EP2710681B1 - Apparatus for making electrical contact with a printed circuit board by way of a plug - Google Patents

Description

State of the art

Out US 5,531,615 is known a plug-in contact, in which an electronic connection element for edge attachment to electronic devices is used. The connector includes a pair of housing members adapted to define an elongate slot. This is a pair of oppositely disposed, mutual forces generating spring elements which are arranged such that they receive a plug contact and exert on this a pressing force. Out US2011 / 0070775A1 and US2009 / 0258515A1 are also plug contacts known.

In previously used plug contacts according to the prior art higher insertion forces are required to produce a plug-in contact; Furthermore, the generation of the connector is quite cumbersome. Furthermore, in the case of plug-in contacts, there may be potential damage to joining partners to be contacted with one another, in which case both damage to the plug contacts and damage to the contacts on the respective circuit board to be contacted may occur.

Presentation of the invention

According to the invention, a device according to claim 1 is proposed. According to the invention, a method according to claim 8 is also proposed. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

A plug-in contact is proposed, in which standing by an insertion of a plug-in element with contacts in electrical connection contacting elements are deflected such that they are applied with a contact force on contact surfaces ("Lands"), for example, at the top and bottom of the axial direction located in a plug inserted plug contact. The solution proposed according to the invention makes it possible to design a printed circuit board or a contacting provided thereon in such a way that it provides only a guiding function. The insertion in plug-in direction of a plug contact

requires only before reaching the final electrical contact a certain force, however, increases linearly and not gradually. By this force is a potential damage to the contact surfaces ("Lands"), which are located on at least one side of the plug contact and damage to the corresponding counter contact on the circuit board excluded.

In an advantageous embodiment of the concept underlying the invention, the contacting elements, each having a contact point, designed as elastic elements, so for example as a spring blades. These on the one hand can cause a deflection of contact elements provided on the contact points and on the other hand compensate for tolerances, since the Kontaktierungsweg, the contacting elements for contacting the at least one contact surface ("Lands") is sized to the plug contact so that match or compensate for manufacturing tolerances can be.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention underlying idea spaced contacts are arranged such that they limit an insertion opening for a plug contact. Opposite, the insertion opening for the plug contact limiting contacts each have a resiliently formed contacting element, which is deflected by insertion of the plug contact in such a way that on the resilient contact elements formed contact points on contact surfaces ("Lands"), at least one contact surface , which is located on the plug contact in an axial extension, are employed. By the insertion movement of the plug contact in the resilient contact elements, which limit the insertion of the plug contact, is ensured by the presence or the deflection of the contacting a position of the contact points extending in the axial direction on at least one side of the plug contact surfaces. On the other hand, the contact surfaces or "lands", which are formed on at least one side of the plug contact, dimensioned in the axial direction such that a sufficiently large area for the contact is given by the contact points of the contacting elements on the plug contact.

Advantageously, the plug contact has a rounded trained, for example, made of molding compound deflecting element, which deforms the contacting elements during execution of the insertion process such that elongated by the deflection of, for example, resiliently formed fins in one direction, an adjusting movement of contact points to the in the axial direction formed contact surfaces on at least one side of the plug contact.

As long as the plug contact remains between the contacting elements, it is ensured on account of the deflection of the resiliently configured spring blades that the contact points with a well-defined spring force are set against the contact surfaces extending in the axial direction on at least one side of the plug contact.

In a particularly advantageous manner, a nose-shaped deflection element is arranged on one of the insertion opening facing the front side of the printed circuit board, which is formed rounded on its side facing the insertion opening. The in the insertion direction, preferably horizontally extending contact surfaces on one or both sides of the printed circuit board end are elongated, so that it is ensured that when generating a contact force on the contact points, which are formed at the ends of resiliently formed contact arms, and the contact surfaces, an electrical connection can be made by maintaining a contact force. As long as formed on the spring-trained contact elements auszulenkende parts remain deflected by the deflection element, resiliently formed contact elements, in particular the resiliently formed contact arms and the contact elements formed thereon are employed with a well-defined contact force to the provided on at least one side of the circuit board contact surface.

