EP2544308A1 - Adapter element for connecting a motor vehicle cable tree with a ribbon cable - Google Patents

Abstract

The adapter element (2) has a terminal end (18a) having a connecting point (20a) for receiving a conductor element (8), and a connection side (18b) with a connecting point (20b) for receiving a conductor element (10). The connecting point (20a) is provided for connection to wire harness element (6). The conductor element (8) is a discrete semiconductor element. The connection point (20b) is provided for connection to a ribbon cable element (4). The conductor element (10) is a conductor structure of ribbon cable. The circuit elements (8,10) are conductively connected. Independent claims are included for the following: (1) electronic component; and (2) vehicle.

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 flat cables with small grid dimensions, such as 1.27 mm and 1/20 ", for example 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 automotive wiring harness connectors with discrete wires terminate in a common plug connection, for example in a 2x56-pin connector, for common connection of the wiring harnesses, 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 unsuitable for vehicle applications due to its leakage and the lack of possibility of discrete cable outlets with ribbon cable. Ribbon cables routed in the harness, in turn, are not feasible due to the required 3D design of harnesses, which e.g. could mean 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 this in a known three-dimensional configuration, for example one compared to the harness length short tail, for example between 5 and 15 cm using the adapter element according to 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 connectable and sealable via 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.

Figuren 1a-e

Steckverbindungssysteme;

Figuren 2a-c

eine exemplarische Ausgestaltung eines Adapterelementes gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung;

Figuren 3a-f

exemplarische Ausgestaltungen des Adapterelementes gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung in Detailansicht von erstem und zweitem Verbindungspunkt; und

Figur 4

eine exemplarische Ausgestaltung eines Parallelabgriffes eines Flachbandkabels gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung.

Show it

FIGS. 1a-e

Steckverbindungssysteme;

Figures 2a-c

an exemplary embodiment of an adapter element according to the present invention;

FIGS. 3a-f

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

FIG. 4

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

• Figur 1a zeigt herkömmliche Consumer Electronic Flachbandkabel 4, welche mit einem entsprechenden Stecker bzw. Steckerbuchse abgeschlossen sind. Die einzelnen Leiterelemente des Flachbandkabels enden hierbei an der Stirnseite der Steckerbuchse im Wesentlichen offen bzw. unisoliert.
• Figur 1b zeigt die komplementären Stecker zum Flachbandkabel der Figur 1a, welche zur Montage bzw. zur direkten Verlötung mit einer Leiterplatte verwendet werden mögen.
• Figuren 1c, d zeigen einen herkömmlichen Kabelbaum 6, aufgebaut mit einzelnen Leiterelementen 8.
• Figur 1e zeigt herkömmliche Consumer Electronic Leiterplattensteckverbinder, welche beispielsweise auf eine Leiterplatte aufgelötet werden mögen.

Embodiments of the invention

• FIG. 1a shows conventional consumer electronic ribbon cable 4, which are terminated 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.
• FIG. 1b shows the complementary plug to the ribbon cable the FIG. 1a , which may be used for mounting or for direct soldering to a printed circuit board.
• FIGS. 1c, d show a conventional harness 6, constructed with individual conductor elements. 8
• Figure 1e shows conventional consumer electronic circuit board connectors, which may be soldered onto a circuit board, for example.

Further referring to Figures 2a-c an exemplary embodiment of an adapter element according to the present invention is shown.

According to the invention, an adapter element 2, as in FIG. 2a shown used to conductively connect a cable harness 6 with a ribbon cable 4 and the individual conductor elements 8 of the wiring harness 6 with the individual conductor elements 10 of the ribbon cable 4. 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 may also be connected, as in FIG. 2b shown to be an electronic component 26. The respective other end of the ribbon cable 4 may be mounted in the electronic component 26 on a printed circuit board 12 in the region of a first module 22a. This end of the ribbon cable 4 may be conventional via a plug connection on the circuit board 12th be mounted or also be connected by means of a permanent connection with permanent circuit board 12.

