EP2693569A1 - Contacting device - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (10) has contact elements (16a,16b) that are provided with a contact portion (20) for electrical contact with a complementary contact element (18) of the contact carrier. A connecting element (22) is used for connecting the contact element with a conduit (24). The contact elements are arranged in the alternate manner. The connecting elements of contact elements are attached to respective ends of the contact portion. An independent claim is included for a control device for vehicle.

Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to an electrical contacting device and a control device with such an electrical contacting device.

Background of the invention

Control devices for vehicles, such as automobiles (cars, trucks, buses, motorbikes), are usually electrically connected via an interface to a cable harness. The interface may, for example, comprise a printed circuit board comprising a plurality of contact pins, contact blades or contact surfaces (lands). For contacting the interface, a contacting device in the form of a plug is usually attached to the cable harness, which is pushed or plugged onto the interface.

The contact elements of the contacting are normally arranged in a row and each connected to a line from the wiring harness, which lies in the same plane as the contact element. Since in this case the lines are arranged side by side, the pitch of the contacting is usually determined by the diameter of the lines.

The smallest common cable cross-section in the automotive sector is approximately 0.35 mm ² , which leads to an outer diameter of a line of approximately 1.4 mm, from which approximately 0.2 mm tolerance can still be subtracted. Even with minimal piping, a pipe outside diameter of about 1.0 mm is only hard to fall below. Overall, a pitch of 1.8 mm in sealed systems or 1.5 mm in non-sealed systems in this construction is not to fall below.

Summary of the invention

It is an object of the invention to further reduce the pitch of contacting.

This object is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Further embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and from the following description.

One aspect of the invention relates to a contacting device for simultaneously producing a plurality of electrical connections with a contact carrier. A contacting device may be, for example, an electrical plug or a socket for receiving a plug. The contact carrier may be a printed circuit board that provides contact blades or contact surfaces that are to be electrically connected by the contacting device to a wire harness.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the contacting device has a plurality of contact elements, each contact element having a contact region for electrically contacting a contact element of the contact carrier and a connecting element for connecting the contact element to a line of the contacting device. For example, a contact element may have a receptacle for a contact blade or a contact pad for a contact surface as the contact region. The connection area can have a cable lug or a crimp.

The plurality of contact elements of the contacting device has a first group of first contact elements and a second group of second contact elements, wherein the first contact elements are arranged alternately to the second contact elements. In other words, the contact elements may be arranged in a row or a plurality of rows, wherein in a region of the contacting device between the lines respectively alternately a first contact element from the first group and a second contact elements from the second group is arranged. The contact elements of each group can be arranged in a row.

The connection elements of the first contact elements are fastened to first ends of the contact regions, and the connection elements of the second contact elements are fastened to second ends of the contact regions, which lie opposite the first ends. In other words, the contact elements can be arranged bidirectionally.

Also, in this way, a first group of leads connected to the first contact members may leave the contactor in a different direction and / or other plane, such as a second group of leads connected to the second contact members.

Thus, the contact elements can be arranged closer to each other, since only the distance between two adjacent contact elements of a group is limited by the cable diameter. Adjacent contact elements from different groups can be packed twice as densely. Thus, the pitch of the contacting substantially independent of the cable cross-section or line outer diameter can be selected.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the contact regions of all contact elements between the connecting elements of the first contact elements and the connecting elements of the second contact elements are arranged. The connecting elements of the contact elements can be arranged in each case for each group of contact elements in a row. Between the two rows of connecting elements, a region can be formed in the contacting device in which the contact regions of all the contact elements are arranged in a row or in a plurality of rows.

According to one embodiment of the invention, contact areas of the first contact elements and the second contact elements overlap in a direction orthogonal to an extension direction of the contact elements. The two rows or groups of contact elements can so far into each other be moved so that the front portions of the contact elements or even the entire contact elements protrude into the other row.

