Electrical additional module for making contact between an electrical / electronic additional component and a circuit board of a motor vehicle lock
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/DE2026/100261
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2025-03-19
- Filing Date
- 2026-03-02
- Publication Date
- 2026-09-24
Smart Images
Figure DE2026100261_24092026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] Kiekert AG
[0002] P24015WO
[0003] 1
[0004] Description
[0005] Electrical add-on module for connecting an electrical / electronic add-on component to a circuit board of a motor vehicle lock.
[0006] The invention relates to an electrical add-on module for contacting an electrical / electronic add-on component with a circuit board of a motor vehicle lock, with several conductor tracks which can be detachably connected via respective contact points to the add-on component on the one hand and the circuit board inside a lock housing on the other.
[0007] The electrical add-on module essentially consists of several conductor tracks and the additional component. This allows the add-on component to be connected to the circuit board of the vehicle lock, or not. The conductor tracks can be detachably connected to the add-on component and the circuit board via their respective contact points. The circuit board is located inside the lock housing of the vehicle lock. Usually, the entire add-on component, along with the conductor tracks, is also located inside the lock housing, although this is not always the case.
[0008] Such electrical / electronic add-on components are typically used in conjunction with a motor vehicle lock and its lock housing, or the circuit board provided inside the lock housing, when additional functions of the motor vehicle lock are desired, which are offered optionally or not. Such functionality is described by way of example in connection with a gear drive unit in the prior art according to DE 102005053535 A1. The known gear drive unit and also an electronic plug-in module for use with the aforementioned gear drive unit serve, in particular, to adjust window panes in conjunction with a window regulator drive.
[0009] The electrical / electronic component that can be contacted in this context is, for example, an electronic component, such as the Kiekert AG product.
[0010] P24015WO
[0011] 2
[0012] Relays can take on additional functions. These additional functions include, for example, speed detection of the implemented drive.
[0013] Furthermore, it is generally known from DE 19702 205 A1 for motor vehicle locks and associated lock housings with an internally mounted circuit board to implement the circuit board, at least partially, inside a housing cover by equipping the housing cover with injected electrical conductors. In this case, a motor / gearbox unit is implemented which is in contact with conductor elements protruding from the plastic of the housing cover. In this respect, the motor / gearbox unit assumes, in a certain sense, the function of an additional component, namely serving, among other things, to implement an anti-theft device.
[0014] Such anti-theft devices are typically only installed in small numbers on vehicle locks. In contrast, basic versions of vehicle locks usually do not have an anti-theft device. Comparable optional components include, for example, a locking mechanism, a closing drive, etc. Such locking mechanisms or closing drives can be located within the lock housing, but separate installation and design are also possible.
[0015] The current state of the art, however, reaches its limits when the circuit board inside the lock housing needs to be connected to the electrical / electronic component, and at the same time, the circuit board needs to be enclosed in the lock housing in a media-tight manner. This requires different assembly processes to connect the component to the circuit board compared to when the component is not needed. In other words, differently designed conductor tracks and different soldering or welding processes are usually required, whether the basic version without the component or the enhanced version equipped with the component is used. Currently, there are no convincing solutions in the state of the art for this. Kiekert AG
[0016] P24015WO
[0017] 3
[0018] Accordingly, the invention is based on the technical problem of providing such an electrical add-on module for contacting an electrical / electronic add-on component with the circuit board of a motor vehicle lock, which enables and provides a particularly low-effort implementation of both a basic variant and the comfort variant.
[0019] To solve this technical problem, a generic electrical add-on module within the scope of the invention is characterized in that the conductor tracks are encased with an insulating material up to the contact points.
[0020] In this way, the additional module can be easily connected to the circuit board inside the lock housing, even if the circuit board is installed in a media-tight manner inside the lock housing. The insulating compound covering the conductor tracks, up to the contact points, ensures that the electrical add-on module can be optionally connected to the circuit board inside the lock housing to implement the comfort version in this example, or not used if the basic version is to be implemented. In this context, the insulating compound covering the conductor tracks, up to the contact points, ensures that the electrical / electronic add-on component in question can be optionally connected to the circuit board inside the lock housing via the electrically insulated conductor tracks, similar to a plug.In contrast, the state of the art consistently works in such a way that the conductor tracks implemented at this point for the electrical connection of the additional component to the circuit board do without additional insulation, because the coupling takes place entirely inside the lock housing.
[0021] According to the invention, such an arrangement inside the lock housing is irrelevant because the conductor tracks themselves are electrically insulated, allowing the additional component to be mounted outside the lock housing. Of course, it is also possible to place the additional component and the circuit board inside the lock housing. However, the additional component is typically located in a so-called wet area of the vehicle lock, and Kiekert AG
[0022] P24015WO
[0023] 4
[0024] This is done in conjunction with, for example, a locking mechanism consisting of a rotary latch and pawl. In contrast, the circuit board is located in the dry area, meaning it is generally housed inside the lock casing in a media-tight manner.
