Electronic device

Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic device (100), in particular an inverter, in particular configured for installation on board a vehicle, the electronic device comprising: - a casing (1), - electronics (2) accommodated in the casing (1), - an electrical connector (5) in the casing (1) and connected to the electronics (2), this connector being configured for mounting with a complementary connector (35) of an external electrical module (200), in particular an external electrical module belonging to a battery system, the electrical connector comprising: o a connecting part (6) configured for mounting with the complementary connector (35), o an intermediate electrical conductor (7) establishing the electrical connection between the connecting part (6) and at least one conductor bar (8) inside the casing (1), this intermediate electrical conductor (7) comprising at least one flexible portion (934) configured to compensate for variations in clearance between the connecting part (6) and the conductor bar.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] Title: Electronic Device

[0003] [1] The invention relates in particular to an electronic device, in particular an inverter.

[0004] [2] Modern motor vehicles typically include an inverter that converts direct current (DC), usually supplied by sources such as batteries, into alternating current (AC), which is used to power the vehicle's electrical systems. At the vehicle manufacturer's facility, the inverter is assembled in a compartment where the battery's DC connection is directly connected to the inverter's DC connector using busbar-type conductors.

[0005] [3] In particular, there is a need to allow for the assembly, for example, of a high-voltage inverter in such a compartment, for example, in a blind configuration, which takes into account tolerance variations between the inverter and the fixed part, without any possibility of movement, on the customer side. Specifically, the male part of the customer connector, which is in a fixed position, must be aligned with the female part on the inverter to ensure correct installation.

[0006] [4] The invention is specifically intended to meet this need.

[0007] [5] The invention thus relates to an electronic device, in particular an inverter, specifically configured to be installed on board a vehicle, the electronic device comprising:

[0008] - a case,

[0009] - electronics housed in the casing, an electrical connector in the casing and connected to the electronics, this connector being configured to be mounted with a complementary connector of an external electrical module, in particular an external electrical module which belongs to a battery system, the electrical connector comprising: o a connection part configured to be mounted with the complementary connector, o an intermediate electrical conductor ensuring the electrical connection between the connection part and at least one conductive bar (also called "busbar" in English) inside the casing, this intermediate electrical conductor comprising at least a flexible portion configured to compensate for play dispersions between the connection part and the conductive bar.

[0010] [6] According to one aspect of the invention, the complementary connector of the external electrical module (in particular a customer connector) comprises at least one cylinder forming a male part which is mounted on the connection part of the connector according to the invention, which is of the female type.

[0011] [7] Thanks to the invention, in the case where the complementary connector of the external electrical module (in particular a customer connector) cannot move, and the two connectors which are to be plugged in, respectively male and female (or vice versa), can be centered relative to each other thanks to the intercalated electrical conductor which has the flexible portion configured to compensate for tolerance dispersions.

[0012] [8] In other words, in the invention, compensation is achieved by an intercalated electrical conductor which allows a certain flexibility, for example, between the customer connector on the inverter and the inside of the inverter.

[0013] [9] According to one aspect of the invention, the electronic device comprises two electrical connectors configured to be mounted respectively with two complementary connectors of the external electrical module, for example on one side a positive polarity and on the other side, a negative polarity of an electrical supply.

[0014]

[0010] According to one aspect of the invention, the flexible portion of the intercalated electrical conductor has a strip shape, in particular with an angled profile, for example in L or II or V.

[0015]

[0011] According to one aspect of the invention, the flexible portion of the interlayer electrical conductor is made by a stack of rolled metal strips.

[0016]

[0012] This stacking is done in the direction of the thickness of the flexible portion.

[0017]

[0013] According to one aspect of the invention, the intermediate electrical conductor is welded (or by hard brazing with the addition of a material) to a rigid bar (for example a solid copper busbar 3 mm thick) in the housing.

[0018]

[0014] According to one aspect of the invention, the electrical connector includes a guide support configured to hold and guide the interleaved electrical conductor.

[0019]

[0015] According to one aspect of the invention, the guide support comprises a cavity to house a base of the connecting part with a clearance allowing movement of the connecting part in the cavity, in particular in a plane.

[0020]

[0016] According to one aspect of the invention, the electronic device comprises two electrical connectors configured to be mounted respectively with two complementary connectors of the external electrical module, and the guide support has two cavities to retain and guide the two interleaved electrical conductors of the two electrical connectors.

[0021]

[0017] In other words, the guide support is common to two electrical connectors.

[0022]

[0018] According to one aspect of the invention, the intermediate electrical conductor comprises a rigid portion between the connecting part and the flexible portion.

