Printed circuit board system
The printed circuit board system uses a third PCB unit to bridge and connect first and second units, addressing the inefficiencies of traditional connectors by reducing costs and time, enhancing flexibility and vibration compensation, and enabling additional circuit integration.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/EP2025/063783
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2024-05-23
- Filing Date
- 2025-05-20
- Publication Date
- 2025-11-27
AI Technical Summary
Existing PCB connectors in vehicles are costly and time-consuming to produce, and there is a need for more efficient and flexible connection methods that can accommodate increasing electronic functions while reducing weight and development time.
A printed circuit board system that eliminates traditional PCB connectors by using a third PCB unit to bridge and connect first and second PCB units, allowing for flexible and cost-effective adaptations, with the third unit acting as a mechanical support and signal conductor.
This approach reduces production costs and time, enables flexible integration of additional circuit elements, and enhances vibration compensation, while providing an electrical connection and additional surface area for functional components.
Smart Images
Figure EP2025063783_27112025_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] Description
[0002] title
[0003] Printed circuit board system
[0004] State of the art
[0005] The present invention relates to a printed circuit board system and a vehicle.
[0006] Currently, a wide variety of solutions exist for contacting printed circuit boards (PCBs) in the automotive sector. Due to the increasing number of electronic and signal processing functions of PCB units in vehicles and the rising quality requirements, the need for innovative and robust contacting methods for PCB units is constantly growing.
[0007] The continuous reduction of weight in the vehicle sector to reduce fuel consumption, as well as increasing competition, is causing cost pressure, leading to a greater demand for cheaper and more efficient vehicle components.
[0008] Disclosure of the invention
[0009] The printed circuit board system according to the invention, with the features of claim 1, has the advantage over known systems that typical PCB connectors, B2B connectors in the PCB system, can be omitted, and additional areas on the PCBs are made available. This allows, in particular, PCB connections that can be adapted cost-effectively and flexibly using the third PCB unit. Furthermore, development times can be reduced and the associated costs lowered, since the lead times and the costs for tooling to form the PCB connectors are eliminated. A further advantage arises from the fact that the coefficients of thermal expansion of the PCB units to be connected are essentially the same.Another advantage can be that the printed circuit board units, especially the third printed circuit board unit which connects the first printed circuit board unit to the second printed circuit board unit, can form a mechanical support through the toothed contact in order to better compensate for vibrations of the printed circuit board system.
[0010] According to the invention, this is achieved by the printed circuit board system comprising a first printed circuit board unit and a second printed circuit board unit, wherein the first printed circuit board unit and the second printed circuit board unit are arranged at a predetermined distance from each other, wherein the printed circuit board system comprises a third printed circuit board unit which is configured to form a first signal and / or energy-conducting connection with the first printed circuit board unit and is configured to form a second signal and / or energy-conducting connection with the second printed circuit board unit, wherein the third printed circuit board unit is configured to bridge the predetermined distance between the first printed circuit board unit and the second printed circuit board unit, so that the first printed circuit board unit is connected to the second printed circuit board unit in a signal and / or energy-conducting manner.
[0011] In other words, a PCB connector can be eliminated by having a third PCB unit take over its functions and form a connection between the first and second PCB units. This allows, in particular, an electrical connection between two or more PCB units, with the additional integration of circuit elements.
[0012] The dependent claims describe preferred embodiments of the invention.
[0013] Preferably, the third printed circuit board unit is arranged essentially orthogonally to the first printed circuit board unit and / or the second printed circuit board unit.
[0014] One advantage of this embodiment is that the third printed circuit board unit can act as a support between the first printed circuit board unit and the second printed circuit board unit, thereby minimizing the load on the third printed circuit board unit.
[0015] Preferably, the first printed circuit board unit and / or the second printed circuit board unit has at least one recess, wherein the third printed circuit board unit has at least one feature, the feature being configured to engage in the recess to form the first signal and / or energy-conducting connection and / or the second signal and / or energy-conducting connection.
[0016] An advantage of this embodiment is that the connections can be formed by inserting the third printed circuit board unit into the first and / or the second printed circuit board unit, thus eliminating additional assembly steps such as soldering and / or gluing. In other words, the third printed circuit board unit can have one or more teeth that can engage with the first and / or the second printed circuit board unit, since the latter, in particular, has a corresponding number of recesses.
[0017] Further preferably, the first printed circuit board unit and / or the second printed circuit board unit has a second recess, wherein the third printed circuit board unit has a second feature, wherein the second feature is configured to engage in the second recess, wherein a first potential of the recess and the feature differs from a second potential of the second recess and the second feature.
[0018] One advantage of this embodiment is that signals can be transmitted, particularly with the third circuit board unit, thus enabling signal transmission in addition to energy transmission.