An appropriate mounted in the vehicle fastener 5, for example, a socket, may accommodate the adapter element 2 and hold and provide in a defined position for the wiring harness 6. As a result, for example, the 3D configuration of the wiring harness may be configured such that it can be connected to an adapter element 2, arranged on the fastening element 5 or its defined position, while an electronic component 26, connected using the ribbon cable 4 to the adapter element 2, im Framework certain freedom due to the flexibility of the ribbon cable in the vehicle can be arranged.

In the event that the electronic component 26 requires not only a data connection but also a (separate) power supply, this may be done by means of a power module connection using a separate power module connector 24 in the region of a second module 22b. Thus, by means of the power module connector element 24, an electronic component 26 can be supplied with an amount of energy which could possibly not be transmitted via a ribbon cable 4.

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

FIG. 3a schematically shows 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 8 of the wiring harness. 6

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

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

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

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

It is also conceivable that the adapter element 2 itself is made entirely of a conductive material, e.g. a metal, so that a separate conductive connection 28 is not necessary, or the adapter element 2 itself assumes its function and acts as a conductive connection 28. In this case, an insulating housing may be provided, which prevents a contacting, thus a short circuit, of adjacent adapter elements 2.

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

In Figures 3d-f is shown how, by a connecting element 30 according to the invention, wherein a plurality of (arbitrarily configured) Konnektierungselementen 30 may build an adapter element 2, a plurality of conductor elements 10 of the ribbon cable 4 are connected to a conductor element 8 of the wiring harness 6. For this purpose, the Konnektierungselement 30 internally two conductive connections 28 to two different connection points 20b, which connect second connection points 20b different conductor elements 10a, b. Thus, for example, a possible current load could be doubled by dividing the current provided by the conductor element 8 into two conductor elements 10a, b and subsequently passing it via the ribbon cable 4. It is also conceivable that more than two conductor elements 10, for example three, four, five, six, etc., are connected in parallel with a conductor element 8.

In this case, the connecting element 30 may have the two parallel connection points 20b lying parallel next to each other 3d figures . f or they may be spatially offset in the direction of cable elongation, according to FIG. 3e , In both cases, the connection points 20b may have a suitable grid spacing, adapted to the grid of a ribbon cable 4.

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

In this case, preferably, not two directly adjacent conductor elements of the ribbon cable 4 are connected in parallel, but intermittently leaving one conductor element in each case between two conductor elements connected in parallel. However, this can for example also be connected in parallel with the next but one conductor elements in parallel, etc.

In FIG. 4 the conductor elements 10a, b are shown connected in parallel, while the conductor element 10'a located between these conductor elements is connected in parallel with the conductor element 10'b following the conductor element 10b.

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

Claims (9)

Adapter element (2) for connecting a cable harness (6) and a ribbon cable (4), comprising
a first terminal side (18a) having a first connection point (20a) for receiving at least a first conductor element (8); and
a second terminal side (18b) having a second connection point (20b) for receiving at least one second conductor element (10); characterized in that
the first connection point (18a) is arranged for connection to a wiring harness element (6), wherein the at least one first conductor element (8) is formed as a discrete conductor element of the wiring harness element (6);
the second connection point (18b) is adapted for connection to a ribbon cable element (4), wherein the at least one second conductor element (10) is designed as a conductor element of the ribbon cable (4);
wherein in the connected state, the at least one first conductor element (8) 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. Adapter element according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the connection is formed as a compound of the group consisting of insulation displacement connection, weld connection, press-weld 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 encapsulation of the connected conductor elements with a sealing material or by means of a in the adapter element (2) integrated sealing element (16). Adapter element according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the adapter element (2) has at least two connection points (20) on the second connection side (18b), which at least two connection points (20b) are arranged so spaced, so that the distance corresponds to a grid dimension of the ribbon cable element (4). Adapter element according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the adapter element (2) has at least two mutually offset connection points (18b) on the second connection side (20b), so that the first conductor element (8) can be conductively connected in parallel with at least two second conductor elements (10a, b). 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 component (26) and adapter element (2). Vehicle, in particular automobile, comprising an adapter element (2) according to one of claims 1 to 6, a cable harness (6) according to claim 7 and / or an electronic component (26) according to claim 8.

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