DE102006006554A1 - Housing structure for electronic unit, has line units, which are separately provided in housing wall, passing through from multiple passage openings in each case, where plug contacts are formed as contact pins - Google Patents

Abstract

The housing structure (10) has line units (24), which are separately provided in the housing wall (12), passing through from multiple passage openings (28) in each case. Plug contacts (22) are provided, which are formed as contact pins. The passage openings provided in the housing wall has a circular cross section in each case. The line units are formed as linear running end sections in its area passing through the housing wall. The line units are provided with electrical insulation in their area passing through the housing wall. An independent claim is also included for a method for the formation of the housing structure for electronic unit, which involves providing an electrically conducting housing wall with multiple passage openings, which are adjacent to each other.

Description

The The invention relates to a housing structure according to The preamble of claim 1 and a method of formation such a housing structure.

It is known that an electrically conductive, so z. B. of metal manufactured housing structure the so-called EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) of the relevant equipment significantly improved. unwanted Radiated are shielded by such a structure, be it one by external sources outside of the housing caused interference or one inside the case, so from the device concerned self-generated interference radiation.

The EMC problematic is particularly serious in practice, if the device a sophisticated data processing is used (eg, a computer system represents) and / or the device is operated in an installation environment in which numerous other electronic devices are as z. B. in the field of automotive electronics of Case is.

Around the device to supply with electrical energy and / or an electrical Signal or data exchange to enable with external facilities are electrical Connecting devices such as connectors (eg connection sockets) on the housing wall arranged. Such a connector is usually at a recess of housing wall engaging in the recess or passing through the recess arranged.

Because of the manufacturing tolerances, this is practically necessary, the Recess of the housing wall to measure a little bigger as it corresponds to the contour of the connector. Therefore remains in the known housing structures always a more or less big one Edge gap between the recess edge and arranged in the region of the recess Connecting device (connector).

Depending on the type of interference occurring in practice, the Connecting devices as such and their marginal gaps to the housing out the quality of Significant impairment of shielding. There are inevitably "shielding gaps". In particular, it deteriorates the EMC for electromagnetic radiation of a particularly high frequency.

It An object of the present invention is the shielding effect a housing structure of to improve the type mentioned above.

These Task is solved through a housing structure with the features of claim 1 and a method of formation a housing structure with the features of claim 8. The dependent claims relate to advantageous developments of the invention.

With The invention makes it possible in a simple manner, the extent of the aforementioned shield gaps in Significantly reduce the range of connectors and thus the Significantly improve the shielding effect of the forest.

If it is the device in question is a computer system, so the invention is particular advantageous for Connection devices can be used, via which data signals from Computer system to external devices (and / or vice versa) transferred become.

In a preferred embodiment becomes the case structure for a Computer system used. The computer system is according to a preferred embodiment around a so-called "Car PC "for installation is provided in a motor vehicle and z. Eg on-board computer, multimedia and communication functionalities for the Can provide vehicle. In this case, the connector can For example, a connection socket for connecting a corresponding Mating connector of a connection cable or wiring harness of the motor vehicle electronics represent.

The can be used in a conventional manner for connecting the device in question to external Serve facilities, be it z. B. for power or for Data exchange. The basic structure of such connectors (eg, bushings or the like) is well known to those skilled in the art and therefore needs no closer here Explanation.

Especially when in operation over led the connector Signal itself a source of interference represents or there is a risk that this signal due to interference impaired is, it is advantageous if the connector is an electrical conductive cladding or encapsulation (eg, a metallic connector housing).

In one embodiment it is provided that the connector at least three, in particular z. B. has at least ten plug contacts. Such a plurality of plug contacts may be arranged in a conventional manner in a matrix arrangement according to a common connector standard, wherein the individual plug contacts of the connector with mating plug contacts one of the housing outside connected mating connector can be electrically connected.

The Plug contacts can be designed as contact pins or contact tongues, which cooperate with corresponding contact elements such as plug-in receptacles of a matching mating connector are provided. Also, the Plug contacts be formed sleeve-like, with pin-like Counteract mating contacts of the matching mating connector.