[0023]

[0019] A portion of the intermediate electrical conductor that is more rigid than the flexible portion is called a "rigid portion." In other words, under mechanical stress, the flexible portion is more deformable than the rigid portion. For example, the flexible portion is made of a material that is more flexible or deformable than the rigid portion. For example, the flexible portion of the intermediate electrical conductor is made from a stack of rolled metal strips, while the rigid portion is made from a copper bar.

[0024]

[0020] According to one aspect of the invention, the guide support comprises a base on which the cavity or cavities are formed and a cover, in particular in the form of a plate, fixed on the base to close the cavity or cavities.

[0025]

[0021] According to one aspect of the invention, the base and the hood are made of plastic material.

[0026]

[0022] According to one aspect of the invention, the hood has at least one opening, in particular substantially circular, at the cavity to allow the connection part to pass through.

[0027]

[0023] According to one aspect of the invention, the cavity of the guide support and the opening of the hood are dimensioned sufficiently large to allow movement of the connecting part in the cavity, in particular in a plane parallel to a plane of the base.

[0028]

[0024] According to one aspect of the invention, the cavity of the guide support and the opening of the hood are dimensioned to block the movement in the Z axis of the flexible portion of the intermediate electrical conductor.

[0029]

[0025] In another embodiment of the invention, instead of having a blind connection assembly, one can have a connection assembly using one or more screws.

[0030]

[0026] According to one aspect of the invention, the intermediate electrical conductor includes a perforated washer to allow the passage of a screw, for example from below.

[0027] According to one aspect of the invention, the perforated washer is fixed to a base of the housing, along the X and Y axes.

[0031]

[0028] According to one aspect of the invention, the perforated washer comprises one or more locking forms, for example ears, configured to cooperate with respective slots on the base, to achieve immobilization.

[0032]

[0029] According to one aspect of the invention, the flexible portion of the interlayer electrical conductor is made of a flexible material, comprising for example a stack of laminated metal strips.

[0033]

[0030] According to one aspect of the invention, the intermediate electrical conductor is made in one piece, comprising for example a stack of rolled metal strips.

[0034]

[0031] According to one aspect of the invention, the opening of the perforated washer has an enlarged diameter for the screw so that, once passed through the perforated washer, the screw can move in the plane of the washer (i.e. in XY).

[0035]

[0032] According to one aspect of the invention, the intermediate electrical conductor, which is flexible, is configured to compensate for dispersions in the Z-axis.

[0036]

[0033] According to one aspect of the invention, the intermediate electrical conductor has an elbow, in particular at 90°, in particular between the washer and the junction with the rigid bar (for example a solid copper busbar) in the housing.

[0037]

[0034] Electrical contact is made via the screw(s).

[0038]

[0035] For example, the invention makes it possible to compensate for play dispersions during the assembly of the connectors between the inverter and the external power supply part.

[0039]

[0036] The invention further relates to an assembly comprising an electronic device as above, and an external electrical module connected to the electronic device by means of the intervening electrical conductors.

[0040]

[0037] Other features, details and advantages of the invention will become clearer upon reading the following description on the one hand, and several exemplary embodiments given by way of illustration and not limitation with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings on the other hand, in which:

[0041]

[0038] [Fig 1] Figure 1 represents very schematically and partially, in perspective, an electronic device according to an example of an embodiment of the invention;

[0042]

[0039] [Fig. 2] Figure 2 is a detailed view of the electronic device of Figure 1;

[0043]

[0040] [Fig. 3] Figure 3 represents very schematically and partially, in perspective, an electronic device according to another embodiment of the invention;

[0041] [Fig. 4] Figure 4 is a detailed view of the electronic device of Figure 3;

[0044]

[0042] [Fig. 5] Figure 5 shows some elements of the electronic device of Figure 3.

[0045]

[0043] The features, variants, and different embodiments of the invention can be combined in various ways, provided they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, variants of the invention may be conceived comprising only a selection of features, described hereafter in isolation from the other described features, if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage and / or to differentiate the invention from the prior art.

[0046]

[0044] Figure 1 shows an electronic device 100, here an inverter, configured to be mounted on board a motor vehicle.

[0047]

[0045] The electronic device 100 comprises:

[0048] - a casing 1, for example made at least partially in a foundry,

[0049] - an electronics unit 2 housed in casing 1, the electronics unit 2 comprising a plurality of electronic boards,

[0050] - two electrical connectors 5 in the housing 1 and connected to the electronics 2, these electrical connectors 5 being configured to be mounted each with a complementary connector 35 of an external electrical module 200, in particular an external electrical module which belongs to a battery system.