However, it is also possible that the contact areas of the two groups are offset so much relative to each other, that the two rows are completely adjacent.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the first contact elements of the first group and the second contact elements of the second group are each arranged parallel to one another. The contact elements may comprise an elongate contact body as a contact region, wherein the elongated contact bodies are arranged parallel to each other. The first contact elements can be arranged antiparallel to the second contact elements.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the contact elements are designed to contact contact surfaces on a printed circuit board and / or to receive contact blades. For this purpose, the contact elements may comprise a contact spring or a contact body which can be pressed onto the contact surface of the printed circuit board, or a receptacle which can receive the contact blade.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the contact regions of the first contact elements and the contact regions of the second contact elements are arranged in a plane. In this way, corresponding contact surfaces can be contacted on a surface of the circuit board.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the connecting elements of the first and / or second contact elements are designed to contact lines which extend in a plane with the contact regions of the first and / or second contact elements. The lines can, for example, leave the contacting device parallel to the contact areas in opposite directions.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the connecting elements of the first and / or second contact elements are designed to contact lines which, in a plane parallel to a plane of the contact areas of the run first and / or second contact elements. For example, the contact areas (for example crimp sleeves) are offset from the contact areas at the contact areas, so that the corresponding line can indeed run parallel to the contact area but offset from it.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the connecting elements of the first and / or second contact elements are designed to contact lines that leave the connecting elements in a direction that differs from an extension direction of the contact areas. For example, the connecting elements may protrude upward (i.e., in a direction substantially orthogonal to the extending direction of the contact areas and the groups of contact elements) from the contact areas so that the lines also initially run in that direction.

According to one embodiment of the invention leave first lines, which are connected to the first contact elements, and second lines, which are connected to the second contact elements, the contacting device in the same direction. For example, the connecting elements (for example crimp sleeves) of one group of contact elements can be arranged offset relative to the connecting elements of the other group of connecting elements such that the first lines leading to the first connecting elements offset to the second lines leading to the second connecting elements run.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the contacting device comprises a housing, in which the contact elements are accommodated. For example, sealing elements can be attached to the housing, which seal the region in which the contact elements lie and / or openings through which the lines leave the housing.

The housing may be designed to be pressed or plugged onto a contact carrier, so that the contact elements of the contacting device contact elements on the contact carrier electrically. The direction of movement, with which the contacting device is connected to the contact carrier (mechanically and electrically), can in Substantially orthogonal to the directions in which extend the lines connected to the contact elements.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a control device, for example for a vehicle, which has a contacting device as described above and below.

Brief description of the figures

• Fig. 1 zeigt eine schematische Draufsicht auf eine Kontaktiereinrichtung mit einer unidirektionalen Kabelführung.
• Fig. 2 zeigt eine schematische Draufsicht auf eine Kontaktiereinrichtung gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung.
• Fig. 3 zeigt eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Kontaktiereinrichtung gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung.
• Fig. 4 zeigt eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Kontaktiereinrichtung gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung.
• Fig. 5 zeigt eine schematische Draufsicht auf eine Kontaktiereinrichtung gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung.
• Fig. 6 zeigt eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Kontaktiereinrichtung gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung.
• Fig. 7 zeigt eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Kontaktiereinrichtung gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung.
• Fig. 8 zeigt eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Kontaktiereinrichtung gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung.
• Fig. 9 zeigt eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Kontaktiereinrichtung gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung.
• Fig. 10 zeigt eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Kontaktiereinrichtung gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung.
• Fig. 11 zeigt eine schematische dreidimensionale Ansicht einer Kontaktiereinrichtung gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung.
• Fig. 12 zeigt eine schematische Seitenansicht eines Steuergeräts gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

• Fig. 1 shows a schematic plan view of a contacting device with a unidirectional cable management.
• Fig. 2 shows a schematic plan view of a contacting device according to an embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 3 shows a schematic side view of a contacting device according to an embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 4 shows a schematic side view of a contacting device according to an embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 5 shows a schematic plan view of a contacting device according to an embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 6 shows a schematic side view of a contacting device according to an embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 7 shows a schematic side view of a contacting device according to an embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 8 shows a schematic side view of a contacting device according to an embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 9 shows a schematic side view of a contacting device according to an embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 10 shows a schematic side view of a contacting device according to an embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 11 shows a schematic three-dimensional view of a contacting device according to an embodiment of the invention.
• Fig. 12 shows a schematic side view of a control device according to an embodiment of the invention.

