CN108572262B

CN108572262B - Cover for terminal

Info

Publication number: CN108572262B
Application number: CN201810170687.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: C·斯波尔; H·弗伦泽尔
Original assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
Current assignee: Continental Automotive Technologies GmbH
Priority date: 2017-03-07
Filing date: 2018-03-01
Publication date: 2021-10-22
Anticipated expiration: 2038-03-01
Also published as: DE102018203337A1; FR3063837A1; FR3063837B1; CN108572262A

Abstract

A current sensor assembly (1) comprising: -a terminal (2) for contacting a battery pole of a vehicle; -a connecting element (3) for electrical contacting; and-a current sensor (4) comprising a resistive element connected in series between the terminal (2) and the connecting element (3), wherein the current sensor assembly (1) comprises a cover (5) designed in such a way, in particular in terms of its position and/or its geometry, as a function of the configuration of the terminal (2) and/or the configuration of the current sensor (4), that at least contacting the terminal (2) by means of a charging cable is made difficult and/or external power supply at least at the terminal (2) is made difficult.

Description

Cover for terminal

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a current sensor assembly.

Background

According to the prior art, current sensors or intelligent battery sensors detect, in particular, the exact state of charge of the battery over its service life. For this purpose, the state of charge of the battery can be determined, for example, by detecting a load current flowing into or out of the battery by means of a resistive element integrated in the current sensor and integrating the detected load current over time.

Batteries are often used in vehicles as an energy source, for example, in order to supply energy to an electric starter, which starts an internal combustion engine at a defined rotational speed if the energy supply is sufficient. If the state of charge of the battery falls below a defined threshold value, for example, the starter cannot be supplied with sufficient energy and the internal combustion engine can therefore no longer be started. For example, an external energy source of another vehicle, for example a battery, can be used to start the internal combustion engine by means of the electric starter. Alternatively, the battery may be charged, for example, by an external energy source until the state of charge is at least above a defined threshold. The assistance of starting or charging the battery by means of an external energy source may also be referred to as external powering. For this purpose, the battery is brought into contact with an external energy source, for example via a charging cable.

The problem in this prior art is that: after the external supply of power, a malfunction occurs in the vehicle or in the vehicle.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a current sensor assembly which avoids or reduces functional failures, in particular caused by external power supply; and/or to provide a current sensor assembly which is also able to determine the state of charge of the battery after, in particular immediately after, an external supply of power. The current sensor assembly should in particular be able to be cost-effective and/or easy to install and/or not make installation or removal difficult.

Alternatively, the present invention preferably relates to a current sensor assembly comprising:

-a terminal for contacting a battery pole of a vehicle;

-a connecting element for electrical contacting; and

a current sensor comprising a resistive element connected in series between the terminal and the connection element,

wherein the current sensor assembly comprises a cover at least partially covering the current sensor assembly in the following manner: so that the introduction of an external current not flowing through the resistive element is at least made difficult and/or avoided.

Alternatively, the invention also preferably relates to the following idea: that is, an external current should flow through the resistive element of the current sensor, and in particular, mounting and/or removal of the terminal can be performed.

Preferably, contact is made by means of a charging cable and/or external supply is carried out before the resistive element and/or before the current sensor (so that an external current flows through the resistive element) and/or external supply is carried out at the connection element and/or at the engine block and/or at the vehicle body.

Preferably, ignition of the explosive gas due to spark formation, which may destroy the battery, is avoided by making it difficult to contact the terminals by means of the charging cable and/or by making it difficult to supply power externally at the terminals.

The current sensor assembly preferably includes signal processing circuitry. The signal processing circuit provides, inter alia, a sensor output signal.

The current sensor receives a measurement voltage at an application point acting on the resistance element, wherein the load current can be determined by means of the received measurement voltage.

Preferably, the current sensor determines the state of charge of the battery by means of the determined load current, for example by means of a time integral of the determined load current.

Preferably, the determining of the load current and/or the determining of the state of charge of the battery is performed by a signal processing circuit.

Preferably, the signal processing circuit is designed as an electrical control device.

The signal processing circuit may preferably have a processor device and a memory device, wherein program code is stored in the memory devices, in which embodiment the processor device implements a method or exhibits corresponding behavior.

The current sensor preferably has a device for detecting the temperature and/or a device for detecting the terminal voltage of the battery.