[0025] The additional component cannot be limited to an electric motor. This electric motor is typically used to implement an anti-theft function. In principle, the electric motor can also perform other additional functions, for example, in conjunction with the previously described support device for raising a vehicle door equipped with a vehicle lock, or for closing the vehicle lock if the vehicle lock is located on a tailgate, for instance. This is, of course, by no means a limitation.
[0026] In an advantageous design, the contact points are located at the ends of the conductor tracks. This allows the contact points to be designed particularly simply and without the need for insulating material. In practice, the conductor tracks are usually encased, except for the contact points, with potting compound (generally applied in liquid form) or, more generally, an injection-molded compound or plastic material as insulation. This can be done using a plastic injection molding process. The conductor tracks are placed in a corresponding injection mold, leaving the contact points at each end of the conductor tracks exposed. When the conductor tracks are then overmolded with plastic or insulating material, the encasement can be achieved in a single step and is particularly cost-effective.
[0027] In a further advantageous embodiment, the design is such that the contact points are detachably connected to both the additional component and the circuit board in the same mounting direction. This allows the conductor tracks, which are encased in insulating material except at the contact points, to be electrically connected to both the relevant additional component and the circuit board in a single step, similar to a plug. For this purpose, it is sufficient if the conductor tracks, including the insulating material, are similar to the one already described by Kiekert AG.
[0028] P24015WO
[0029] 5
[0030] The connector in question must be coupled to the circuit board and the additional component in the matching mounting direction.
[0031] The design typically includes at least two contact points for additional components and two contact points for the circuit board. The two contact points for the additional component electrically connect the conductive traces encased in insulating compound to the additional component. Conversely, the two contact points for the circuit board electrically connect the conductive traces encased in insulating compound to the circuit board located inside the lock housing.
[0032] In this context, the contact points of the add-on component, on the one hand, and the printed circuit board (PCB) contact points, on the other, each define a corresponding add-on component contact plane and a PCB contact plane. These two contact planes can be arranged parallel or at an angle to each other. Most often, both contact planes are arranged at an angle, and in particular at an acute angle, to each other. This ultimately depends on the installation conditions of the PCB and the add-on component, respectively.
[0033] As previously described, the circuit board inside the lock housing is usually enclosed in a media-tight manner. To ensure the necessary contact with the conductive traces encased in insulating compound, mating contact points are provided on the circuit board extending from the sealed lock housing and connecting to the circuit board inside the lock housing. This means that the mating contact points on the circuit board are located at least partially outside the sealed lock housing and consequently also outside the previously mentioned dry zone. These mating contact points on the circuit board each provide contact with the circuit board enclosed inside the lock housing; they are therefore extended into the interior of the lock housing and connected to the circuit board.For this purpose, the circuit board counter-contact points are usually included in the manufacturing process of the lock housing and are mostly connected to a corresponding lock cover or lock housing cover or lock housing or lock housing base by a plastic injection molding process, so that the desired Kiekert AG.
[0034] P24015WO
[0035] 6
[0036] Media tightness is achieved. In other words, the circuit board counter-contact points are inserted into the lock housing or lock cover during the manufacturing process and overmolded with the plastic of the respective lock cover or lock housing.
[0037] The PCB mating contact points are usually PCB mating contact pads. These PCB mating contact pads can be detachably connected to PCB insulation displacement contacts (IDCs) as PCB contact points for the conductor tracks. This means that the conductor tracks, encased in insulating compound, are detachably plugged onto the PCB mating contact pads using their IDCs. This results in contact between the conductor tracks and the circuit board inside the lock housing.
[0038] The contact points for additional components are typically designed as contact bridges on the conductor tracks. These contact bridges engage detachably with mating contact pockets. Such mating contact pockets are commonly used for typical additional components, such as an electric motor. This eliminates the need for any modifications, allowing the use of conventional additional components and their contacts.
[0039] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle lock equipped with a lock housing and a circuit board arranged inside the lock housing. This motor vehicle lock is equipped, or can be equipped, with the previously described electrical add-on module. This allows the motor vehicle lock to be offered, implemented, and manufactured in both the basic version already described and the comfort version.
[0040] Switching from the basic to the comfort version is particularly simple and requires minimal effort. This simply involves connecting the conductive traces, which are encased in insulating material except at the contact points, to the additional component on one side and to the circuit board, which is enclosed inside the lock housing in a media-tight manner, on the other. This is done by Kiekert AG.