Basically, identical or similar parts are provided with the same reference numerals.

Detailed description of embodiments

Fig. 1 shows a contacting device 10 with a unidirectional wiring. The contacting device 10 is designed to connect an interface 12, which is provided for example on a control unit, with a harness 14 electrically. On the side of the wiring harness 14, the contacting device 10 has a plurality of contact elements 16, which are arranged parallel to one another and which are designed to make an electrical connection with corresponding contact elements 18 on the side of the interface 12.

The contact elements 18 may comprise, for example, pins 18a, contact blades 18b or a contact surface (land) 18c. It is to be understood that for a contacting device 10, however, only one type of contact element 18 or 16 will generally be present.

The contact elements 16 have a contact region 20 and a connecting element 22, which may comprise a crimp sleeve 22, for example. Via the connecting element 22, each contact element 16 is connected to a line 24 of the cable harness 14. The connecting elements 22 and a Front portion of the lines 24 are electrically isolated from each other by insulation elements 26.

Since the contact elements 16 are arranged in a single row 28, the lines 24 are guided within a row in the plane of the contact elements 16. The grid dimension of the contacting device 10, d. H. the distance between two contact elements 16 is substantially dependent on the diameter A of the lines 24 and the associated connecting element 22. The distance B of the connecting elements 22 to the insulation elements 26 and the thickness C of the insulation elements 26 also contribute to the grid dimension, so that the grid dimension RM = A + 2 * B + C holds. Normally, the diameter of the contact elements 18 is smaller than the diameter A of the lines 24 and the connecting elements 22nd

The Fig. 2 shows a plan view of a contacting device 10, which essentially the same components as those in the Fig. 1 has contacting device 10 shown.

The contacting device 10 of Fig. 2 has two groups or rows 28a, 28b of contact elements 16a, 16b, the connecting elements 22 are arranged at opposite ends of the contact elements 16a, 16b. The first contact elements 16a of the first row 28a are arranged alternately with the second contact elements 16b of the second row 28b. Thus, adjacent contact elements 16a, 16b, which originate from different rows 28a, 28b, can be arranged closer to one another than in the case of FIG Fig. 1 is possible, since the lines 24, which leave the contacting device 10 in a common direction, are not connected to adjacent contact elements 16a, 16b.

This creates an arrangement of contact elements 16a, 16b, with which a relative independence of the grid dimension from the line cross-section is achieved. About this arrangement is a grid reduction over the usual in the Fig. 1 Pitch shown beyond possible and there are higher miniaturization approaches feasible.

The in the Fig. 2 Contact elements 18b of the contact carrier shown can, for example, be contact blades 18b which are arranged parallel but offset from one another such that they still overlap in the extension direction of the two rows 28a, 28b.

The contact elements 16a, 16b are arranged in each row 28a, 28b in parallel and in alignment (i.e., not offset from each other). Similar to the contact elements 18, however, the contact elements 16a, 16b of different rows 28a, 28b are arranged offset from one another. They are so strongly offset that the contact areas 20 of contact elements 16a, 16b of different rows 28a, 28b no longer overlap.

The Fig. 3 shows a side view of another embodiment of a contacting device 10, wherein the contact elements 16a, 16b analogous to those in the Fig. 2 are shown executed. In the Fig. 3 However, it can be seen that the contact elements 18b can be so strongly offset on the contact carrier to each other that they form two rows that do not overlap in the extension direction of the rows 28a, 28b.

In contrast, the shows Fig. 4 an embodiment in side view, in which the contact elements 18b of the contact carrier are arranged almost in alignment in a row. The two rows 28a, 28b of contact elements 16a, 16b partially overlap.