As long as the deflection element is inserted between the parts to be deflected of the at least one contact element, as long as counteracted in a countermovement against the deflection of the resilient contact elements in the region of the auszulenkenden parts the resilient contact arms with contact points formed against the contact surfaces on at least one side of the PCB end.

Brief description of the drawings

With reference to the drawing, the invention will be described below in more detail.

Figur 1 und 2

Steckergehäuse und Steckkontakte gemäß einer Ausführung aus dem Stand der Technik,

Figur 3

eine erste Ausführungsvariante der erfindungsgemäß vorgeschlagenen Vorrichtung zur Herstellung einer elektrischen Kontaktierung,

Figur 4

eine Einführphase des Leiterplattenendes,

Figur 5

den Berührungszeitpunkt, an dem das gerundet ausgebildete Auslenkelement die federnd ausgebildeten, elektrischen Kontaktelemente berührt,

Figur 6

den weiteren Einsteckvorgang des Leiterplattenendes und des daran aufgenommenen Auslenkmittels zwischen die federnd ausgebildeten Kontaktelemente, die Auslenkbewegung derselben sowie die Anstellbewegung der Kontaktarme mit Kontaktpunkten,

Figur 7

die schlussendlich hergestellte elektrische Kontaktierung,

Figur 8

eine eingesteckte Leiterplatte und

Figur 9

eine nicht erfindungsgemäße Ausführungsvariante der Vorrichtung zur Herstellung einer elektrischen Kontaktierung.

It shows:

FIGS. 1 and 2

Plug housing and plug contacts according to an embodiment of the prior art,

FIG. 3

a first embodiment of the inventively proposed device for making an electrical contact,

FIG. 4

an insertion phase of the printed circuit board end,

FIG. 5

the contact time at which the rounded deflecting element contacts the resiliently formed, electrical contact elements,

FIG. 6

the further insertion process of the printed circuit board end and of the deflection means received thereon between the resiliently formed contact elements, the deflection movement of the same and the adjustment movement of the contact arms with contact points,

FIG. 7

the finally produced electrical contact,

FIG. 8

an inserted circuit board and

FIG. 9

a non-inventive embodiment of the device for producing an electrical contact.

The representations according to the Figures 1 and 2 Variations of connector housings and contacts according to the prior art can be seen.

FIG. 1 shows a plug 10 having a plug housing 12 which are received in a series of contact straps 14. The contact clip 14 are embodied on a contact carrier 16, which is enclosed by the plug housing 12. FIG. 2 shows the in the connector housing according to FIG. 1 insertable plug-in elements 18, which have a contact cheek 20, wherein the plug-in elements 18 via a crimp connection 22 with a cable are connected. On the opposite side of the contact cheek 20, the plug-in elements 18 are provided with latching hooks 24.

variants

The representation according to FIG. 3 is a first embodiment of the present invention proposed device for making an electrical contact in more detail.

From the illustration according to FIG. 3 shows that at one end of a printed circuit board substrate 30, a nose-shaped deflecting element, for example, is designed as a nose molded from molding compound. The printed circuit board substrate 30 has a first side 32 and a second side 34 lying opposite to it, which extend parallel to one another in a substantially horizontal direction. On the first side 32 of the printed circuit board substrate 30 there is a first contact surface 42 ("land"), while on the second side 34 of the printed circuit substrate 30 there is a second contact surface 44 ("land"). Both contact surfaces 42, 44 also extend substantially in the horizontal direction parallel to each other and extend substantially parallel to an insertion direction, see position 66 in FIG FIG. 3 ,

From the illustration according to FIG. 3 Furthermore, it is apparent that in each case a first contact element 46 and a second contact element 48 lying opposite are arranged on plug-side contacts 64 which define an insertion region 62. The two opposing contact elements 46 and 48 are formed substantially resilient and are made of metallic material. In the in FIG. 3 The contacted part 54 extends - also with resilient properties - starting from the opposite plug-side contacts 64, which limit the insertion 62, to a branch 52nd At the branch 52, the contacted part 54 of the contact elements 46, 48 merges into a resilient contact arm indicated by reference numeral 80, at the end of which a thickened trained contact point 50 formed as a material accumulation is located.