In many cases is it an advantage (eg for a Production of the passage openings by drilling, but also for the intended shielding effect), if in the housing wall provided passage openings each have a substantially circular cross-section. Of course you can too other cross sections chosen (eg in adaptation to the sections of pipeline the z. B. can be realized by laser or punching. All in general, it is preferable if (viewed in the circumferential direction) the opening edge has a uniform distance from the line section.

The electrical conduction elements, which the connection between the Connector and the housing interior serve, can each electrically connected to at least one of the plug contacts be. Alternatively or in addition can be provided that the plug contacts each with electrically at least one of the conduit elements are connected. A very simple one Case is a 1: 1 assignment such that each plug contact exactly a line element associated with (is connected to), and in particular In this case, it can be provided that the plug contact one piece continues to the line element, which into the housing interior and finally leads to the accommodated there circuitry.

The Assignment of the line elements to the plug contacts may vary depending on Application also with the interposition of any electronic device which is integrated in the relevant connector (eg. B. for signal matching, filtering, etc.).

In a preferred embodiment the line elements are at least in their housing wall passing through area as rectilinear pen sections formed, whose cross-section z. B. round or polygonal (z. B. rectangular) can be.

What a possibly between the line elements and the plug contacts intended electrical circuit arrangement or connection electronics As far as the formation of this electronics z. B. a circuit board from conventional Art be used, in which case advantageous to the finished housing structure accessible from the exterior of the housing connector housing along with its plug contacts attached to this circuit board can be. If this attachment is similar to a conventional one PCB assembly done on a circuit board flat side, so can on the opposite Flat side which provided for enforcing the housing wall plurality be mounted by electrical line elements, in particular as orthogonally extending from the circuit board pin arrangement. This arrangement of the line elements then corresponds to the arrangement the passages in the housing wall.

The Contacting of the line elements in the interior of the housing structure can in a simple way z. B. by a completely arranged inside the housing further Connectors made the z. B. as a component on a housing inside Circuit board is applied and for receiving the out of the housing wall inside the housing protruding pipe elements is used.

For a special good shielding effect of the housing structure the passages should not much larger than the cross section of the inserted Be line elements.

Around in this case, the risk of a short circuit between a line element and the housing wall can eliminate the conduit elements at least in their the housing wall passing through area be provided with an electrical insulation.

A such isolation can z. B. by a surface treatment or coating or sheathing of the individual conduit element can be realized. A sheath can z. B. as a simple sleeve of electrically insulating Material (eg: plastic, ferrite, etc.) may be formed, which via a pin-shaped conduit element is pushed.

In a preferred development of this isolation method, it is provided that a shaped body (for example a plastic injection-molded part or a pressed ferrite body) provides the insulation for a plurality of the passage openings, in particular z. B. provides all passages. The common use of such an insulating body simplifies the assembly of the housing structure considerably. The insulating body can, for. B. are pushed onto an array of line elements before this line elements is introduced from the outside of the housing forth in the plurality of passage openings. Alternatively, an insulating body first at the Housing wall are arranged so that the passage openings are isolated to then push the plurality of line elements through the already isolated through openings.

The Invention will now be described with reference to embodiments with reference on the attached Drawings further described. Put it (partially schematized) represents:

1 is a perspective view of a housing structure according to a first embodiment, viewed from the housing interior,

2 is a perspective view of the housing structure of 1 but viewed from the outside,

3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III in 2 .

4 is a perspective view of a housing wall assembly according to a second embodiment,

5 is a perspective view of a connector for use in one of in 4 shown housing walls, and

6 is a sectional view of the housing structure according to the second embodiment in the assembled state.

1 shows a housing structure 10 a mobile computer system, namely a so-called "Car PC" for providing various on-board computer, multimedia and communication functionalities in a motor vehicle.

A housing wall 12 forms together with other, connected via plug and / or screw connections housing walls a total approximately cuboid housing. Of the other, each substantially rectangular housing walls is in 1 only one at a right angle to the housing wall 12 subsequent housing wall 13 located.

The cuboid casing can, for example, external dimensions have their installation in standardized receiving slots of a Allow motor vehicle. Especially in this installation environment is a good EMC often a mandatory requirement with the described shielding arrangement can be met.