The Fig. 5 shows an embodiment of a contacting device 10 in plan view, which is adapted to contact a number of contact surfaces 18c. The lines 14 and the contact elements 16a, 16b are analogous to Fig. 2 arranged in two parallel rows 28a, 28b.

Analogous to 3 and 4 show the 6 and 7 in that the contact elements 16a, 16, which are designed to contact contact surfaces 18c, can be arranged in two overlapping or non-overlapping rows 28a, 28b.

From the Fig. 3, 4 . 6 and 7 It can also be seen that the contact regions 20 of the contact elements 16a, 16b of both rows 28a, 28b in one plane can be arranged so that contact elements 18b, 18c, which are arranged, for example, in a plane on a circuit board, can be contacted.

Continue from the Fig. 3, 4 . 6 and 7 that the connecting elements 22 can also be arranged in one plane or in the plane of the contact regions 20. The connecting elements 22 may be connected directly to the corresponding ends of the contact regions 20. The leads 24 can thus leave the contacting device 10 in two groups in opposite directions.

The FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 show in side view various embodiments of contacting devices 10, with different contact and routing variants.

In the embodiment of the Fig. 8 is the connecting element 22 of the contact element 16b offset from the plane in which the contact areas 20 of both contact elements 16a, 16b are located. For example, the connecting element 22 of the contact element 16b is connected via a web 30 to the end of the contact region 20 of the contact element 16b, which extends in sections in a direction orthogonal to this plane. In this way, it is possible that the line 24, which is connected to the contact element 16 b, lies in a different plane than the plane of the contact regions 20.

Moreover, the lead 24 connected to the contact member 16b may be passed over the contact members 16a, 16b so as to be able to leave the contactor 10 in the same direction as the lead 24 connected to the contact member 16a.

In the embodiment of the Fig. 9 both connecting elements 22 are offset relative to the plane of the contact regions 20. The two connecting elements 22 and the lines 24 connected therewith lie in a plane that runs parallel to the plane of the contact regions 20.

The connecting elements 22 shown in the preceding figures were aligned and connected to the contact regions 20 in such a way that the ends of the leads 24 are parallel to the direction of extension of the contact regions 20 or parallel to a printed circuit board to which the complementary contact elements 18, 18b, 18c are attached. run.

In contrast, the shows Fig. 10 in that the connecting elements 10 are aligned such that the leads 24 leave the connecting elements in an upward direction (ie away from the printed circuit board), for example substantially orthogonal to the plane of the contact regions 20. The lines 24 may have a bend in the further course, so that they can leave the contacting device 10, just as in the other embodiments, in a plane parallel to the plane of the contact regions 20.

The Fig. 11 shows a contacting device 10, in which the (in the Fig. 11 only partially visible) contact elements 16a, 16b are received in a plastic housing 40. For example, the contact elements 16a, 16b and the associated ends of the lines 24 may be cast into the housing 40. The contact elements 16a, 16b are in the in the Fig. 11 shown embodiment arranged in a single row.

The contacting device 10 of Fig. 11 (Just as the previously described contacting devices) can be pressed with the side on which the contact regions 20 are arranged on complementary contact elements 18, so that between a contact region 20 and a corresponding complementary contact element 18, an electrical connection is formed. The leads 24 thus travel in a direction substantially orthogonal to the direction of movement of the contactor 10 during compression. Together with the small pitch of the contact regions 20 can be created in this way a particularly small-sized contacting device 10.

It is possible to provide the contacting device 10 with sealing elements 42, 44. An annular sealing region 42 may, for example, protect the contact elements 16a, 16b. It is also possible that the lines 24 are sealed at its exit point by further sealing elements. For example, the contacting device 10 can be used in directly contacting systems, in which the complementary contact elements 18 can be arranged on a printed circuit board.

It is also possible that the contacting device 10 is provided with further plug-in elements, so that the contacting device can be used as a plug, for example as a harness connector.