Run from the branch 52 in the opposite direction to the spring-trained contact arm 80 extend on the first contact element 46 and the second contact element 48 each auszulenkende parts 56 of the contact elements 46, 48, each terminating in an open end 58.

As shown in the illustration FIG. 3 As can be seen, the parts to be deflected 56 of the first contact element 46 and the second contact element 48 at the open end 48 extend converging, ie, the open ends 58 run towards each other.

In the in FIG. 3 illustrated position - not contacted - of the printed circuit board substrate 30 with the first contact element 46 and the second contact element 48 define the two undeflected contact points 50 at the ends of the resilient contact arms 80 an opening distance 60. This opening distance 60 is greater than the thickness of the printed circuit substrate 30, On a front side 36 of the printed circuit board substrate 30, the deflecting element 38 is arranged in nose shape, preferably made of a molding compound and provided with a rounding 40, which already to a Part in insertion 66 (also referred to as axial feed) is inserted into the insertion portion 62.

The representation according to FIG. 4 It can be seen that in this position of the printed circuit board substrate 30, this, with respect to the insertion portion 62, partially inserted into this, without the provided with the rounding 40 deflecting 38 facing each other deflectable parts 56 of both the first contact element 46, as well touches the second contact element 44 opposite this. The representation according to FIG. 4 corresponds substantially to a reduced scale of the representation according to FIG. 3 as described above.

FIG. 5 shows the time at which the preferred nose-shaped deflecting element 38 just touching each other to be deflected parts 56 of the first and second contact element 46 and 48 respectively. Like a synopsis of FIGS. 4 and 5 can be seen, the printed circuit board substrate 30 is inserted in the insertion direction 66 (axial feed) in the limited by the opposing contact points 50 insertion region 62. FIG. 3 shows that the distance 60 between the inner sides of the opposing contact points 50, the thickness of the PCB substrate 30 in the region of the first contact surface 42 and the second contact surface 44 exceeds, so that insertion of the printed circuit board end 30 between the two contact elements 46, 48 takes place with play, whereby manufacturing tolerances can be compensated in an advantageous manner and a simpler mounting option is given.

In FIG. 5 showing the contact timing 70 between the deflector 38 and the parts 56 to be deflected, are the contact points 50 at the ends of the contact arms 80 in a position remote from the contact surfaces 42, 44 ("Lands").

FIG. 6 It can be seen that with a further insertion of the end over an edge of the printed circuit board substrate 30 between the contact elements 46, 48 whose parts to be deflected 56 by the deflection element 38, a deflection movement 72 of the open ends 58, deformed. From the illustration according to FIG. 6 shows that the parts to be deflected 56 of the first contact element 46 and the second contact element 48 are spread outwards. With this deflection movement 42 of the parts 56 to be deflected, an adjustment movement of the contact points 50 identified by reference number 74 simultaneously accompanies the contact surfaces 42, 44. Due to the design of the inventively proposed device for making an electrical contact with the deflecting movement 72 of the open ends 78 of the resilient contact elements 46, 48 a Anstellbewegung in Anstellrichtung 74 of the contact arms 80 with the contact points 50 arranged thereon is achieved simultaneously. Due to the fact that the deflection element 38, for example, nose-shaped and made of molding material, is permanently employed between the auszulenkenden parts 56 of the resilient contact elements 46, 48, the contact points 50 simultaneously in the opposite direction to the deflection 72, ie in Anstellrichtung 74 to the Contact surfaces 42, 44 employed.