In the area of the housing wall 12 is a connector 14 arranged to connect the computer system to an external device for the purpose of data exchange. In the installed state of the computer system is connected to this connector 14 from outside the housing connected a matching mating connector, the z. B. on a wiring harness of the relevant motor vehicle is available.

In known manner, the connector 14 at a printed circuit board assembly on the edge of a circuit board 16 attached and contacted, for example, soldered. In this assembly process, other components of the computer system also became on the two flat sides of the circuit board 16 arranged, of which in 1 only some examples drawn and with 18 are designated.

All Housing walls are made of an electrically conductive material (here: sheet metal), around the for the device meet the EMC requirements to be able to. With the metallic housing can in particular high-frequency electromagnetic interference radiation effectively shielded become.

Each connector of such a device, such as the connector shown by way of example 14 , represents in practice a weak point of the shield created by means of the housing, since the housing wall in question must be recessed at these locations in order to transmit electrical signals from the housing interior to the housing exterior or vice versa.

at a conventional one Type of housing structures owns the housing wall a recess whose cross section is slightly larger than the contour of the aligned to the recess arranged connector, wherein the connector protrudes into the recess, or this recess completely penetrated. In this conventional Construction results in a "shielding gap" on the one hand by the remaining edge gap between the recess and the connector and on the other hand by the cross section of the connector itself.

In the illustrated housing structure 10 This shielding gap is in the area of the connector 14 minimized in the manner described below.

Like it out 2 can be seen, the connector has 14 a formed in the example of plastic, outer connector housing 20 and a housed therein, accessible from the housing ago forth plurality of plug contact tongues 22 on, which are integrally in line elements 24 ( 1 ), which the housing wall 12 enforce and end in the area of an inner connector housing 26 at the circuit board 16 are contacted.

A special feature of the connector 14 is that the plug contact tongues 22 or the adjacent to the housing interior line elements 24 each by one of several separately in the housing wall 12 provided passage openings 28 passed through. In the example shown is for all line elements 24 each with its own passage opening 28 the housing wall 12 intended.

Advantageously remains as a shielding gap only the plurality of marginal gaps, each between a conduit element 24 and the opening edge of the respective passage opening 28 available. However, the total area of this shielding gap is extremely small, so that with the housing structure 10 an outstanding shielding effect is achieved.

With a view to avoiding a short circuit between a line element 24 and the housing wall 12 comes into consideration before mounting the housing structure 10 the pipe elements 24 and / or the edges of the passage openings 28 to provide with an insulating coating or to treat the surface thereof to provide an electrical insulation effect. Apart from the sometimes resulting problem of unwanted capacitive coupling between an electrical signal line and the housing, such an isolation method is often not sufficiently reliable. As with the illustrated housing structure 10 Therefore, it is therefore preferred to provide certain, albeit small, marginal gaps between the conduit element (s) that pass through an aperture. It is further preferred in this case if these marginal gaps are at least partially filled by a specially provided for this isolation material.

In the example shown has each passage opening 28 a cross sectional area of about 2.5 times the cross section of the conduit elements 24 ,

All In general, it is preferred if the cross-sectional area of a Through opening at least a factor of 2 greater than for the Passage of the line or elements is required. In terms of However, to improve the shielding effect, this aspect ratio should less than 10, preferably less than 5.

Regardless, it is preferred as shown, when a majority, in particular at least 70% of the outer connector housing 20 framed cross-section is occupied by the electrically conductive housing wall material or in other words the of the passage openings 28 formed cross-sectional portion within the connector housing 20 is relatively small.

The electrical insulation of the line elements 24 opposite to the housing is by a on the inside of the housing wall 12 between this housing wall and the inner connector housing 26 interposed injection molded part 30 ( 3 ) realized. This insulation body 30 has a flat surface on the inside of the housing wall 12 adjacent section and one of the arrangement of the openings 28 corresponding arrangement of outwardly projecting sleeve sections. The sleeve sections each engage in one of the passage openings 28 a, or enforce, as shown, these passages 28 Completely.

It is advantageous with the insulating body formed of plastic 30 an insulation for all openings 28 created the connector. For the purpose of shielding the line elements 24 inside the housing is the inner connector housing 26 made of sheet metal.

