DE102013209296A1 - Electronic module, in particular control device for a vehicle and method for its production - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic module, in particular a control device for a vehicle, which comprises a one-piece circuit board (2) which has at least a first part (3; 3a, 3b) and a second part (4; 4a, 4b), the first part (3; 3a, 3b) is equipped with electrical and / or electronic components and the second part (4; 4a, 4b) is electrically and mechanically connected to at least one contact pin of a connector (8; 8a, 8b) via which the module can be electrically contacted externally. The second part (4; 4a, 4b) of the printed circuit board (2) is flexible and / or bendable.

Description

The invention relates to an electronic module, in particular a control device for a vehicle.

An electronic module comprises an electronic circuit adapted to the desired application with the components necessary for this purpose, such as e.g. integrated circuits and passive components. For transmission and processing of analog and / or digital signals, the components of the electronic circuit are electrically connected to one another by means of a printed conductor structure applied to a circuit carrier. Via a contact plug, the electronic module can e.g. be connected to a wire harness or a bus system, the electronic circuit is often supplied via the contact plug with supply voltage. Control signals for controlling the electronic circuit or output signals of the electronic circuit are usually also routed via the contact plug.

The basic design of the electronic circuit, i. the arrangement of the conductor tracks and the components, depends primarily on their intended use and the shape of the circuit substrate. Often, however, the contact plug is formed differently, e.g. For different vehicle types and / or manufacturers different connector geometries are used. The variations may include a different design of the contact plug and / or a different arrangement of contact pins and / or a different signal assignment of the contact pins.

In most cases, the contact plug is connected to the rigid circuit carrier via so-called pressfit pins in order to produce an electrical and mechanical connection to the circuit carrier. Depending on the configuration of the contact plug, the pins (pins) may also be bent. The pressing in of the pins in the circuit carrier takes place with a separate manufacturing step. By pressing in, no surface-mountable components (so-called SMD (Surface Mounted Device) components) can be mounted in the area of the contact plug.

From the DE 43 21 331 A1 is a control device for controlling consumers with a housing for receiving an electronic unit known. The control unit comprises at least one printed circuit board, which carries an electronic circuit and is connected to the connecting elements of the consumer. The control unit further comprises at least one plug element connected to the circuit, which is accessible from the outside. The printed circuit board has a conductor foil, wherein the printed circuit board consists of a plurality of rigid and flexible regions and at least two rigid parts are connected by a flexible foil region of the conductor foil. The plug element is connected in a rigid area with the conductor foil. A disadvantage of this controller is the high cost of manufacturing.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an electronic module, which is structurally and / or functionally improved and allows easier production.

This object is achieved by an electronic module having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments emerge from the dependent claims.

The electronic module according to the invention comprises a one-piece printed circuit board having at least a first part and a second part, wherein the first part is equipped with electrical and / or electronic components and the second part is electrically and mechanically connected to at least one contact pin of a connector over the module is electrically contactable to the outside. The second part of the circuit board according to the invention is flexible and / or bendable. The module is in particular a control device for a vehicle.

The module enables a simplified production, since it is possible to dispense with the separate step of pressing in the contact pins into the circuit carrier in the production or to dispense with them due to the flexibility of the second part. Due to the flexibility of the second part of the connector can be performed as needed on all sides of a housing of the module. Since the connector is no longer placed on the first part, the area saved on the first part for the connector is available for further electrical and / or electronic components, or the circuit board can be reduced by a corresponding area.

The first part of the circuit board is rigid. The first part and its structure corresponds to a conventional printed circuit board which is e.g. is formed of several layers of FR4 with interposed or arranged Leiterzugstrukturen.

The second part has a smaller thickness than the first part, whereby the flexibility of the second part is provided. The second part may have a smaller number of layers than the first part.

The second part can be arranged in an embodiment between two first parts.

The second part may be connected in one embodiment on one side with the first part. The second part forms a free one in this variant End of the circuit board. That is, only one side edge of the second part is connected to a first part.

As a printed circuit board, a so-called semi-flexible printed circuit board can thus be used in the module according to the invention. As semiflexible printed circuit board, a printed circuit board is referred to, which consists of a composite of several layers. The electrical and / or electronic components are arranged on one or more rigid printed circuit board parts (the first parts).