The current sensor assembly preferably includes a housing.

Particularly preferably, the current sensor assembly is at least partially embedded in the housing.

Particularly preferably, the current sensor is at least partially embedded in the housing.

Particularly preferably, the signal processing circuit is at least partially, in particular completely, embedded in the housing.

Particularly preferably, the resistance element is partially embedded in the housing.

"at least made difficult" is preferably understood to mean: the cover at least partially covers the terminal and/or partially, in particular completely, covers the terminal in a spatial direction.

Preferably, the contacting of the terminals by means of the charging cable and/or the external supply of power at the terminals is made difficult by: that is, the cover at least partially covers the terminal and/or partially, in particular completely, covers the terminal in a spatial direction.

By partially covering the terminals or terminal areas and/or by covering the terminals or terminal areas in one spatial direction, it is preferably achieved that: at least making it difficult to contact the terminals or terminal areas by means of the charging cable and/or making it difficult to supply power externally at least at the terminals or at the terminal areas.

Preferably, the terminal is not covered by the cover in two spatial directions and/or in three spatial directions.

By partially covering the terminals or terminal areas and/or by covering the terminals or terminal areas in one spatial direction, it is also preferably achieved that: the terminal can be mounted on or removed from the battery pole despite the cover being seated, or fastened, or bonded, or screwed, or snapped.

Preferably, the cover is arranged and/or fastened and/or glued and/or screwed and/or latched on the housing of the current sensor, in particular on the upper side of the housing.

Preferably, the cover is designed to be spaced apart from the terminal at a certain distance.

Preferably, the cover covers the terminal and an air gap is provided between the terminal and the cover.

Preferably, the cover is of flat design and/or has a flat base surface.

Preferably, the cover has a first planar base surface and a second planar base surface, wherein the first planar base surface and the second planar base surface are designed parallel to one another, wherein the vertical distance between the first planar base surface and the second planar base surface corresponds substantially to the height difference between the upper side of the terminal and the upper side of the housing of the current sensor.

Preferably, the cover has at least one flat base surface, wherein the cover has, at least in sections in the region of the terminal, perpendicularly outwardly projecting side faces at the edge of the flat base surface.

Preferably, the cover only partially covers the terminal, in particular only the upper side of the terminal.

Preferably, the cover is of one-piece design.

Preferably, the cover is designed from a substantially electrically non-conductive material, in particular a foil and/or an adhesive foil and/or a plastic cover.

The plastic cover particularly preferably has a self-adhesive region.

The cover preferably has rounded corners and/or rounded edges. In this way, damage due to sharp corners and/or edges is prevented, in particular.

Preferably, the cover is designed from two squares arranged offset to one another, which in particular together form a flat base surface. In particular, the two squares arranged offset to one another form the L-shaped side edge of the base surface on one side and/or the S-shaped side edge of the base surface on one side, in particular on the opposite side.

Particularly preferably, the side edges of the L-shaped design make it possible for the plug to project upwards.

Particularly preferably, easy, cost-effective, or comfortable contact with the connecting element is ensured by the side edges of the S-shaped design.

Preferably, the current sensor assembly comprises a plug, wherein the cover is in particular arranged and/or fastened and/or glued and/or screwed and/or latched on the plug, in particular on the upper side of the plug.

The current sensor provides, among other things, a sensor output signal (e.g., a state-of-charge signal) that is communicated to other devices. For this purpose, the current sensor comprises in particular a plug. Furthermore, the signal processing circuit can be supplied with energy, for example, by means of the plug.

Preferably, the cover is designed in such a way that it depends on the configuration of the terminal and/or the configuration of the current sensor, in particular in terms of its position and/or its geometry: so that the mounting and/or removal of the terminal can be performed.

Preferably, the cover has at least one warning indication, in particular a colored warning indication.

Particularly preferably, the warning indication indicates that: contacting and/or externally supplying power at the terminal by means of a charging cable may lead to a malfunction of the vehicle.

Preferably, the cover is of two-layer design, wherein the first layer makes it difficult, at least in particular, to contact the terminal by means of a charging cable and/or to supply power externally at least at the terminal. The first layer is, for example, of a hard texture or is designed with high strength. The second layer in this case has, in particular, a warning indication.