[0041] P24015WO
[0042] 7
[0043] Typically in one single and consistent mounting direction, it can therefore be carried out in a particularly simple, functional and cost-effective manner.
[0044] Furthermore, this design allows the additional component to be housed in the wet area of the vehicle lock. The conductive traces encased in insulating material establish the electrical connection – similar to a plug – between the component in the wet area and the circuit board in the media-tight lock housing, as well as the dry area. This is achieved in a modular fashion, meaning the comfort version can be implemented either as a starting point for the basic version or not. These are the key advantages.
[0045] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing that illustrates only one embodiment; the drawing shows:
[0046] Figure 1 schematically shows a motor vehicle lock according to the invention with an additional electrical module for contacting an electrical / electronic component.
[0047] Figure 2 shows a section of the object shown in Figure 1.
[0048] Figure 3 shows the object from Figure 2 in a partial view and
[0049] Figure 4 shows the conductor tracks including insulating material in individual views.
[0050] The figures show an electrical add-on module for connecting an electrical / electronic add-on component 1 to a circuit board 2 of a motor vehicle lock or motor vehicle door lock. Figure 1 shows an overview of the motor vehicle lock, partially in the open position.
[0051] It can be seen that the motor vehicle lock first of all has a lock housing 3, which in the exemplary embodiment is at least partially Kiekert AG
[0052] P24015WO
[0053] 8
[0054] The circuit board 2 is housed inside. According to the exemplary embodiment and as shown in Figure 3, the lock housing 3 is equipped for this purpose with a lower lock housing part 3a and a lock housing cover 3b, which at least seal and enclose the circuit board 2, indicated in Figures 2 and 3 respectively and located inside the lock housing 3, in a media-tight manner. The lower lock housing part 3a and the lock housing cover 3b are sealed against water and dust, for example, by means of an intermediate gasket. Alternatively, the lower lock housing part 3a and the lock housing cover 3b can be welded together using plastic.
[0055] In either case, the circuit board 2 is enclosed inside the lock housing 3 in a media-tight manner, and it can be seen that so-called circuit board mating contacts 4 extend outwards from the sealed lock housing 3. As shown in Figure 3, the circuit board mating contacts 4 are embedded in the lower part 3a of the lock housing, are overmolded with plastic during manufacturing, for example, and their rectangular shape ensures that they are electrically connected to the circuit board 2 via solder pads that extend through it.
[0056] In this exemplary embodiment, and without limitation, the electrical / electronic component 1 is an electric motor 1, which forms part of an optional anti-theft device. That is to say, the illustrated vehicle lock is optionally equipped with the anti-theft device in question as a comfort version or comfort variant, or it omits this anti-theft device and thus also the electric motor 1 if only a basic version of the vehicle lock is to be implemented.
[0057] The electrical / electronic add-on component 1 or the electric motor 1, in conjunction with several conductor tracks 5, which, according to the invention, are also encased with an insulating material 7 except for contact points 6a, 6b, define the add-on module as a whole. The conductor tracks 5 can now be detachably connected to the add-on component or electric motor 1 and Kiekert AG by means of the respective contact points 6a, 6b.
[0058] P24015WO
[0059] 9
[0060] on the other hand, it is connected to the circuit board 2 inside the lock housing 3.
[0061] As can be seen in Figure 3, the conductor tracks 5 are encased in insulating compound 7, except for the contact points 6a and 6b. Consequently, the conductor tracks 5, together with the insulating compound 7, form a kind of "plug" that can be detachably connected via contact points 6a and 6b to both the additional component or electric motor 1 and the circuit board 2 inside the lock housing 3. For this purpose, the contact points 6a and 6b are located at the ends of the conductor tracks 5 and are free of insulating compound 7. Figure 3 clearly shows that the contact points 6a and 6b are detachably connected to both the additional component or electric motor 1 and the circuit board 2 in the same mounting direction M shown in Figure 3. This clearly demonstrates the "plug function" of the conductor tracks 5, including the insulating compound 7.Furthermore, it can be seen that at least two printed circuit board contact points 6a and two additional component contact points 6b are realized and implemented.
[0062] Figure 3 further illustrates that the printed circuit board contact points 6a define a printed circuit board contact plane LKE, while the additional component contact point 6b spans an additional component contact plane ZKE. In this embodiment, both contact planes LKE and ZKE are arranged at an angle to each other, and in particular at an acute angle. This results in the two planes forming an acute angle α.