If the printed circuit board consists of a plurality of rigid printed circuit board parts, a respective flexible printed circuit board part (a second part) connects two rigid printed circuit board parts. A conductor traction structure is provided in the rigid circuit board parts and the flexible circuit board parts (which form connection sections) for signal routing between the rigid circuit board parts. The conductor pull structure may be formed on the opposite outer sides of the layer composite and / or in the interior between each two adjoining layers. In the area of the flexible printed circuit board parts or connecting sections, grooves or flat depressions are introduced into the multi-layer structure. The grooves can be milled, for example. In the area of the grooves or depressions, i. in the area of the flexible printed circuit board parts, the printed circuit board has fewer layers than in the rigid printed circuit board parts. In the extreme case, only a single layer is formed in a flexible printed circuit board part. As a result, the printed circuit board is flexible in the region of the flexible printed circuit board part in which, according to the invention, the connecting plug is to be arranged.

At two or more side edges of the first part may be arranged in an embodiment associated second parts with respective connectors. As a result, printed circuit boards can be produced with a plurality of rigid parts connected via flexible parts, whereby three-dimensional printed circuit boards can be created.

In a further embodiment, the second part may be provided on the opposite side of the connector with an electrical and / or electronic component and / or another connector, wherein the electrical and / or electronic component and / or the further connector inside a housing of the module is arranged. This makes it possible to increase the assembly density or packing density of the module.

The second part of the circuit board may be bent at an angle of up to 90 ° with respect to a plane of the first part of the circuit board. That the second part can be bent by + 90 °, -90 ° or any other angle between these end values and then e.g. be mounted in or on the housing of the module.

The electrical connection between the contact pins of the connector and the second part of the circuit board can be made by soldering. The electrical connection between the contact pins of the connector and the second part of the circuit board can be made by welding. The electrical connection between the contact pins of the connector and the second part of the circuit board can be made by a conductive adhesive. This makes it possible to dispense with the separate production step of pressing in the contact pins. This lowers the production costs, since it can be dispensed with necessary for pressing tools. Furthermore, the production of the electrical contacting of the connector can be carried out together with the contacting of the electrical and / or electronic components.

The method according to the invention for producing an electronic module, in particular a control unit for a vehicle, comprises the following steps: A one-piece printed circuit board having at least a first part and a second, flexible and / or bendable part is provided. The first (rigid) part is equipped with electrical and / or electronic components. The second part is electrically and mechanically connected to at least one contact pin of a connector, via which the module is electrically contactable to the outside. The contact pins of the connector on the second part are connected in a common contacting step together with the electrical and / or electronic components on the first part of the circuit board.

The method has the same advantages as described above in connection with the device according to the invention.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments in the drawing. Show it:

1 a sectional view through a part of a known electronic module,

2 a sectional view through part of an electronic module according to the invention,

3 a sectional view of an upwardly bent flexible part of the circuit board, on which an electronic component is arranged, which comes to integration in a housing inside the housing to lie,

4 a sectional view of a bent down flexible part of the printed circuit board, on which a connector is arranged, which points after integration into a housing to the outside for an external electrical contact,

5 a sectional view of an upwardly bent flexible part of the circuit board, on which a plug connector is arranged on both opposite main sides,

6 a sectional view of a curved printed circuit board with two rigid and a flexible part, wherein a connector is disposed on the flexible part, and

7 a sectional view of a curved circuit board with a rigid and two flexible parts, each with a connector is disposed on the flexible parts.

1 shows a sectional view through a part of a known electronic module 1 , The electronic module is for example an engine or transmission control device for a motor vehicle. There are also combined control devices for engine and transmission or other control and regulation functions of a motor vehicle conceivable. The module 1 has a housing, not shown in detail, the in 1 shown arrangement receives. Usually, such a housing consists of a lower housing part and a housing upper part. The housing formed from the lower housing part and the upper housing part has an opening into which a plug connector 8th of the module 1 can be used over which the module 1 is electrically contactable to the outside. The inserted connector 8th closes the housing to the outside.