If this inner connector housing deviating from the illustrated embodiment Plastic is formed, so could the aforementioned insulation body also in one piece be molded on it.

When assembling the computer system, the already fully populated, the in 1 apparent components of the connector 14 already carrying circuit board 16 inserted from above into a housing wall structure.

A rough position fixation is accomplished by a plurality of pin-slot arrangements, of which in 1 two visible and with 32 are designated. The arrangements 32 each comprise a housing-fixed cylindrical pin, one in the circuit board 16 trained slot interspersed, so that in the illustrated situation, a displacement of the circuit board 16 in the direction results, which for inserting the plug contact tongues 22 in the associated passage openings 28 the housing wall 12 is required. In the example shown, the cylindrical mounting pins are formed of metal and welded to a housing bottom, not shown, projecting upstanding.

Immediately after inserting the circuit board 16 are the plug contact tongues 22 still inside the case.

Due to a corresponding design of the pin-slot arrangements 32 can then the circuit board 16 and thus the over the line elements 24 attached to it plug contact tongues 22 in the direction of the arrow 34 to the housing wall 12 to be postponed. This will cause the plug contact tongues 22 in the desired manner by the aligned openings 28 the housing wall 12 pushed outward.

In this shifted state of the circuit board 16 then can the actual attachment of the circuit board 16 done in the housing. In the illustrated example, this is accomplished very advantageous in that elastic (not shown) plastic sleeves from the top of the pins of the arrangements 32 be pushed and loaded by means of a screw on the upper end face of the pins down, so that by friction a suitable fixation of the circuit board 16 with respect to the pins and thus with respect to the housing is achieved. Alternatively or additionally, the actual attachment of the circuit board 16 in the shifted state also z. B. done by a screw elsewhere, such as holes in the circuit board 16 , which only in the shifted state are aligned with corresponding screw holes of the housing (eg at the housing bottom).

Of course, a plurality of circuit boards can be stacked in this or a similar manner and arranged in each case in a displaceable manner in the housing. It is even conceivable that the displacement of the individual circuit boards are different from each other to z. B. to the individual circuit boards arranged connectors or plug contact tongues during assembly of the device to push against different housing walls of the housing to provide there each Abschirmanordnungen the type described. For this purpose, z. B. be provided that the pins of the arrangements 32 are provided with correspondingly sized length for Sta pelung several circuit boards and circuit boards are lined up alternately with the elastic plastic sleeves to a stack. At the top of this stack can then turn z. B. by screwing a clamping load of the entire stack done. For such, possibly carried out by an automatic screwing at each one upper end of the pin, a thread (internal or external thread) may be provided on the end face of the pin.

at the following description of another embodiment be for equivalent components use the same reference numbers, each supplemented by the small letter "a" to distinguish the embodiment. there is essentially only on the differences to the or already described embodiments received and otherwise hereby expressly refer to the description of previous embodiments.

4 illustrates a housing structure 10a , from the two housing walls 12a and 13a are shown, which form again lateral housing sections of a metallic housing.

Furthermore, one recognizes one in the housing wall 12a formed arrangement of 2 × 12 = 24 passages 28a and two mounting holes 29a ,

5 shows an outer part of a connector 14a for use for in 4 illustrated housing wall structure.

The in 5 shown part of the connector 14a has a circuit board 40a with applied (populated) electronic components, of which in 5 only some examples drawn and with 42a are designated. Furthermore, the circuit board carries 40a not shown in detail, pin-shaped line elements 24a , which are orthogonal to a flat side of the circuit board 40a stand out and z. B. are contacted by soldering. Inside the connector housing 20a there is an array of pin-shaped plug contacts 22a that have one of the electronic components 42a trained connection electronics with the line elements 24a connected is. With this connection electronics z. B. signal conditioning or signal adjustment done. From the logistics ago advantageously z. B. with one and the same circuit board 40a an "interface" are created on the output side (plug contacts 22a ) can be adjusted as needed. The of the plug contacts 22a In particular, the connection formed may be designed according to one or more of the following standards: USB, FireWire, power standards, CAN bus, audio / video standards (eg VGA, RGB, SCART, DVI, HDMI, SVHS, etc.), speaker connection , RCA sockets, SPDIF, etc. Should z. B. for reasons of space, or the desired connections can not be realized directly on the housing, so these connections z. B. on a (further) connector can be formed, which in turn via an electrical line arrangement (eg., Cable) with the directly on the housing arranged connector is connectable.

