EP3026760A1 - Direct connection for electrically contacting flexible strip conductor holders in vehicle lights - Google Patents

Abstract

A direct plug-in connection (01) for electrically contacting printed circuit board carriers (02) comprising flex boards (21) in vehicle lamps is described. The direct plug connection (01) comprises: a flexplate (21) provided with one or more tracks as a conductor carrier (02), a peripheral contact plug (03) having a number of contact means (30) corresponding to a number of electrical connections of the flexplate (21), in which: the electrical connections of the flexplate (21) are formed by a number of electrical contact surfaces provided in at least one edge region (20) of the flexplate (21), or are connected to them electrically conductively, - Each of the contact means (30) comprises a clamp (31) with two arranged by a predetermined distance opposite each other, resiliently and electrically conductive interconnected contact wings (32), - The free ends (34) of the contact wings (32) of a clip (31) are spaced in an initial state by a distance smaller than the predetermined distance from each other opposite each other, and can be deflected away from each other overcoming the spring load, - The flexplate (21) is reinforced at least in at least one at least one contact surface having edge region (21) by means of a reinforcing element (04), so that in the edge region (20) a stack of flexplate (21) and reinforcing element (04) is obtained the total has a thickness which corresponds to the predetermined distance between the contact wings (32).

Description

The invention relates to a direct plug connection according to the preamble of claim 1.

A vehicle lamp essentially comprises a luminaire interior enclosed by a luminaire housing and a lens, and at least one light source accommodated therein with at least one light source, and optionally associated electronic components for at least one light function of the motor vehicle light. In the luminaire interior, at least one reflector, which is seen from outside the luminaire interior and is seen through one or more light openings closed by the lens, can be accommodated behind at least one light source of the at least one luminous means. The reflector can be formed at least in part by a separate component and / or by at least one part of the luminaire housing itself, for example by means of an at least partially reflective coating.

At least one light source of the illuminant may comprise one or more optical elements, such as at least one lens, at least one channel concentrator, e.g. at least one parabolic trough (CPC) or the like for forming a defined emission characteristic.

The lens is formed by a transparent cover, which protects the interior of the lamp and the components housed by this against the weather.

In the luminaire interior, at least one optical disk can be arranged in the beam path between at least one light source of the luminous means and the light disk, which can have a specific structure and / or masking, for example, with a clear lens, for example a light effect for a viewer, the luminous means and / or its at least one light source to conceal. The luminaire housing or the interior of the luminaire can be divided into several luminaire chambers, each with its own light sources and / or illuminants, possibly reflectors and / or optical elements and / or optical discs, as well as if necessary, lenses are divided, of which several or all lamp chambers same or each lamp chamber can fulfill a different lighting functions.

In the case of a light function, this is a function of the vehicle light implemented by emitting light of a specific color in a specific brightness and direction to fulfill a task. Each vehicle lamp fulfills one or more tasks or functions depending on the design. To fulfill each task or function, a light function of the vehicle lamp is provided. Light functions are, for example, in a configuration as a headlamp a function illuminating the roadway, or in a design as a signal light especially in motor vehicles, a signal function, such as a Wiederholblinklichtfunktion to the turn signal or a brake light function to indicate a braking activity, or. a limiting light function, such as a taillight function, also referred to as a tail light function, to ensure visibility of the vehicle during the day and / or night, such as in a taillight or daytime running light configuration. Examples of vehicle lights in the automotive sector are the Fahrzeugbug, on the vehicle flanks and / or on the side mirrors and rear mounted repeater lights, exit lights, such as ambient lighting, marker lights, brake lights, fog lights, reversing lights, and typically high set third brake lights, so-called Central, High -Mounted Braking Lights, daytime running lights, headlamps and fog lamps also used as turning or cornering lights, as well as combinations thereof.

A luminous means for at least one light function comprises at least at least one light source, for example at least one incandescent lamp or at least one gas discharge lamp or at least one light-emitting diode and optionally combinations thereof.

For example, inorganic light-emitting diodes or organic light-emitting diodes are increasingly used as light sources of lamps for vehicle lights.

Inorganic light emitting diodes consist of at least one light emitting diode semiconductor chip, short LED chip, and at least one, for example, molded by injection molding, the at least one LED chip completely or partially enveloping primary optics. Vehicle lights are also known in which pure LED chips are used without molded primary optics.

Through Hole Technology (THT), Surface Mounted Device (SMD) LEDs, and LEDs are known in which the LED chip is bonded directly to the illuminant carrier in COB (Chip On Board) technology.