[0063] As already explained, the circuit board 2 is enclosed in a media-tight manner inside the lock housing 3 and is electrically connected to the conductor tracks 5 outside the lock housing 3 via the circuit board mating contacts 4. In this exemplary embodiment, the circuit board mating contacts 4 are circuit board mating contact bridges 4. These circuit board mating contact bridges 4 are detachably connected to the circuit board contact points 6a of the conductor tracks 5. In this exemplary embodiment, the circuit board contact points 6a are circuit board cutting edge contacts 6a. Kiekert AG
[0064] P24015WO
[0065] 10
[0066] In contrast, the additional component contact points 6b are designed as additional component contact bridges 6b of the conductor tracks 5. With the help of these additional component contact bridges 6b, the conductor tracks 5 or the "plug" implemented at this point engage in additional component mating contact pockets 8, which, according to the exemplary embodiment, are provided and implemented as an additional component 1 on the electric motor 1.
[0067] In the exemplary embodiment, the lock housing 3, and in particular its interior with the lower part 3a, the cover 3b, and the circuit board 2 enclosed within it in a media-tight manner, define a so-called dry area of the vehicle lock. In addition to this dry area, and separate from it, a wet area is also provided, in which the additional component or electric motor 1 is located. Typically, a locking mechanism consisting of a rotary latch and a pawl is also provided in the wet area, neither of which are shown (see also Fig. 1).
[0068] According to the exemplary embodiment, an anti-theft function or anti-theft device is implemented using the additional component or electric motor 1. This function may be designed in detail such that, with its help, a clutch lever 9, indicated only in Figure 1, engages or disengages a clutched and disengaged position with respect to an actuating lever chain towards the locking mechanism.
[0069] In addition, the supplementary component 1 can also be a support device that can be optionally combined with the illustrated vehicle lock, with the aid of which a door leaf 10 carrying the vehicle lock is positioned relative to a vehicle body (not shown). Alternatively or additionally, the supplementary component 1 can also be an optional closing device with the aid of which the locking mechanism (not shown) is moved electrically from its pre-locking position to a main locking position. Kiekert AG
[0070] P24015WO
[0071] 11
[0072] Reference symbol list
[0073] 1 electrical / electronic accessory component, electric motor
[0074] 2 circuit boards
[0075] 3 lock housings
[0076] 3a Lower part of the lock housing
[0077] 3b Lock housing cover
[0078] 4 PCB back-end contact points, PCB back-end contact bridges 5 Conductor track
[0079] 6a Contact point, printed circuit board contact point, printed circuit board insulation displacement / clamping contact
[0080] 6b Contact point, additional component contact point
[0081] 7 Insulating compound
[0082] 8 Additional component counter contact pocket
[0083] 9 clutch levers
[0084] 10 door leaves
[0085] M Mounting direction
[0086] LKE printed circuit board contact level
[0087] ZKE Additional Component Contact Level
[0088] a acute angle
Claims
Kiekert AG P24015WO 12 Patent claims 1. Electrical add-on module for contacting an electrical / electronic add-on component (1) with a circuit board (2) of a motor vehicle lock, with several conductor tracks (5) which can be detachably connected via respective contact points (6a, 6b) to the add-on component (1) on the one hand and the circuit board (2) inside a lock housing (3) on the other hand, characterized by the fact that the conductor tracks (5) are covered with an insulating compound (7) except for the contact points (6a, 6b).
2. Additional module according to claim 1, characterized in that the contact points (6a, 6b) are provided at the ends of the conductor tracks (5) and are free of the insulating material (7).
3. Additional module according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the contact points (6a, 6b) are detachably connected in the same mounting direction (M) to both the additional component (1) and the circuit board (2).
4. Additional module according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a total of at least two printed circuit board contact points (6a) and two additional component contact points (6b) are provided.
5. Additional module according to claim 4, characterized in that the printed circuit board contact points (6a) and the additional component contact points (6b) each define a printed circuit board contacting level (PCB) and an additional component contacting level (AC).
6. Additional module according to claim 5, characterized in that both contact planes (LKE, ZKE) are angular, in particular acute-angled (a), to each other. Kiekert AG P24015WO 13 7. Additional module according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the circuit board (2) is received inside the lock housing (3) in a media-tight manner and is equipped with circuit board counter-contact points (4) extending out of the sealed lock housing (3).
8. Additional module according to claim 7, characterized in that the printed circuit board counter-contact points (4) are designed as printed circuit board counter-contact bridges (4) which are detachably contacted with printed circuit board cutting edge contacts (6a) as printed circuit board contact points (6a) of the conductor tracks (5).
9. Additional module according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the additional component contact points (6b) as additional component contact bridges (6b) of the conductor tracks (5) detachably engage in additional component counter-contact pockets (8) of the additional component (1).
10. Motor vehicle lock, comprising a lock housing (3) and a circuit board (2) arranged inside the lock housing (3), characterized by an electrical add-on module according to one of claims 1 to 9.