 such as electric motors, switches or similar components. These are controlled by the control electronics 5, which are predominantly arranged in the partial housing 3. The control electronics 5 in the partial housing 3 has at least two or more electrical component carriers 10, 11, which are mounted one above the other. The partial housing 3 is accommodated in the lock cover 7 or in the housing or lock housing 2 as a whole. In order to mount the control electronics 5 in a particularly space-saving manner and thus advantageously for a motor vehicle lock unit, the two or more electrical component carriers 10, 11 are mounted parallel to the plane and one above the other in a top view.In detail, the procedure is such that the two electrical component carriers 10, 11 are aligned and mounted parallel to the plane and one above the other. In fact, a first electrical component carrier 10 and a further second electrical component carrier 11 are provided according to the exemplary embodiment. In principle, more than the two electrical component carriers 10, 11 can also be implemented. Assembly takes place by means of at least one electrical connecting element 15, such as a metal pin, which passes through an opening 16 in the opposite electrical component carrier 10, 11. According to the exemplary embodiment, the first electrical component carrier 10 is equipped with the connecting element 15. In contrast, the second electrical component carrier 11 has the corresponding opening 16. Of course, the procedure can also be reversed.

[0029] After the connecting element 15 or the metal pin has penetrated the relevant opening 16, the connecting element 15 is then contacted with a component 12, in particular a sensor. Furthermore, with the relevant and associated electrical component carrier 11. According to the exemplary embodiment, a connecting electrical component carrier 10 is implemented as the first electrical component carrier 10 with the connecting element 15, and a plug electrical component carrier 11 is implemented as the second electrical component carrier 11, which are contacted with one another via the connecting element 15 in question and the opening 16. As shown in Fig. 3A, in this assembly step, the connecting electrical component carrier 10 is contacted with a plug 19, thus ensuring communication between the control electronics 5 and a central control unit 6 of the vehicle. The plug 19 is in turn connected to the plug electrical component carrier 11.As shown in Fig. 3A, in this assembly step, the connecting electrical component carrier 10 is contacted with the connector 19 to ensure communication between the control electronics 5 and the vehicle's central control unit 6. The connector 19, in turn, is connected to the connector electrical component carrier 11.

[0030] To prevent possible electrical short circuits between the two electrical component carriers 10, 11, spacers can be used between the two electrical component carriers 10, 11. These can be, for example, crossbars or local widenings of the connecting element 15 or connecting pins, or spacers in the form of geometric bulges on the respective electrical component carriers 10, 11. The bulges can be formed from a plastic plate as part of the circuit board. Furthermore, damping means 24 can be implemented for covering the top.

[0031] To ensure the longevity of the control electronics 5 inside the sub-housing 3, the sub-housing 3 is protected against the ingress of foreign substances. For this purpose, a housing wall 22 of the sub-housing 3 is sealed using seals 23, and furthermore, the connection points where the connecting elements 15 penetrate the connector electrical component carrier 11 are sealed after assembly. This also helps to secure the contacted components 12 and additionally protect the contact points from contamination and / or oxidation. The same naturally also applies to additional connection points, such as the connection point between the connecting electrical component carrier 10 and the connector 19. Silicone, epoxy / polyester resins, or polymer-based solids are typically used for such seals.

[0032] The seals are advantageously locally defined by means of a recess 17. The primary function of this recess 17, however, is to guide and stabilize the component 12 during and after assembly or contacting with the electrical connecting element 15. The recess 17 can be precisely adapted to the component 12, standardized, or intentionally designed with play, e.g., for later sealing. Furthermore, the respective opening 16 for the connecting element 15 is located in the recess 17.

[0033] The aforementioned component 12 is thus firmly connected to the plug-in electrical component carrier 11 both by the recess 17 and by the seal. The same applies to the connecting element 15 on the connecting electrical component carrier 10. The component 12 is generally a switch or Hall sensor which transmits the current position of the locking mechanism 4 to the control electronics 5 and thus to the central control unit 6 of the motor vehicle as a component of the control electronics 5. According to the invention, this is done in a particularly simple and space-saving manner since the sensors are located immediately close to the locking mechanism 4, whereby additional lines from the control electronics 5 to the sensor system 12 are eliminated. This is a significant advantage of the invention, since the entire structure of the control electronics 5, including sensors 12, is space-saving and faces directly towards the locking mechanism 4, thus enabling additional connections such as, for example,B electrical cables are superfluous or not necessary.

