Textile Electrical Contact Component with Elastic Connection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solutions for electrically contacting functional elements on textiles require additional work steps like soldering or welding, which are cumbersome and not adaptable to diverse applications.

Innovation Solution

A component with connection elements that form a non-positive or positive connection with electrically conductive areas of the textile, utilizing elastic prestressing to ensure reliable contact without additional work steps, and a modular design allowing various applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If additional work steps like soldering or welding are used to connect electrical connection elements to the textile, then the electrical connection is reliable, but the manufacturing process becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connection elements are pre-configured with elastic prestress during manufacturing, so that when the component is attached to the textile, the electrical contact is automatically established without requiring additional soldering or welding operations. The elastic element is already positioned to apply force in the correct direction upon assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic connection elements automatically establish and maintain electrical contact with the conductive regions of the textile through their inherent elastic prestress. The system serves itself by using the elastic recovery force to ensure continuous contact, eliminating the need for external soldering or welding processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If traditional connection methods are used, then electrical contact can be achieved, but the process requires additional work steps and is not adaptable to diverse applications

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical contact establishmentVSAvoidadaptability to diverse applications
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The component design with elastic connection elements can be universally applied to various textiles and functional elements with different conductive region configurations. The same basic component structure works for different applications (lighting, sensing, heating) without requiring application-specific connection methods, as the elastic elements can adapt to different positions and orientations of conductive regions.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic connection elements provide dynamic adaptation to tolerances and variations in the positioning of conductive regions. The elastic prestress allows the connection elements to move within certain limits to maintain contact, making the system adaptable to diverse applications where precise positioning may vary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of manufacture

If connection elements are designed to form electrical connection through force-fitting, then no additional work steps are required, but the connection must accommodate tolerances in the arrangement of conductive regions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of assemblyVSAvoidtolerance accommodation
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic elements change their physical state (deformation) in response to tolerances and positioning variations. By utilizing elastic deformation, the connection elements can accommodate certain ranges of positioning errors while still maintaining electrical contact, thus accommodating manufacturing tolerances without requiring high precision in the arrangement of conductive regions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Enables simple, reliable, and adaptable electrical contacting of textiles with no need for soldering or welding, facilitating easy attachment and replacement, and accommodating diverse functionalities and applications.

Implementation Method 1

the electrical connection elements of the component are subjected to force under elastic prestress in the direction of the electrically conductive regions of the textile or similar

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic prestress: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4054377B1Component for bringing at least one functional element into electrical contact with a textile or the like, and assembly having a component
Publication Date: 2024.11.06 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP4054377B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2a
  • EP4054377B1 patent drawingFigure 2b~2c
  • EP4054377B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a component (10; 10a; 10b) for bringing at least one functional element (20; 20a) into electrical contact with a textile (1) or the like, the component comprising: a main body (12), which accommodates at least one electrical component (22, 48) and/or one functional element (20; 20a); and connection elements (30, 31) for electrically contacting electrically conductive regions (2, 5, 6) of the textile (1) or the like.