DE102011078740A1 - Adapter element for connecting a motor vehicle harness with a ribbon cable - Google Patents

Abstract

Adapter element (2) for connecting a motor vehicle wiring harness (6), comprising a first connection side (18a) with a first connection point (20a) for receiving at least a first conductor element (8) and a second connection side (18b) with a second connection point (20b ) for receiving at least one second conductor element (10), characterized in that the first connection point (20a) is adapted for connection to a motor vehicle harness element (6), wherein the at least one first conductor element (8) acts as a discrete conductor element of a motor vehicle Wiring harness (6) is formed, the second connection point (20b) is adapted for connection to a ribbon cable element (4), wherein the at least one second conductor element (10) as a conductor element of the ribbon cable (4) is formed and wherein in the connected state, the at least a first conductor element (8) and the at least one second conductor element (10) are conductively connected.

Description

The present patent application relates to cabling systems in vehicles. In particular, the present invention relates to a direct plug connection concept with an interface between the cable harness and a ribbon cable. Further particularly, the present invention relates to an adapter element for connecting a motor vehicle harness to a ribbon cable.

State of the art

Wiring harnesses are used in vehicles, such as automobiles, to connect individually arranged electronic components in the vehicle to an overall system. In this case, both data lines may be provided by means of a cable harness in order, for example, to connect sensors to electronic components or to connect electronic components to one another via a system bus or data bus, such as CAN bus or FlexRay. At the same time may be arranged in the wiring harness power supply lines, which supply decentralized electronic components with the voltage required for their operation. It is also conceivable that separate harnesses are used for data connection and power supply.

A wiring harness in a vehicle is highly customized to a particular vehicle and thus also requires a high-precision positioning of electronic components in the vehicle in order to establish a connection by means of the wiring harness or its three-dimensional configuration.

Deviations in the positioning of an electronic component may therefore not be tolerable; Likewise, when changing a position of an electronic component, a harness would have to be completely redesigned and assembled.

Disclosure of the invention

One aspect of the present invention may thus be to provide a somewhat flexible connection of an electronic component to a vehicle wiring harness. At the same time, in the field of connection technology, miniaturization for a wiring harness outlet in an automobile may be feasible. In the light of this aspect, an adapter element for connecting a motor vehicle harness, a wiring harness with an adapter element according to the invention, an electronic component with an adapter element according to the invention and a vehicle, in particular an automobile, comprising an inventive adapter element and / or an electronic component according to the invention provided in accordance with the independent claims , Preferred embodiments will be apparent from the dependent claims.

In the field of consumer electronics (CE), there are signal contacts or CE low profile connectors for ribbon cables with small pitches, such as 1.27 mm and 1/20 ", respectively. Such ribbon cables regularly carry only signal currents and are therefore usually carried out unsealed. Corresponding ribbon cable connections, which may be designed as female sockets on the cable, are usually connected with soldered on a circuit board male mating connector.

Alternatively, there are printed circuit board connectors in the field of consumer electronics, which are also soldered to a printed circuit board and allow the direct connection of appropriately trained with contacts, printed circuit boards. PCB connectors, however, are usually leaking and do not realize a cable outlet.

Both the ribbon cable and a printed circuit board connector makes it possible to connect a plurality of conductive connections in parallel, that is in a Ansteckvorgang.

However, neither ribbon cable nor corresponding circuit boards can be used in a wiring harness, since this highly specific of a 3D geometry of a vehicle is constructed of individual or discrete harness wires.

Also, the conventional discrete-line automobile harness connectors terminate in a common plug-in connection, for example in a 2 × 56-pin connector, for commonly connecting the harness wires, e.g. to an electronic component.

Due to the given harness geometry, however, the mating connector must be located on the electronic component side at a precisely predetermined point in the vehicle, since the 3D geometry of the cable harness provides essentially only minimal clearance or space for an individual arrangement. In other words, the 3D geometry of the wiring harness is predetermined such that it expects at a certain point its counterpart to be connected, for example a complementary plug connection element of an electronic component.