[0034] The vertical structure of the control electronics 5 with the two electrical component carriers 10, 11 also facilitates the assembly process, shown in Fig. 1 to Fig. 2. Such a two-part assembly also facilitates the replacement of the connecting electrical component carrier 10 as well as the plug electrical component carrier 11 in the event of a defect.

[0035] Any electrical lines 20 leading from the control electronics 5 and the partial housing 3 to the outside, for example into the lock cover 7 for controlling an electric motor, run in the housing wall 22 in order to prevent the ingress of foreign bodies. The modular nature of the locking mechanism 4 located in the wet space on the one hand and of the partial housing 3 in the form of the sealed dry space on the other hand ensures that the motor vehicle lock unit according to the invention is protected overall against environmental influences. This can be attributed to the fact that the partial housing 3 can be coupled to the locking mechanism 4 and both of the aforementioned components 3, 4 are each of a modular design. Such a procedure is possible because after the coupling of the partial housing 3 to the

[0036] The components or sensors 12 protruding from the underside of the partial housing 3 can interact directly with components of the locking mechanism 4. In fact, the sensors 12 are generally designed so that they can be used to query individual positions of the locking mechanism 4, for example, the rotary latch and / or the pawl.

[0037] Since the sensors 12 are each sealed to the partial housing 3, functionality can be ensured immediately after the modular assembly of the two components 3, 4.

[0038] List of reference symbols

[0039] Motor vehicle lock unit 1

[0040] Lock housing 2

[0041] Partial housing 3

[0042] Rastwerk 4

[0043] Control electronics 5

[0044] Lock cover 7

[0045] Electrical component carriers 10, 11

[0046] Component 12

[0047] Connecting element 15

[0048] Opening 16

[0049] Recess 17

[0050] Plug 19

[0051] Ladder 20

[0052] Electric motor 21

[0053] Housing wall 22

[0054] Seal 23

[0055] Damping agent 24

Claims

Patent claims 1. Motor vehicle lock unit (1) with at least one electrical component carrier (10, 11) arranged in a housing (2), and with at least one component (12) present on the electrical component carrier (10, 11), for example a sensor, characterized in that at least a first electrical component carrier (10) and a second electrical component carrier (11) are provided, which are mounted parallel to the plane and one above the other in such a way that at least one electrical connecting element (15) of one electrical component carrier (10, 11) passes through an opening (16) in the other electrical component carrier (10, 11) and is in contact with the relevant electrical component carrier (10, 11).

2. Motor vehicle lock unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the first electrical component carrier (10) is designed as a connection and electrical component carrier (10) with the connected connecting element (15).

3. Motor vehicle lock unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second electrical component carrier (11) is designed as a plug-in electrical component carrier (11) with a connected plug or plug-in socket (9).

4. Motor vehicle lock unit according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that connection points are sealed, in particular potted, after the connection process between the two plug-in electrical component carriers (10, 11) has been completed.

5. Motor vehicle lock unit according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the at least one connecting element (15) is arranged on one side, preferably in a right-angled arrangement relative to the electrical component carrier (10, 11).

6. Motor vehicle lock unit according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a control electronics (5) is arranged in a partial housing (3) closed by means of at least one seal (23).

7. Motor vehicle lock unit according to claim 6, characterized in that in addition to the control electronics (5) at least the two electrical component carriers (10, 11) are arranged in the partial housing (3).

8. Motor vehicle lock unit according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the partial housing (3) defines a sealed dry space and can be modularly coupled to a locking mechanism (4) in a wet space.

9. Motor vehicle lock unit according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the housing (2) accommodates the partial housing (3) and the locking mechanism (4) in its interior.

10. Method for assembling a motor vehicle lock unit (1) with at least one electrical component carrier (10, 11) arranged in a housing (2), and with at least one component (12) present on the electrical component carrier (10, 11), in particular a sensor, preferably according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a first electrical component carrier (10) and a second electrical component carrier (11) are provided, which are mounted parallel to the plane and one above the other in such a way that at least one electrical connecting element (15) of an electrical component carrier (10, 11 ) passes through an opening (16) in the other electrical component carrier (10, 11 ) and is contacted with the relevant electrical component carrier (10, 11).

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