Preferably, the cover is refittable. This can be achieved, for example, by: i.e. the cover is designed as a plastic cover with a self-adhesive area and/or as an adhesive foil. The cover can be retrofitted in particular in current sensor assemblies already in series or at the customer.

Preferably, the cover is bondable by the supplier and/or by the customer.

Preferably, the cover has a high rigidity and/or is of substantially inelastic design.

Preferably, the cover is not designed as the entire housing of the terminal.

Preferably, the cover is arranged and/or fastened and/or glued and/or screwed and/or latched on the plug and/or on the current sensor in an irreversible and/or reversible manner only by means of specific tools and/or only by means of specific methods.

The terminal preferably has an annular section for electrical and press-fit contacting of a battery pole of a vehicle. In particular, the terminal has a clamping and/or screwing device, which is designed and interacts with the ring segment in the following manner: that is, the inner diameter of the annular section is variable.

The current sensor preferably has a device for measuring a voltage.

Drawings

Further preferred embodiments also result from the following description of exemplary embodiments with the aid of the figures.

In the schematic illustration:

FIG. 1a shows an embodiment of the current sensor assembly of the present invention, and

fig. 1b shows an embodiment of the current sensor assembly of the invention, wherein the cover has not yet been fastened.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1a and 1b show a schematic current sensor assembly 1. The current sensor assembly comprises a terminal 2 for contacting a battery pole of the vehicle. The current sensor assembly 1 further comprises a connecting element 3 for electrical contacting. The connecting element 3 serves in particular as a vehicle body (Fahrzeugmasse). The current sensor assembly further comprises a current sensor 4.

The current sensor 4 includes a resistance element connected in series between the connection element 3 and the terminal 2. The current sensor receives a measurement voltage at an application point acting on the resistance element, wherein the load current can be determined by means of the received measurement voltage.

The current sensor 4 determines the state of charge of the battery, in particular by means of the determined load current, for example by time integration of the determined load current. For this purpose, the current sensor comprises, in particular, a signal processing circuit.

The current sensor 4 may provide a sensor output signal, such as a state of charge signal, which can be communicated to other devices. For this purpose, the current sensor 4 comprises in particular a plug 6. Furthermore, the signal processing circuit can be supplied with energy, for example, by means of the plug 6.

The signal processing circuit is embedded, for example, in a housing, wherein the resistive element is at least partially embedded in the housing.

Furthermore, the current sensor 4 may comprise, for example, means for detecting a temperature and/or means for detecting a terminal voltage of the battery.

The current sensor assembly 1 further comprises a cover 5.

The cover 5 is designed in such a way in terms of its position and/or its geometry depending on the configuration of the terminal and/or the configuration of the current sensor that at least contact with the terminal 2 by means of a charging cable is made difficult and/or external power supply at least at this terminal 2 is made difficult.

The difficulty of contacting the terminal 2 by means of a charging cable or of supplying power externally at the terminal 2 is based on the fact that the terminal is embodied in a spatial direction, in particular by the upper, complete cover 5.

In fig. 1a, the cover 5 has been placed, in particular glued, at the current sensor 4. The cover is, for example, arranged on the upper side of the housing of the current sensor 4. In contrast, fig. 1b shows the cover before being placed on the current sensor 4.

The cover 5 has a substantially flat base surface or is designed flat. Furthermore, the cover has, for example, rounded corners. This prevents damage due to sharp edges, in particular. Furthermore, the cover 5 is designed in one piece.

Furthermore, the cover is in particular of square design, arranged offset to one another. In particular, the two squares arranged offset to one another form the L-shaped side edge of the base surface on one side and/or the S-shaped side edge of the base surface on the opposite side.

According to an example, the plug 6 may project upwards on the basis of the side edge in an L-shaped design. Furthermore, easy, or cost-effective, or comfortable contact with the connecting element 3 is ensured in particular by the side edges being of S-shaped design.

The cover 5 is designed from a substantially electrically non-conductive material or is an insulator. The cover 5 is furthermore designed as a plastic cover, wherein the plastic cover has a self-adhesive area, in particular in the area of the current sensor.

The cover 5 is designed in the following way: that is, the mounting and/or removal of the terminal 2 can be performed particularly comfortably. In this embodiment, this is achieved by: that is, the cover 5 covers the terminal 2 or the terminal area only from one spatial direction, in particular from above. In particular, the screwing or screwing device of the threaded connection or of the terminal 2 from that side can thereby be released or screwed by means of a tool, so that the terminal 2 can be mounted with a press fit to the battery pole or the terminal 2 can be removed from the battery pole.