When mounting the device, the in 5 illustrated connector 14a with the line elements 24a ahead on the outside of the housing wall 12a put on, with the line elements 24a through the correspondingly arranged passage openings 28a the housing wall 12a pass through and with their ends into the housing interior. Similar to the above with respect to the 1 to 3 described embodiment, this is again an insulation body 30a ( 6 ) for the isolation of the line elements 24a opposite the housing wall 12a used.

6 illustrates the assembled state of the connector 14a on the housing wall 12a , From this figure is also the interposed insulating body 30a it can be seen before the above-mentioned fitting of the connector 14a either on the protruding line elements 24a threaded or with its sleeve-like projections in the passages 28a the housing wall 12a is inserted.

The attachment of the connector 14a in assembled condition ( 6 ) by means of a screw in the 5 shown component at the mounting holes 29a the housing wall 12a , This in 5 illustrated connector part 14a is this with correspondingly arranged screw holes 44a provided, which the circuit board 40a enforce and are accessible from the outside for passing through screws.

A further contact of the projecting into the housing interior line elements 24a to the housing located inside the circuit arrangement can be done in many ways. This further contact area inside the housing is in 6 dashed at 26a located. At this point z. B. a plugged cable connection between the line elements 24a and a circuit board arranged in the housing. Alternatively, z. B. an "automatic Weitererkontaktierung" be provided such that through the passages 28a in the housing interior penetrating pipe elements 24a enter into a arranged in the interior of the housing connector, which in turn is electrically connected to the housing located inside the circuit arrangement. For example, an inner connector similar to that described above with respect to 1 to 3 described embodiment as a component in a loading process on the circuit board 16a be upset.

An essential difference between the two embodiments described above is that in the embodiment according to FIG 1 to 3 the plug contacts of the connector are inserted through the openings of the housing wall during assembly from the inside to the outside, whereas in the embodiment according to 4 to 6 the line elements of the connector are inserted from outside to inside.

Both versions However, common is the advantageous minimization of the arrangement of the Connector conditional shielding gaps.

Claims (8)

Housing structure for an electronic device, comprising an electrically conductive housing wall ( 12 ) with an electrical connector ( 14 ), which has a connector housing ( 20 . 26 ) and a housed therein, accessible from the housing ago forth plurality of plug contacts ( 22 ), wherein an electrical connection between the connector ( 14 ) and the housing interior by means of a plurality of electrical line elements ( 24 ) is provided, which the housing wall ( 12 ) enforce, characterized in that the line elements ( 24 ) in each case by one of several separately in the housing wall ( 12 ) provided passage openings ( 28 ) are passed. housing structure according to claim 1, used for a computer system. Housing structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the plug contacts ( 22 ) are formed as contact pins. Housing structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in the housing wall ( 12 ) provided passage openings ( 28 ) each have a substantially circular cross-section. Housing structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the line elements ( 24 ) at least in its the housing wall ( 12 ) passing through area are formed as rectilinear pin portions. Housing structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the line elements ( 24 ) at least in its the housing wall ( 12 ) are provided with an electrical insulation. Housing structure according to claim 6, wherein the insulation by a molded body ( 30 ) is provided, whose material is in an edge gap between the line element ( 24 ) and the edge of the respective passage ( 28 ) extends into it. A method of forming a package structure for an electronic device, comprising the steps of: - providing an electrically conductive package wall ( 12 ) with a plurality of adjacent passage openings ( 28 ), - arranging an electrical connector ( 14 ) the one connector housing ( 20 . 26 ) and accommodated therein a plurality of plug contacts ( 22 ), on the housing wall ( 12 ), such that the plug contacts from the outside of the housing wall ( 12 ), and - providing an electrical connection between the connector ( 14 ) and the inside of the housing wall ( 12 ) by means of a plurality of electrical line elements ( 24 ), which the housing wall ( 12 ), whereby the line elements ( 24 ) in each case by one of the several separately in the housing wall ( 12 ) provided passage openings ( 28 ) are passed.