[0051]

[0046] Each electrical connector 5 has a connection portion 6 configured to be mounted with the complementary connector 35.

[0052]

[0047] The electrical connector 5 further includes an intermediate electrical conductor 7 providing the electrical connection between the connection part 6 and a conductive bar 8 (also called "busbar" in English) inside the housing 1.

[0053]

[0048] This intermediate electrical conductor 7 has at least one flexible portion 9 configured to compensate for play dispersions between the connecting part 6 and the conductive bar 8.

[0054]

[0049] The additional connector 35 of the external electrical module 200 (in particular a customer connector) includes at least one cylinder 36 forming a male part which is mounted on the connection part 6 of the electrical connector 5 according to the invention, which is of the female type.

[0055]

[0050] Thanks to the invention, in the case where the additional connector 35 of the external electrical module 200 cannot move, and the two connectors 5 and 35 which must be plugged in, respectively male and female, can be centered relative to each other thanks to the intermediate electrical conductor 7 which has the flexible portion 9 configured to compensate for tolerance dispersions.

[0056]

[0051] In other words, in the invention, compensation is achieved by an intercalated electrical conductor 7 which allows a certain flexibility, for example, between the customer connector on the inverter and the inside of the inverter.

[0057]

[0052] Thus the electronic device 100 includes two electrical connectors 5 configured to be mounted respectively with two complementary connectors 35 of the external electrical module 200, for example on one side a positive polarity and on the other side, a negative polarity of an electrical supply.

[0058]

[0053] The flexible portion 9 of the intercalated electrical conductor 7 has a strip-like shape, in particular with an angled profile, here in L.

[0059]

[0054] The flexible portion 9 of the intermediate electrical conductor 7 is formed by a stack of rolled metal strips. This stacking is done in the direction of the thickness of the flexible portion 9.

[0060]

[0055] Each intermediate electrical conductor 7 is welded to a rigid conductive bar 8, in particular a solid copper bar 3 mm thick, in the housing 1.

[0061]

[0056] Instead of welding, it is possible to carry out brazing, in particular of the "hard brazing" type with the addition of a brazing material.

[0062]

[0057] The intermediate electrical conductor 7 includes a slotted washer 11 to allow the passage of a screw (not shown), for example from below.

[0063]

[0058] The perforated washer 11 is immobilized on a base 12 of the housing 1, along the X and Y axes, as illustrated in Figure 2. The perforated washer 11 extends in the plane defined by the X, Y axes.

[0064]

[0059] The perforated washer 11 has several locking forms 14 (two in the example described), here ears, configured to cooperate with respective slots 15 on the base 12, to achieve immobilization.

[0065]

[0060] The flexible portion 9 of the intermediate electrical conductor 7 is made of a flexible material, comprising a stack of laminated metal strips.

[0066]

[0061] Here, the intermediate electrical conductor 7 is made in one piece, comprising a stack of rolled metal strips.

[0067]

[0062] The opening 16 in the perforated washer 11 has an enlarged diameter for the screw so that, once passed through the perforated washer 11, the screw can move in the plane of the perforated washer 11 (i.e., in the XY direction).

[0063] The intermediate electrical conductor 7 is configured to compensate for dispersions along the Z-axis (the Z-axis which, together with the X and Y axes, defines an orthonormal coordinate system).

[0068]

[0064] The intermediate electrical conductor 7 has a 90° bend 17 between the perforated washer 11 and the junction with the rigid bar 8 in the housing 1.

[0069]

[0065] Electrical contact is made via the screw(s).

[0070]

[0066] For example, the invention makes it possible to compensate for play dispersions during the assembly of the connectors between the inverter and the external power supply part.

[0071]

[0067] Here, we can have a connection assembly using one or more screws, instead of having a blind connection assembly.

[0072]

[0068] In another embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 3 to 5, the electronic device 100 comprises two electrical connectors 25 including a guide support 26 configured to retain and guide an interleaved electrical conductor 27 of each electrical connector 25.

[0073]

[0069] Each electrical connector 25 has a connection portion 30 configured to be mounted with the complementary connector 35.

[0074]

[0070] The guide support 26 has two cavities 28 to house each a base 29 of the connection part 30 with a clearance J allowing movement of the connection part 30 in the cavity 28, in particular in a plane defined by the axes X, Y.

[0075]

[0071] The guide support 26 is common to two electrical connectors 25.

[0076]

[0072] Each intermediate electrical conductor 7 has a flexible portion 34, for example with a U or V profile, configured to compensate for play dispersions between the connecting part 30 and the conductor bar 8.