The Fig. 12 shows a control unit 50 with a contacting device 10 which is fastened via fixing elements 52 to the control unit 50. The fixing elements 52 may be pins, for example, which are fastened either to the control unit 50 or to the contacting device 10 and engage in corresponding depressions in the other component.

The contacting device 10, which is designed as a harness connector 10, is located on the control unit 50. The complementary contact elements 18 may be located, for example, on a printed circuit board 58 of the controller 50.

The contacting device 10 may have a guide or protective structure 54 for realizing a one-sided cable outlet, which lead the lines 24, which leave the contacting device 10 on one side, to the other side. For example, the guide structure 54 may have ribs for guiding the leads 24.

The control device 50 may have connection elements 56 with which the lines 24 can additionally be fastened on the control unit 50.

In addition, it should be noted that "encompassing" does not exclude other elements or steps, and "a" or "an" does not exclude a multitude. It should also be appreciated that features or steps described with reference to any of the above embodiments may also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above. Reference signs in the claims are not to be considered as limiting.

Claims (12)

Contacting means (10) for simultaneously establishing a plurality of electrical connections with a contact carrier (50);
wherein the contacting device (10) has a plurality of contact elements (16a, 16b);
wherein each contact element (16a, 16b) has a contact region (20) for electrically contacting a complementary contact element (18) of the contact carrier and a connecting element (22) for connecting the contact element (16a, 16b) to a line (24) of the contacting device (10). having;
characterized in that
the plurality of contact elements (16a, 16b) of the contacting device (10) have a first group (28a) of first contact elements (16a) and a second group (28b) of second contact elements (16b);
wherein the first contact elements (16a) are arranged alternately to the second contact elements (16b);
wherein the connecting members (22) of the first contact members (16a) are fixed to first ends of the contact portions (20) and the connecting members (22) of the second contact members (16b) are fixed to second ends of the contact portions (20) opposite to the first ends , Contacting device (10) according to claim 1,
wherein the contact regions (20) of all contact elements between the connecting elements (22) of the first contact elements (16a) and the connecting elements (22) of the second contact elements (16b) are arranged. Contacting device (10) according to claim 1 or 2,
wherein the contact areas (20) of the first contact elements (16a) and the second contact elements (16b) in a direction orthogonal to an extension direction of the contact elements (16a, 16b) overlap. Contacting device (10) according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the first contact elements (16a) of the first group (28a) and the second contact elements (16b) of the second group (28b) are each arranged parallel to each other;
wherein the first contact elements (16a) are arranged antiparallel to the second contact elements (16b). Contacting device (10) according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the contact elements (16a, 16b) are designed to contact contact surfaces (18c) on a printed circuit board (58) and / or to receive contact blades (18b). Contacting device (10) according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the contact areas (20) of the first contact elements (16a) and the contact areas (20) of the second contact elements (16b) are arranged in a plane. Contacting device (10) according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the connecting elements (22) of the first and / or second contact elements (16a, 16b) are designed to contact lines (24) which extend in a plane with the contact regions (20) of the first and / or second contact elements. Contacting device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 6,
wherein the connecting elements (22) of the first and / or second contact elements (16a, 16b) are adapted to contact lines (24) extending in a plane parallel to a plane of the contact regions (20) of the first and / or second contact elements , Contacting device (10) according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the connecting elements (22) of the first and / or second contact elements (16a, 16b) are designed to contact lines which leave the connecting elements (22) in one direction, which differs from an extension direction of the contact regions (20). Contacting device (10) according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein first lines (24) connected to the first contact elements (16a) and second lines (24) connected to the second contact elements (16b) leave the contacting device (10) in the same direction. Contacting device (10) according to one of the preceding claims,
wherein the contacting device comprises a housing (40) into which the contact elements (16a, 16b) are received,
wherein the housing (40) is designed to be pressed or plugged onto a contact carrier (50) so that the contact elements (16a, 16b) of the contacting device (10) electrically contact complementary contact elements (18) on the contact carrier (50). Control unit (50) for a vehicle with a contacting device (10) according to one of the preceding claims.

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