Rotary Electric Machine Conductive Track Coplanarity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rotary electric machines with built-in electronic drive modules face challenges in assembly operations due to the placement of conductive tracks on the opposite side of the printed circuit board, leading to complex assembly processes and tolerance issues.

Innovation Solution

Conductive tracks are positioned on the component side of the printed circuit board, with tabs and connecting elements that compensate for height differences, allowing for simplified assembly and improved tolerance matching between tracks and components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conductive tracks are placed on the opposite side of the printed circuit board, then electrical connections are established, but assembly operations become complex and tolerance issues arise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidassembly operation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The conductive tracks are inverted from the conventional placement on the opposite side of the PCB to being placed on the same side as the electronic components. This inversion eliminates the need for complex assembly operations involving flipping or routing connections through the board, while maintaining reliable electrical connections through the tab-and-seat configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of manufacture

If conductive tracks are positioned on the component side of the printed circuit board, then assembly operations are simplified, but height differences between tabs and branches must be compensated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly operation simplicityVSAvoidheight compensation mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The seat acts as an intermediary element between the tab and the branch, providing a standardized interface that absorbs height differences. The seat is configured with specific dimensional parameters that allow it to compensate for variations in tab height, ensuring proper coplanarity and electrical connection without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If tabs are housed in seats to ensure coplanarity, then assembly precision is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoplanarity precisionVSAvoidseat structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The seat is designed with optimized dimensional parameters including depth, width, and positioning coordinates that directly control the coplanarity of tabs with the PCB surface. By carefully selecting these parameters, the design achieves precise coplanarity (within acceptable tolerances) while keeping the seat structure simple and manufacturable, avoiding unnecessary complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3506466B1Rotary electric machine
Publication Date: 2021.03.10 SPAL AUTOMOTIVE
  • EP3506466B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3506466B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3506466B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A rotary electric machine comprises an electronic module (5) which comprises a printed circuit board (19) and a plurality of electronic components (6), each of which is provided with respective connecting pins (7) disposed on a component side (20) of the printed circuit board (19); the electronic module (5) comprises at least one conductive track (25) which comprises a plurality of tabs (28), each configured to be connected to a respective connecting pin (7); the conductive track (25) is positioned on the component side (20) of the printed circuit board (19); the printed circuit board (19) has at least one seat (26) configured to house at least a first tab (28a) of the tabs (28) in such a way that the top face (30) of the first tab (28a) is coplanar with the component side (20) of the printed circuit board (19).