Although it would be conceivable to design a connector of a wiring harness comparable to a printed circuit board connector, this would be however, with ribbon cable unsuitable for vehicle applications due to its leakage as well as the lack of possibility of discrete cable outlets. Ribbon cables routed in the wiring harness in turn are not feasible due to the required 3D design of wire harnesses, which could mean, for example, a mechanical overuse of ribbon cables. Furthermore, conventional flat cable often only low current load, for example, a maximum of 1 A, depending on the ribbon cable type and temperature.

An inventive adapter element for connecting a motor vehicle harness with a ribbon cable may thus be seen as a kind of intermediate between the harness and ribbon cable, in particular between the individual, discrete lines of the wiring harness and the individual, combined lines of the ribbon cable. An inventive adapter element together with a connected ribbon cable may also be understood as an extension of the wiring harness.

For example, a manufacturer of a wiring harness may manufacture it in a known three-dimensional configuration, e.g. a short compared to the harness length tail, for example, between 5 and 15 cm using the adapter element of the invention is completed or continued with a ribbon cable. In this context, it may be conceivable that a cable harness according to the invention is connected or terminated at a plurality of its connection ends via adapter elements according to the invention with a ribbon cable. In essence, the adapter element according to the invention thus provides a transition between the individual lines of the wiring harness, which can preferably be arranged or moved three-dimensionally, and the common lines of a ribbon cable.

The ribbon cable may turn be connected in a known manner with a mating connector on a board of an electronic component, or the ribbon cable may be connected in a known manner non-detachably connected to the board of the electronic component and in a suitable manner from the housing of the electronic component for connection to a wiring harness led out using the adapter element according to the invention.

The individual lines of the cable harness and ribbon cable are conductively connected in the desired manner using the adapter element according to the invention.

Thus, the adapter element according to the invention has at least a first connection point for receiving at least a first conductor element, for example, a discrete line of a wiring harness, which subsequently in the connected state using the adapter element conductive with at least one second conductor element at a second connection point, such as a conductor or a strand of a ribbon cable connected.

In the context of the present invention, a connection point can also be understood as meaning a connection surface or, in general, a connection point which is in conductive contact with the respective conductor element.

The connection of the conductor elements to the respective connection points of the adapter element may in this case be connected via known connection methods, such as, for example, using an insulation-displacement connection (SKV) or a press-fit connection. Conductor elements and adapter element may also be connected to one another and can be sealed by means of a welded connection, for example resistance welding.

Corresponding connections may at the same time be configured in such a way that the respective connection of a conductor element in the first or in the second connection point, thus on the first or second connection side of the adapter element, is carried out in a self-sealing manner. When cutting-clamping-connecting, for example, another element for producing the respective connection, thus used for applying a defined force to the conductor elements. Such an element may in this case interact with the adapter element, so that this remains after application of the defined force, thus after establishing the connection of the individual conductor elements with the respective connection point or the adapter element, on or on the adapter element and thus a sealing of the conductor elements provides for the adapter element.

Alternatively, it is possible that, for example in the case of a conventional insulation displacement connection, subsequent sealing material is applied to the adapter element, for example, a non-conductive, flexible hardening material for sealing the connection points or connection points of the respective conductor elements.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and explained in more detail in the following description.

Show it

1a -E connector systems;

2a C shows an exemplary embodiment of an adapter element according to the present invention;

3a -F exemplary embodiments of the adapter element according to the present invention in detail view of the first and second connection point; and

4 an exemplary embodiment of a parallel tap of a ribbon cable according to the present invention.

Embodiments of the invention

1a shows conventional consumer electronic ribbon cables 4 , which are completed with a corresponding plug or socket. The individual conductor elements of the ribbon cable end here on the front side of the socket essentially open or uninsulated.

1b shows the complementary plug to the ribbon cable the 1a , which may be used for mounting or for direct soldering to a printed circuit board.

1c , d show a conventional wiring harness 6 , built with individual conductor elements 8th ,

1e shows conventional consumer electronic circuit board connectors, which may be soldered onto a circuit board, for example.

Further referring to 2a Figure 1c shows an exemplary embodiment of an adapter element according to the present invention.