FIG. 7 It can be seen that, as long as the deflecting element 38 is inserted between the parts to be deflected 56 of the resilient contact elements 46, 48, they are spread apart, so that taking advantage of the spring action of the contact arms 80, the contact points 50 with a force 78 on both sides of the opposite, are made in a substantially parallel and horizontally extending contact surfaces 42, 44. This means that as long as the printed circuit board substrate 30 with its deflecting element 38 between the deflected Parts 46 is immersed, at the same time the contact force 78 of the contact points 50 at the ends of the resilient contact arms 80 are made with the contact force 78 to the contact surfaces 42, 44. To make an electrical contact and to secure it, forces in the height between 2 N and 3 N are required, based on each contact point. If you include multiple contact points, this force can become relatively high. However, components such as circuit board or control units are fixed in the final state by means of locking elements, so that the contact force does not have to be taken over by the electrical contact alone, but is applied via locking elements, so that the electrical contact not by itself, for example, occurring during operation vibrations solves.

As from the figure sequence the FIGS. 4 . 5 . 6 . 7 can be seen, the electrical contact is generated by the insertion of the example nose-shaped with a rounding 40 deflecting element 38. The two substantially opposing contact elements 46, 48 are preferably made of a highly conductive material or a good electrical conductivity properties having alloy. Due to the distance of the two opposing contact points 50 in the non-contacted state, compare distance 60 as shown in FIG FIG. 3 , on the one hand, easy assembly is possible and on the other hand ensures a balance of tolerances.

The representation according to the figure sequence 4, 5, 6 and 7 can also be deduced that only shortly before reaching the end position, ie after passing through the Einführweges 66, a force is needed, namely, when the parts to be deflected 56 of the contact elements 46, 48 apart be what is done by the rounding 40 having deflection means 38. By inventively proposed solution force-free insertion is achieved until shortly before the end position of the connector. Only then is a force application necessary. Since the contact force 74, with which the contact points 50 at the ends of the resiliently formed contact arms 80 to the contact surfaces 42, 44 generated at the end of the insertion movement of the PCB end 30 in the insertion region 62, the contact surfaces 42, 44 and only towards the end of the insertion movement 66 acted upon by the contact force 74, whereby damage to the contact surfaces 42, 44 and the circuit board 30 can be avoided in an advantageous manner. The solution proposed by the invention merely requires a guide of the printed circuit board end or of the printed circuit board edge 30 on which the deflection element 38 is arranged; it is no longer necessary to open. Only shortly before reaching the end position of the circuit board edge or the printed circuit board end 30 between the opposing contact elements 46, 44, the contact force 74 is generated. FIG. 8 shows an inserted printed circuit board with attached to the side surface of the rounded deflecting element 38 employed shortened auszulenkenden parts 57. In contrast to the illustration according to FIG. 7 are in the presentation according to FIG. 8 the deflection elements 57 formed shortened, so that they are no longer placed against the insertion direction in its final position, ie after complete impressions, but are employed exactly in the transverse direction of the deflection element 38. As a result, force components which act counter to the insertion direction of the printed circuit board substrate 30 are excluded, the resulting force is directed perpendicular to the deflection element 38.

The representation according to FIG. 9 is a non-inventive embodiment of the device for making an electrical contact can be seen.

FIG. 9 shows that also in this embodiment, analogous to the embodiment according to FIG. 3 , the printed circuit board 30 at one, preferably both sides 32, 34 each having a substantially horizontally extending contact surface 42 and 44, respectively. The two opposite, substantially planar and extending parallel to each other contact surfaces 42, 44 have a length which extends in the insertion direction 66. At the circuit board edge or the printed circuit board end 30, the nose-shaped deflection element 38 is arranged, which has the rounding 40.