[0019] Preferably, the third printed circuit board unit is fixed to the first and / or second printed circuit board unit by means of a clamping, press-fit, and / or soldering connection. An advantage of this embodiment is that any assembly sequences can be designed more flexibly, since, for example, the third printed circuit board unit can be applied to the first printed circuit board unit by means of a press-fit connection, and then the third printed circuit board unit can subsequently be connected to the second and first printed circuit board units.
[0020] Preferably, the third printed circuit board unit has the feature and / or the second feature on a first side which faces the first printed circuit board unit, wherein the printed circuit board unit has a second side which faces away from the first side, wherein the second side is arranged on the second printed circuit board unit by means of the clamping, pressing and / or soldering connection.
[0021] One advantage of this embodiment is that the third printed circuit board unit can be fixed to the first printed circuit board unit by means of the design, and then the second printed circuit board unit can be plugged onto the third printed circuit board unit, for example to form a press connection.
[0022] Preferably, the third printed circuit board unit has a functional element, wherein the functional element is configured to perform a function on the first printed circuit board unit, the second printed circuit board unit and / or the third printed circuit board unit.
[0023] One advantage of this embodiment is that an additional surface area on printed circuit boards can be created by means of the third printed circuit board unit, in order to accommodate further functional elements, such as switches or similar.
[0024] Preferably, the function is current measurement and / or signal processing.
[0025] An advantage of this embodiment is that fault finding in the printed circuit board system can be simplified, since the third printed circuit board unit acts as an interface between the first and second printed circuit board units, so that signal transmission between these two can indicate a defect in the other. More preferably, the third printed circuit board unit has a plurality of layers, wherein at least one layer of the plurality of layers has a copper trace configured to form at least part of the first signal and / or power-conducting connection and / or the second signal and / or power-conducting connection.
[0026] One advantage of this embodiment is that the conductor track can extend into the third printed circuit board unit, thus enabling direct contact between the third printed circuit board unit and the first printed circuit board unit and / or the second printed circuit board unit.
[0027] Another aspect of the invention relates to a vehicle which has a printed circuit board system as described above and below. Brief description of the drawings
[0028] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawing shows:
[0029] Figures 1 to 6 show a printed circuit board system according to one embodiment,
[0030] Figure 7 shows a vehicle according to one embodiment.
[0031] Embodiments of the invention
[0032] Preferably, all identical elements, units and / or steps in all figures are labelled with the same reference symbols.
[0033] Figure 1 shows a printed circuit board system 10 according to one embodiment. The printed circuit board system 10 comprises a first printed circuit board unit 12 and a second printed circuit board unit 14, wherein the first printed circuit board unit 12 and the second printed circuit board unit 14 are arranged at a predetermined distance 16 from each other, wherein the printed circuit board system 10 comprises a third printed circuit board unit 18, which is configured to form a first signal and / or energy-conducting connection with the first printed circuit board unit 12 and is configured to form a second signal and / or energy-conducting connection with the second printed circuit board unit 14, wherein the third printed circuit board unit 18 is configured to bridge the predetermined distance 16 between the first printed circuit board unit 12 and the second printed circuit board unit 14, so that the first printed circuit board unit 12 is connected to the second printed circuit board unit 14 in a signal and / or energy-conducting manner.
[0034] As can be seen in Figure 1, the third printed circuit board unit 18 has a feature 22. The second printed circuit board unit 14 preferably has a recess 20. The feature 22 can engage in the recess 20, thus enabling the third printed circuit board unit 18 to be attached to the second printed circuit board unit 14. More preferably, the third printed circuit board unit 18 can be attached to the first printed circuit board unit 12 by means of a clamping, pressing, and / or soldering connection 28; preferably, the clamping, pressing, and / or soldering connection 28 can be formed by means of a clamp or similar device, as shown in Figure 1.
[0035] Figure 2 shows a printed circuit board system 10 according to one embodiment. The printed circuit board system 10 comprises a first printed circuit board unit 12 and a second printed circuit board unit 14, with the third printed circuit board unit 18 arranged between the first printed circuit board unit 12 and the second printed circuit board unit 14. Preferably, the third printed circuit board unit 18 has a functional element 34 to enable a function, such as current measurement or the like, to be performed on the third printed circuit board unit 18. Preferably, the first printed circuit board unit 12 can have a bore 29 in which the clamping, pressing, and / or soldering connection 28 secures the third printed circuit board unit 18, at least partially. Preferably, the third printed circuit board unit 18 can have a feature 22 which engages in a recess 20 of the second printed circuit board unit 14.Thus, the third printed circuit board unit 18 can be inserted into the second printed circuit board unit 14 on a first side 30 by means of the feature 22, whereby a clamping, pressing and / or soldering connection secures the third printed circuit board unit 18 to the first printed circuit board unit 12 on a second side 32 of the third printed circuit board unit 18.