According to the invention, an adapter element 2 , as in 2a shown used to a wiring harness 6 with a ribbon cable 4 or the individual conductor elements 8th of the wiring harness 6 with the individual conductor elements 10 of the ribbon cable 4 conductive to connect. In this case, each conductor element may be connected via a suitable insulation displacement connection to a respective further conductor element on the adapter element by means of an internal conductive connection. In other words, the individual conductor elements may each be connected to the adapter element with an insulation-displacement connection, which in turn may provide an internal conductive connection between individual conductor elements of the ribbon cable and the wiring harness.

On the ribbon cable 4 connected like in the following, as in 2 B represented, an electronic component 26 be. The other end of the ribbon cable 4 like in the electronics component 26 on a circuit board 12 in the area of a first module 22a to be appropriate. This end of the ribbon cable 4 likes conventionally via a plug connection on the circuit board 12 be mounted or also by means of a permanent connection with permanent circuit board 12 be connected.

An attached at a suitable location in the vehicle fastener 5 , For example, a socket, like the adapter element 2 record or hold and in a defined position for the wiring harness 6 provide. As a result, for example, the 3D design of the wiring harness may be set up such that this with an adapter element 2 , arranged on the fastening element 5 or its defined position, connectable while an electronic component 26 , tailed using the ribbon cable 4 to the adapter element 2 , in the context of certain freedoms due to the flexibility of the ribbon cable in the vehicle can be arranged.

In the event that the electronic component 26 In addition to a data connection also requires a (separate) power supply, this may by means of a power module connection using a separate power module connector 24 in the area of a second module 22b respectively. Thus, by means of the power module connector 24 an electronic component 26 be supplied with an amount of energy which via a ribbon cable 4 might not be transferable.

Such a power module connector 24 may be constructed in a conventional, known manner, in particular soldered contacts or pressfit applied to a printed circuit board 14 have which pins with on the cable elements of the power module connector 24 attached crimp connections are plugged. An additional sealing element 16 likes the power module connector 24 caulk.

3a shows schematically the simplest structure of the adapter element 2 , shown schematically only for a conductive connection 28 between a conductor element 10 of the ribbon cable 4 and a conductor element 8th of the wiring harness 6 ,

The contacting of the individual conductor elements 8th . 10 with the conductive connection 28 takes place in 3a an example of an insulation displacement connection. The individual conductor elements 8th . 10 are introduced in a known manner in the insulation displacement connection and are thereby with the conductive connection 28 in contact. Thus, by the adapter element 2 a conductive connection between the conductor elements 8th . 10 provided. A sealing element 16 , in 3a shown only schematically like a seal, for example on the second connection side 18b for the second connection point 20b of the conductor element 10 provide.

At the same time likes using the sealing element 16 Force F for introducing the conductor element 10 be provided in the insulation displacement connection. The sealing element 16 may in this case be designed such that several or all conductor elements 10 of the ribbon cable 4 may be connected and sealed.

A similar sealing element may also be on the first connection side 18a for the first connection point 20a be provided in 3a but not shown.

adapter element 2 can be realized differently. On the one hand, it is conceivable that the adapter element 2 made of a non-conductive material, such as a plastic material. The insulation displacement device may in this case have metallic cutting contacts with the inside of the adapter element 2 lying conductive connection 28 stay in contact. This results in a conductive contacting of the conductor elements 8th . 10 through the conductive connection 28 , wherein the adapter element 2 itself is formed as an insulator element.

It is also conceivable that the adapter element 2 itself completely made of a conductive material, eg a metal, so that a separate conductive connection 28 is not necessary, or the adapter element 2 even takes over its function and as a conductive connection 28 acts. In this case, an insulating housing may be provided, which is a contacting, and thus a short circuit, of adjacent adapter elements 2 in derogation.

In 3b , c become individual, individual embodiments of a contacting element 30 to the transition between conductor element 8th of the wiring harness and conductor element 10 of the ribbon cable 4 shown. The offset between conductor element 8th and 10 may be due to a pitch in the ribbon cable.