Also in the in FIG. 9 illustrated embodiment variant of the device for producing an electrical contact, are within the insertion region 62 between two opposite plug-side contacts 64 each resiliently formed contact elements 46 and 48 respectively. The contact elements 46 and 48 each comprise mutually facing auszulenkende parts 56. These extend, starting from the open end 58, in the direction of a joint 82. At the hinge points 82, each via a joint carrier 84 with the facing plug-side contacts 64th are electrically connected, go the parts to be deflected 46, which are contacted by the rounding 40 having deflecting element 38 in the contact arms 80, at the end of the facing each other points of contact 50 are. By reference numeral 60, the distance is indicated, in which the facing inner sides of the contact points 50 at the ends of the contact arms 80 are opposite to each other.

As soon as, with a progressive insertion movement 66 (axial feed) of the printed circuit board edge or of the printed circuit board end 30, the deflecting element 38, which is preferably nose-shaped, contacts the open ends 58 of the mutually deflecting parts 56, a simultaneous pivoting movement takes place in the direction of rotation 86 of the contact points 50 receiving contact arms 80 to the contact surfaces 42, 44. Analogous to in FIG. 3 shown first embodiment of the inventively proposed device for making an electrical contact, goes with the deflection of the auszulenkenden parts 56 of the contact elements 46 and 48 whose rotation 86 around the hinge points 82 and at the same time with the deflection of the auszulenkenden parts 56, the contact points 50 of the resilient formed contact arms 80 against the end of the insertion movement 66 of the circuit board edge or the printed circuit board end 30 in the insertion region 42 to the contact surfaces 42, 44 employed, which can achieve the already mentioned above, in connection with the first embodiment already described advantageous effects.

Claims (8)

1. Apparatus for establishing an electrical contact-connection between a printed circuit board substrate (30), which has at least one contact area (42, 44), and a plug, wherein the apparatus has at least one plug-side contact (64), wherein at least one spring-action contact element (46, 48) is arranged in an insertion region (62) and comprises a spring-action contact-connected part (54), a deflectable part (56) and a spring-action contact arm (80), characterized in that the spring-action contact-connected part (54) extends as far as a branch (52) at which the spring-action contact-connected part (54) merges with the spring-action contact arm (80), wherein the deflectable part (56) extends on the at least one contact element (46, 48) starting from the branch (52), in a manner running in the opposite direction to the spring-action contact arm (80), and ends in an open end (58).
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that a deflection element (38) which has a rounded portion (40) is formed on an end side (36) of the printed circuit board substrate (30).
3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, characterized in that the open end (58) of the deflectable part (56) of the at least one contact element (46, 48) is situated opposite the deflection element (38).
4. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact arm (80) is integrally formed on the at least one contact element (46, 48) so as to form a contact point (50).
5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, characterized in that the contact point (50) on the contact arm (80), together with an opposite contact point (50), delimits the insertion region (62).
6. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one contact area (42, 44) is formed on the printed circuit board substrate (30) - as seen in the insertion direction (66).
7. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact arm (80) is electrically connected to the end-side contact (64) by means of the contact-connected part (54), starting from the branch (52).
8. Method for establishing an electrical contact-connection between a printed circuit board substrate (30) and a plug using an apparatus comprising at least one plug-side contact (64), wherein at least one spring-action contact element (46, 48) is arranged in an insertion region (62) and comprises a spring-action contact-connected part (54), a deflectable part (56) and a spring-action contact arm (80), wherein the spring-action contact-connected part (54) extends as far as a branch (52) at which the spring-action contact-connected part (54) merges with the spring-action contact arm (80), wherein the deflectable part (56) extends on the at least one contact element (46, 48) starting from the branch (52), in a manner running in the opposite direction to the spring-action contact arm (80), and ends in an open end (58), the said method comprising the following method steps:

   a) inserting a deflection device (38), which is provided on a printed circuit board (30), into the insertion region (62),

   b) deflecting the at least one contact element (46, 48) when the printed circuit board (30) moves in the insertion direction (66) and

   c) setting the contact arm (80) on at least one contact area (42, 44) of the printed circuit board (30) at the same time as method step b),

   d) maintaining a setting force (78) on the at least one contact area (42, 44) by continuing the deflection movement (72) of the at least one contact element (46, 48) with the printed circuit board (30) inserted.

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