High-Current Contact Device Injection-Molded Circuit Carrier

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing high-current contact devices for motor vehicles and charging stations face challenges in design flexibility, assembly complexity, and cost-effectiveness, particularly in accommodating different geometric designs and ensuring reliable sealing and temperature monitoring.

Innovation Solution

A high-current contact device featuring a one-piece, injection-molded circuit carrier with offset portions and a reinforcing rib, incorporating a sealing sleeve for fluid-tight sealing and a thermally conductive temperature sensor, which allows for flexible geometric adaptation, reduced component count, and efficient assembly, while enabling easy data interface access and monitoring of operating parameters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple separate components are used to support data contacts and interfaces, then structural flexibility and adaptability are improved, but device complexity and assembly outlay increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegeometric design adaptabilityVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the carrier structure, data contact support, and data interface mounting into a single integrated circuit carrier component. This one-piece construction eliminates the need for multiple separate support structures while maintaining the ability to accommodate different geometric designs of contact elements, thereby reducing device complexity without sacrificing adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The circuit carrier is designed as a universal component that performs multiple functions: it mechanically supports data contacts, provides electrical connections via conductor tracks, mounts data interfaces, and adapts to various contact element geometries. This multi-functional design reduces the overall component count while maintaining design flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If contact elements with different lengths are used, then functional versatility is improved, but geometric consistency and assembly precision worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontact element design flexibilityVSAvoidgeometric alignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The carrier features locally adapted support structures for data contacts at different positions. The offset arrangement of carrier portions provides customized support geometry for each data contact location, allowing accommodation of contact elements with different lengths while maintaining precise geometric alignment through position-specific design features.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If data interface is accessed through the contact housing, then sealing reliability is improved, but ease of operation and data access worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehousing seal integrityVSAvoiddata interface accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The data interface is extracted from the housing interior and mounted on the exterior surface of the contact housing. This extraction allows the data interface to be easily accessible for connection and disconnection operations while the contact housing maintains its seal integrity for the high-current contact elements, separating the data access function from the sealed contact environment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution enables quick, cost-effective assembly and reliable operation by accommodating various geometric designs, preventing mechanical damage and corrosion, and allowing for efficient monitoring of temperature and current, thus enhancing the device's durability and performance.

Implementation Method 1

The circuit carrier is designed as an injection-moulded circuit carrier, wherein a carrier of the circuit carrier mechanically supports the first data contact and the data interface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInjection molding:

Implementation Method 2

a thermally conductive temperature sensor, which allows for flexible geometric adaptation, reduced component count, and efficient assembly, while enabling easy data interface access and monitoring of operating parameters

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

incorporating a sealing sleeve for fluid-tight sealing and a thermally conductive temperature sensor, which allows for flexible geometric adaptation, reduced component count, and efficient assembly

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSealing:

Data Source

PatentEP3930105B1High-current contact device
Publication Date: 2023.07.26 TE CONNECTIVITY GERMANY GMBH
  • EP3930105B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3930105B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3930105B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a high-current contact device (10) and to a method for producing such a high-current contact device (10), wherein the high-current contact device (10) has at least one first contact element (25) designed for transmission of electrical energy, a circuit carrier (30), at least one first data contact (40) for transmission of a data signal and at least one data interface (60), wherein the first contact element (25) reaches through the circuit carrier (30) along a mating axis (110) at a feedthrough (175), wherein a conductor track (145) of the circuit carrier (30) electrically connects the first data contact (40) to the data interface (60), wherein the circuit carrier (30) is designed as an injection-moulded circuit carrier, wherein a carrier (115) of the circuit carrier (30) mechanically supports the first data contact (40), the first contact element (25) and the data interface (60).