In 3d F is shown as by an inventive Konnektierungselement 30 , wherein a plurality of (arbitrarily configured) Konnektierungselementen 30 an adapter element 2 like to build, several ladder elements 10 of the ribbon cable 4 with a conductor element 8th of the wiring harness 6 get connected. For this purpose, the Konnektierungselement 30 internally two conductive connections 28 to two different connection points 20b on which second connection points 20b different conductor elements 10a , b connect. Thus, for example, a possible load of electricity could be doubled by that of the conductor element 8th provided power on two conductor elements 10a split and subsequently over the ribbon cable 4 is directed. It is also conceivable that more than two conductor elements 10 , eg three, four, five, six, etc. in parallel with a conductor element 8th get connected.

The connection element 30 like the two parallel connection points 20b parallel juxtaposed according to 3d , f or they may be spatially offset in the direction of cable elongation, according to 3e , In both cases, the connection points like 20b a suitable pitch, adapted to the grid of a ribbon cable 4 , exhibit.

Continue to refer to 4 an exemplary embodiment of a parallel tap of a ribbon cable according to the present invention is shown.

In this case, preference is not given to two directly adjacent conductor elements of the ribbon cable 4 connected in parallel but intermittently each leave a conductor element between two parallel interconnected conductor elements. However, this can for example also be connected in parallel with the next but one conductor elements in parallel, etc.

In 4 are the conductor elements 10a , B connected in parallel, while the conductor element lying between these conductor elements 10'a with the on ladder element 10b subsequent conductor element 10'b is connected in parallel.

An omitted conductor element fits into the grid dimension of the adapter element 2 , eg according to 3d and can there by means of a second adapter element 2 , not shown, between conductor elements 10a , b be connected.

Claims (9)

Adapter element ( 2 ) for connecting a cable harness ( 6 ) and a ribbon cable ( 4 ), comprising a first connection page ( 18a ) with a first connection point ( 20a ) for receiving at least a first conductor element ( 8th ); and a second connection page ( 18b ) with a second connection point ( 20b ) for receiving at least one second conductor element ( 10 ); characterized in that the first connection point ( 18a ) for connection to a cable harness element ( 6 ), wherein the at least one first conductor element ( 8th ) as a discrete conductor element of the harness element ( 6 ) is trained; the second connection point ( 18b ) for connection to a ribbon cable element ( 4 ), wherein the at least one second conductor element ( 10 ) as a conductor element of the ribbon cable ( 4 ) is trained; wherein, in the connected state, the at least one first conductor element ( 8th ) and the at least one second conductor element ( 10 ) are conductively connected. Adapter element according to the preceding claim, wherein the connection is formed as a non-reversible or non-detachable connection. The adapter element according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the connection is formed as a compound from the group consisting of insulation displacement connection, welding connection, press-welding connection, press-fit connection and crimp connection. Adapter element according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the connection is formed on contacting as a sealing connection, in particular as an automatically sealing connection is formed, in particular by means of encapsulation of the connected conductor elements with a sealing material or by means of one in the adapter element ( 2 ) integrated sealing element ( 16 ). Adapter element according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adapter element ( 2 ) at least two connection points ( 20 ) on the second connection side ( 18b ) having at least two connection points ( 20b ) are arranged so spaced, so that the distance to a pitch of the ribbon cable element ( 4 ) corresponds. Adapter element according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adapter element ( 2 ) at least two mutually offset connection points ( 18b ) on the second connection side ( 20b ), so that the first conductor element ( 8th ) with at least two second conductor elements ( 10a , b) is parallel conductively connectable. Wiring harness ( 6 ), comprising an adapter element ( 2 ) according to one of the preceding claims. Electronic component ( 26 ), comprising an adapter element ( 2 ) according to one of claims 1 to 6, and a ribbon cable element ( 4 ) arranged between electronic components ( 26 ) and adapter element ( 2 ). Vehicle, in particular automobile, having an adapter element ( 2 ) according to one of claims 1 to 6, a wiring harness ( 6 ) according to claim 7 and / or an electronic component ( 26 ) according to claim 8.

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