The module 1 has a semi-flexible circuit board 2 on. The circuit board 2 consists of a composite of several layers or layers 5 , Between the respective layers 5 is a respective ladder train structure 6 formed with tracks. This in 1 embodiment shown has two first, rigid parts 3a . 3b (hereinafter: rigid printed circuit board part), which by a second, flexible part 4 (hereafter: flexible printed circuit board part) are interconnected. In the area of the flexible printed circuit board part 4 are some of the situations 5 , For example, by milling, removed, resulting in a non-bent state a recess. In the area of the flexible printed circuit board part 4 indicates the circuit board 2 fewer layers than in the rigid printed circuit board parts 3a . 3b on. In the extreme case is in the flexible circuit board part 4 only a single layer / layer 5 educated. This is the circuit board 2 in the area of the flexible circuit board part 4 flexible and can, as in 1 shown, bent. The bending area is with 7 characterized.

The already mentioned connector 8th is on the rigid circuit board part 3b arranged. Not shown electrical and / or electronic components are on the rigid circuit board part 3a arranged. On the flexible circuit board part 4 No components are arranged.

The conductor traction structures 6 in the rigid circuit board parts 3a . 3b and the flexible circuit board part 4 connect the electrical and / or electronic components to the connector, ie they generally serve to signal between the rigid printed circuit board parts 3a . 3b , The ladder train structure 5 may be on the opposite outer sides of the layer composite and / or in the interior between any two adjacent layers / layers 5 be educated.

The connector 8th has a plurality of contact pins 9 or knives. The contact pins 9 are so-called. Pressfit pins and in the rigid circuit board part 3b pressed in with a special tool. The pressing requires a separate step. In addition, the stands of the connector 8th needed space on the rigid circuit board part 3b not available for electrical and / or electronic components.

In the realization according to the invention, which in 2 is shown, is the connector 8th therefore directly on the flexible PCB part 4 applied. The production of an electrical connection to an applied on the outside of the flexible printed circuit board part Leiterzugstruktur by means of soldering, welding or by a conductive adhesive. This allows the connector 8th and / or another electrical and / or electronic component 10 in a common step with the electrical and / or electronic components on the circuit board 2 or the rigid printed circuit board parts are contacted. The press-in process is eliminated. Necessary, expensive tools are not needed.

Due to the already described flexibility of the flexible circuit board part 4 opposite the rigid printed circuit board part 3 can be the flexible circuit board part 4 at an angle 12 upwards (cf. 3 ) or below (cf. 4 ) are bent. The angle 12 can eg 90 ° up and 135 ° down to one plane of the rigid circuit board part 3 be. The plane of the rigid circuit board part 3 extends perpendicular to the leaf level and from left to right.

Is the flexible PCB part 4 bent upwards and, as in 3 shown on the main side of the flexible circuit board part 4 arranged, which after the removal of layers 5 emerged, the component comes after integration in a housing inside the housing for lying. The component may in this case be, for example, a capacitor (reference numeral 10 ), which is as described by soldering / welding / Leitkleben connected to the associated Leiterzugstruktur. By bending downwards, the component comes to rest after integration into a housing ( 4 ). The component can here the connector described 8th be.

In 5 are on both main sides of the flexible circuit board part 4 components 8th . 10 applied, wherein the circuit board part 4 is bent upwards. The component 10 is eg the capacitor, the component 8th the connector.

In the 6 illustrated, curved circuit board 2 has, for example, two rigid and one flexible printed circuit board part 3a . 3b and 4 on, with the connector 8th on the flexible circuit board part 4 is arranged such that it comes to rest after integration in a housing to the outside. The two rigid PCB parts 3a . 3b come for example opposite and parallel to lying.

In the 7 illustrated, curved circuit board 2 has two flexible and one rigid circuit board part 4a . 4b and 3 on, with two connectors 8a . 8b on the flexible board parts 4a . 4b are arranged such that they are facing away from each other and after integration in a housing in each case come to lie outside. The two flexible PCB parts 4a . 4b come for example opposite and parallel to lying. In this embodiment, the flexible circuit board parts 4a . 4b on opposite side edges of the rigid printed circuit board part 4 arranged. In a modification, the flexible circuit board parts 4a . 4b alternatively or additionally on adjacent side edges of the rigid circuit board part 4 be arranged.