[0077]

[0073] The intermediate electrical conductor 27 comprises a rigid portion 32 between the connecting portion 30 and the flexible portion 34.

[0078]

[0074] A "rigid portion" is a portion of the intermediate electrical conductor 27 that is more rigid than the flexible portion 34. In other words, when subjected to mechanical stress, the flexible portion 34 is more deformable than the rigid portion 32. For example, the flexible portion 34 is made of a material that is more flexible or deformable than the rigid portion 32. For example, the flexible portion 34 of the intermediate electrical conductor 27 is made by stacking rolled metal strips while the rigid portion 32 is made from a copper bar.

[0079]

[0075] The guide support 26 comprises a base 37 on which the cavities 28 are formed and a cover 38, in the form of a plate, fixed on the base 37 to close the cavities 28.

[0076] The base 37 and the cover 38 are made of plastic material.

[0080]

[0077] The hood 38 has at least one substantially circular opening 39 at the right of each cavity 28 to allow the connection part 30 to pass through.

[0081]

[0078] The cavity 28 of the guide support 26 and the opening 39 of the hood 38 are dimensioned sufficiently large to allow a movement of the connecting part 30 in the cavity 28, in a plane (defined by the axes X, Y) parallel to a plane of the base 37, while maintaining (trapping) the connecting part 30 in the cavity 28.

[0082]

[0079] The cavity 28 of the guide support 26 and the opening 39 of the hood are dimensioned to block the movement in the Z axis, of the flexible portion 34 of the intermediate electrical conductor 27.

Claims

9 DEMANDS [Claim 1] An electronic device (100), in particular an inverter, in particular configured to be installed on board a vehicle, the electronic device comprising: - a case (1), - an electronic (2) housed in the housing (1), an electrical connector (5; 25) in the housing (1) and connected to the electronic (2), this connector being configured to be mounted with a complementary connector (35) of an external electrical module (200), in particular an external electrical module which belongs to a battery system, the electrical connector comprising: o a connection part (6; 30) configured to be mounted with the complementary connector (35), o an intermediate electrical conductor (7; 27) ensuring the electrical connection between the connection part (6; 30) and at least one conductive bar (8) inside the housing (1), this intermediate electrical conductor (7; 27) comprising at least one flexible portion (9; 34) configured to compensate for play dispersions between the connection part (6; 30) and the conductive bar. [Claim 2] Device according to the preceding claim, wherein the electronic device comprises two electrical connectors (5; 25) configured to be mounted respectively with two complementary connectors (35) of the external electrical module, for example on one side a positive polarity and on the other side, a negative polarity of an electrical supply. [Claim 3] Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flexible portion (9; 34) of the intercalated electrical conductor has a strip-like shape, in particular with a bent profile, for example in L or U or V. [Claim 4] Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flexible portion (9; 34) of the interlayer electrical conductor is made by a stack of rolled metal strips. [Claim 5] A device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrical connector (25) comprises a guide support (26) configured to retain and guide the intermediate electrical conductor, and the guide support (26) has a cavity (28) for housing a base (29) of the connecting portion (30) with a clearance (J) allowing movement of the connecting portion (30) within the cavity, particularly in a plan. [Claim 6] Device according to the preceding claim, wherein the electronic device comprises two electrical connectors configured to be mounted respectively with two complementary connectors of the external electrical module, and the guide support (26) has two cavities (28) to retain and guide the two interleaved electrical conductors of the two electrical connectors. [Claim 7] Device according to the preceding claim, wherein the guide support (26) comprises a base (37) on which the cavity or cavities (28) are formed and a cover (38), in particular in the form of a plate, fixed to the base to close the cavity or cavities, and the cavity of the guide support (26) and the opening of the cover are dimensioned sufficiently large to allow movement of the connecting part (30) in the cavity, in particular in a plane parallel to a plane of the base. [Claim 8] Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the intermediate electrical conductor includes a perforated washer (11) to allow the passage of a screw, for example from below, the perforated washer (11) being in particular immobilized on a base of the housing (1), along the X and Y axes. [Claim 9] Device according to the preceding claim, wherein the slotted washer (11) has one or more locking forms (14), for example ears, configured to cooperate with respective slots on the base, to achieve immobilization. [Claim 10] Device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the opening of the slotted washer (11) has an enlarged diameter for the screw so that, once passed through the slotted washer (11), the screw can move in the plane of the washer. [Claim 11] Assembly comprising an electronic device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, and an external electrical module (200) connected to the electronic device using the intervening electrical conductors.

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