The cover 5 is in particular of rigid design or has a high rigidity or is essentially inelastic. This ensures, in particular, that at least contact with the terminal or the terminal area is made difficult.

If a feature or set of features is not necessarily essential in the course of this method, the invention has been found to be intended to claim at least one independent claim that does not include the feature or set of features. For example, reference may be made herein to a sub-combination of a claim as found on the filing date or to a sub-combination of a claim as found on the filing date subject to other limitations. Such claims or combinations of features to be restated are understood to be covered by the disclosure of the present application.

It is also indicated that the configurations, features and variants of the invention described in the different embodiments or examples and/or illustrated in the figures can be combined with one another as desired. The individual features or features can be arbitrarily replaced with one another. The resulting combination of features is understood to be covered by the disclosure of the present application.

The citation of the claims in the dependent claims is not to be construed as a disclaimer of the independent protection of the subject matter of the present invention from the features of the cited dependent claims. These features may also be combined with any other features.

The features disclosed in the description only or in the description or in the claims only in combination with other features can in principle have an independent meaning which is essential to the invention. Accordingly, these features may also be incorporated into the claims separately for definition in relation to the prior art.

Claims

1. A current sensor assembly (1) comprising:

-a terminal (2) for contacting a battery pole of a vehicle;

-a connecting element (3) for electrical contacting; and

-a current sensor (4) comprising a resistive element connected in series between the terminal (2) and the connection element (3),

characterized in that the current sensor assembly (1) comprises a cover (5) which is designed in such a way that it depends on the configuration of the terminal (2) and/or the configuration of the current sensor (4) with regard to its position and/or its geometry: the cover (5) at least partially covers the terminal (2) in such a way that at least access to the terminal (2) by means of a charging cable is made difficult and/or external power supply at least at the terminal (2) is made difficult.

2. The current sensor assembly (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover (5) is arranged at the housing of the current sensor (4).

3. The current sensor assembly (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the cover (5) is arranged at the housing of the current sensor (4) in a fastened or glued or screwed or latched manner.

4. Current sensor assembly (1) according to claim l or 2, characterized in that the cover (5) is designed at a distance from the terminal (2), or in that the cover (5) covers the terminal (2) and in that an air gap is designed between the terminal (2) and the cover (5).

5. Current sensor assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cover (5) is of flat design or has a flat base surface.

6. The current sensor assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cover (5) has a planar first base surface and a planar second base surface, wherein the planar first base surface and the planar second base surface are designed parallel to one another, wherein the vertical spacing of the planar first base surface and the planar second base surface substantially corresponds to the height difference between the upper side of the terminal (2) and the upper side of the housing of the current sensor (4).

7. Current sensor assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cover (5) has at least one flat base face, wherein the cover (5) has, at least partially in the region of the terminal (2), perpendicularly outwardly projecting side faces at the edge of the flat base face.

8. Current sensor assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cover (5) only partially covers the terminal (2).

9. Current sensor assembly (1) according to claim l or 2, characterized in that the cover (5) is of one-piece design.

10. Current sensor assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cover (5) is designed from a substantially electrically non-conductive material.

11. The current sensor assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the current sensor assembly (1) comprises a plug (6), wherein the cover (5) is arranged at the plug (6).

12. Current sensor assembly (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the cover (5) is arranged at the plug (6) in a fastened or glued or screwed or latched manner.

13. Current sensor assembly (1) according to claim l or 2, characterized in that the cover (5) is designed in such a way that it depends on the configuration of the terminal (2) and/or the configuration of the current sensor (4) in terms of its position and/or its geometry: so that the mounting and/or removal of the terminal (2) can be performed.

14. Current sensor assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cover (5) has at least one warning indication.

15. Current sensor assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cover (5) has a high stiffness or is of substantially inelastic design.

16. Current sensor assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cover (5) is not designed as a complete housing of the terminal (2).

17. The current sensor assembly (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cover (5) is arranged at the plug (6) and/or at the current sensor (4) irreversible or reversible only by specific means or only by specific methods.

18. Current sensor assembly (1) according to claim 17, characterized in that the cover (5) is arranged at the plug (6) in a fastened or glued or screwed or latched manner.