In summary, the invention has the following advantages:
The process step of inserting pins is eliminated; instead, the connector can be soldered, glued or welded together with SMD components, for example.

PCB area is saved because the connector is applied directly to the flexible circuit board part and contacted. Thus, a part of the circuit board of the otherwise multi-layer circuit board surface, which is needed for pressing in the connector omitted.

Due to the flexibility of the flexible printed circuit board part of the connector can be performed as needed on all sides of the housing of the module.

There are lower tooling costs because expensive pressfit tools are not needed.

It is possible to rear-mount in the region of the connector, e.g. for blocking capacitors, but also a second connector can be used.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

 Electronic module

2

 circuit board

3

 first part

4

 second part

5

 Location of the circuit board

6

 conduction path

7

 bending area

8th

 Connectors

9

 pin

10

 Connectors

11

 pin

12

 angle

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 4321331 A1 [0005]

Claims (11)

Electronic module, in particular control unit for a vehicle, comprising a one-piece printed circuit board ( 2 ) containing at least a first part ( 3 ; 3a . 3b ) and a second part ( 4 ; 4a . 4b ), the first part ( 3 ; 3a . 3b ) is equipped with electrical and / or electronic components and the second part ( 4 ; 4a . 4b ) with at least one contact pin of a connector ( 8th ; 8a . 8b ) is electrically and mechanically connected, via which the module is electrically contactable to the outside, wherein the second part ( 4 ; 4a . 4b ) of the printed circuit board ( 2 ) is flexible and / or bendable. Module according to claim 1, in which the first part ( 3 ; 3a . 3b ) is rigid. Module according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the second part ( 4 ; 4a . 4b ) a smaller thickness than the first part ( 3 ; 3a . 3b ) having. Module according to one of the preceding claims, in which the second part ( 4 ; 4a . 4b ) a smaller number of layers ( 5 ) than the first part ( 3 ; 3a . 3b ). Module according to one of the preceding claims, in which the second part ( 4 ; 4a . 4b ) between two first parts ( 3 ; 3a . 3b ) is arranged. Module according to one of the preceding claims, in which the second part ( 4 ; 4a . 4b ) one-sided with the first part ( 3 ; 3a . 3b ) connected is. Module according to one of the preceding claims, in which at two or more side edges of the first part ( 3 ; 3a . 3b ) associated second parts ( 4 ; 4a . 4b ) are arranged with respective connectors. Module according to one of the preceding claims, in which the second part ( 4 ; 4a . 4b ) on the of the connector ( 8th ; 10 ) opposite main side is provided with an electrical and / or electronic component and / or another connector, wherein the electrical and / or electronic component is arranged in the interior of a housing of the module. Module according to one of the preceding claims, in which the second part ( 4 ; 4a . 4b ) at an angle of up to 90 ° with respect to a plane of the first part ( 3 ; 3a . 3b ) is bent. Module according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrical connection between the contact pins of the connector ( 8th ; 8a . 8b ) and the second part ( 4 ; 4a . 4b ) of the printed circuit board ( 2 ) is made by soldering or welding or by a conductive adhesive. Method for producing an electronic module, in particular a control device for a vehicle, in which: - a one-piece printed circuit board ( 2 ) containing at least a first part ( 3 ; 3a . 3b ) and a second, flexible and / or bendable part is provided; - the first part ( 3 ; 3a . 3b ) is equipped with electrical and / or electronic components; - the second part ( 4 ; 4a . 4b ) with at least one contact pin of a connector ( 8th ; 8a . 8b ) is electrically and mechanically connected, via which the module is electrically contacted to the outside; and - the contact pins ( 9 ; 11 ) of the connector ( 8th ; 8a . 8b ) on the second part ( 4 ; 4a . 4b ) in a common contacting step together with the electrical and / or electronic components on the first part ( 3 ; 3a . 3b ) with the printed circuit board ( 2 ) is connected.

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