[0036] Figure 3 shows a printed circuit board system 10 according to one embodiment. The printed circuit board system comprises a first printed circuit board unit 12, to which a third printed circuit board unit 18 is arranged. The third printed circuit board unit 18 has a first feature 22 and a second feature 26, which each engage in a recess 20 and a second recess 24, respectively, to secure the third printed circuit board unit 18 to the first printed circuit board unit 12. Preferably, the third printed circuit board unit 18 can also have a feature 22 and a further feature 26 on an opposite side. Preferably, a potential between the recess 20 and the feature 22 can differ from a second potential between the second feature 26 and the second recess 24, in order to form a signal connection, in particular.
[0037] Figure 4 shows a printed circuit board system according to one embodiment. The printed circuit board system comprises a first printed circuit board unit 12, on which the third printed circuit board unit 18 is arranged. The third printed circuit board unit 18 has a feature 22 and a second feature 26, which engages in a recess 20 and a second recess 24 of the first printed circuit board unit 12. Preferably, the third printed circuit board unit can have a plurality of features, which can engage in a plurality of recesses of the first printed circuit board unit.
[0038] Figure 5 shows a printed circuit board system 10 according to one embodiment. The printed circuit board system 10 has a third printed circuit board unit 18. As shown in Figure 5, the third printed circuit board unit 18 has a first feature 22 and a second feature 26 on both sides. Preferably, the third printed circuit board unit 18 can have a plurality of features 27.
[0039] Figure 6 shows a printed circuit board system 10 according to one embodiment. The printed circuit board system comprises a third printed circuit board unit 18, in particular with a plurality of layers. Preferably, one of the layers of the plurality of layers can be a copper trace 36.
[0040] Figure 7 shows a vehicle 100 according to one embodiment. The vehicle 100 preferably has a printed circuit board system 10, as described above and below.
Claims
Claims 1. Circuit board system (10) comprising: - a first printed circuit board unit (12) and a second printed circuit board unit (14), wherein the first printed circuit board unit (12) and the second printed circuit board unit (14) are arranged at a predetermined distance (16) from each other, wherein the printed circuit board system (10) has a third printed circuit board unit (18) which is configured to form a first signal and / or energy-conducting connection with the first printed circuit board unit (12) and is configured to form a second signal and / or energy-conducting connection with the second printed circuit board unit (14), wherein the third printed circuit board unit (18) is configured to bridge the predetermined distance (16) between the first printed circuit board unit (12) and the second printed circuit board unit (14) so that the first printed circuit board unit (12) is connected to the second printed circuit board unit (14) in a signal and / or energy-conducting manner.
2. Printed circuit board system (10) according to claim 1, wherein the third printed circuit board unit (18) is arranged substantially orthogonally to the first printed circuit board unit (12) and / or the second printed circuit board unit (14).
3. Printed circuit board system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first printed circuit board unit (12) and / or the second printed circuit board unit (14) has at least one recess (20), wherein the third printed circuit board unit (18) has at least one feature (22), wherein the feature (22) is configured to engage in the recess (20) to form the first signal and / or energy-conducting connection and / or the second signal and / or energy-conducting connection.
4. Printed circuit board system (10) according to claim 3, wherein the first printed circuit board unit (12) and / or the second printed circuit board unit (14) has a second recess (24), wherein the third printed circuit board unit (18) a second feature (26) wherein the second feature (26) is configured to engage in the second recess (24), wherein a first potential of the recess (20) and the feature (22) differs from a second potential of the second recess (24) and the second feature (26).
5. Printed circuit board system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the third printed circuit board unit (18) is fixed to the first printed circuit board unit (12) and / or the second printed circuit board unit (14) by means of a clamping, pressing and / or soldering connection (28).
6. Printed circuit board system (10) according to one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the third printed circuit board unit (18) has the feature (22) and / or the second feature (26) on a first side (30) which faces the first printed circuit board unit (12), wherein the printed circuit board unit (18) has a second side (32) which faces away from the first side (30), wherein the second side (32) is arranged on the second printed circuit board unit (14) by means of the clamping, pressing and / or soldering connection (28).
7. Printed circuit board system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the third printed circuit board unit (18) has a functional element (34), wherein the functional element (34) is configured to perform a function on the first printed circuit board unit (12), the second printed circuit board unit (14) and / or the third printed circuit board unit (18).
8. Printed circuit board system (10) according to claim 7, wherein the function is current measurement and / or signal processing.
9. Printed circuit board system (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the third printed circuit board unit (18) has a plurality of layers, wherein at least one layer of the plurality of layers has a copper trace (36) which is configured to form at least partially the first signal and / or energy-conducting connection and / or the second signal and / or energy-conducting connection.
10. Vehicle (100) comprising a printed circuit board system (10) according to one of the preceding claims.
Citation Information
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