THT LEDs, THT LEDs for short, are a well-known type of inorganic light-emitting diodes. They are also referred to as leaded light-emitting diodes, as they consist of an at least in a desired emission transparent encapsulation, e.g. in the form of an encapsulation or an encapsulation, which includes a LED chip with a first electrical connection, for example in the form of an anode terminal connecting bonding wire and connected to a second electrical connection, for example in the form of a cathode terminal, LED chip. From the encapsulation protrude only the designated as little legs wires of the first electrical connection and the second electrical connection as the anode and cathode terminals of the THT-LED. The second electrical connection embodied, for example, as a cathode connection can in this case be provided with a cup mentioned above, in which the LED chip is arranged. The bonding wire leads from the example executed as an anode terminal first connection from outside the cup coming to the LED chip.

SMD LEDs, SMD LEDs for short, are another well-known type of inorganic light-emitting diode. SMD LEDs consist of a leadframe with at least one mounting surface for at least one LED chip and electrical connection surfaces. The leadframe is partially encapsulated by a plastic body with at least one recess freeing at least one mounting surface. The electrical connection surfaces of the leadframe are also kept free as the electrical connections of the SMD LED for later surface mounting. The at least one LED chip is arranged and electrically contacted at the bottom of the at least one recess extending to the at least one mounting surface. In this case, the LED chip is arranged on a first portion of the leadframe connected to at least one first electrical connection area. A bonding wire connects the LED chip to a second portion of the leadframe, which in turn is connected to at least one second electrical pad. The reaching at its base to the mounting surface recess may be designed reflector-like. The walls of the recess form the above-mentioned primary reflector. Here, the walls can be coated reflective.

COB LEDs, COB LEDs for short, consist of an unhoused LED chip and a bonding wire to be arranged directly on a light carrier. The back side of the LED chip forms the first electrical connection of the COB LED. For electrical contacting, the LED chip on its rear side is directly connected to a first conductor track of a luminous means carrier, e.g. electrically connected by soldering or welding. The bonding wire forming the second electrical connection of the COB LED is likewise connected to a second conductor track of the illuminant carrier, e.g. electrically connected by soldering or welding.

For the sake of completeness, it should additionally be mentioned that other contacts, such as the so-called flip-chip structure are possible, in which the contact means of the LED chip are connected directly to a contacted substrate. In these cases, no bonding wire is used.

In the following, therefore, for the sake of simplicity, no distinction is made between inorganic light-emitting diode and LED chip and instead the term LED is used uniformly for both embodiments, unless explicitly stated otherwise. Outstanding properties of LEDs compared to other, conventional light sources of bulbs are a much longer life and a significantly higher light output with the same power consumption. In other words, at the same light intensity, LEDs have lower power consumption compared to other light sources. In this way, when using one or more LEDS as the light source of a light source, for example, in a vehicle lamp, the load of a provided for power supply electrical system of a vehicle can be reduced, along with savings in energy consumption of the vehicle. Furthermore, LEDs have a much longer life than other, for use in a vehicle lamp candidate light sources. Due to the longer service life, among other things, the lower failure rate increases the operational safety and, concomitantly, the quality of the vehicle lamp.

An organic light-emitting diode (OLED) is a luminous thin-film component made of organic semiconducting materials with at least one emitter layer enclosed between electrically conductive, for example metallic layers for anode and cathode. The thickness or, in other words, thickness of the layers is on the order of about 100 Typically, depending on the structure, it is 100 nm to 500 nm. For protection against water, oxygen and for protection against other environmental influences, such as scratch damage and / or pressure loading, OLEDs are typically encapsulated with an inorganic material, in particular with glass. Although there are efforts to replace the glass with plastic, but in particular to meet, for example, the service life requirement of vehicle lights and their light sources with several 1000 hours sufficiently well not crowned by the desired success, because the tightness of the alternative materials for the encapsulation not is sufficiently good enough.

In contrast to inorganic light-emitting diodes, OLEDs do not require monocrystalline materials. Compared to LEDs, OLEDs can therefore be produced using inexpensive thin-film technology. As a result, OLEDs make it possible to produce flat light sources which on the one hand have a very thin appearance and, on the other hand, have a particularly homogeneous appearance when used as a luminous surface visible through the lens of a vehicle lamp.

For operating both LEDs and OLEDs as light sources for a light source, for example a vehicle light, one or more more or less complex electronic control circuits can be provided, which can be arranged, for example, on one or more light source carriers of the light source and accommodated in the light interior.

A simple example of an electronic control circuit relates to the alignment of different brightnesses of individual LEDs or of LED strands within a group of jointly operated LEDs arranged on one or more illuminant carriers. Such an electronic control circuit consists of at least one or more series resistors for adjusting the forward voltage of the LEDs to the electrical system. For example, it is known to sort the LEDs in binning according to forward voltage and intensity. In order to compensate for differences between multiple LED strings, each consisting of serially connected LEDs of the same forward voltage and intensity, and to obtain a homogeneous brightness distribution of the adjacent LED strands of LEDs with different forward voltage and intensity, at least each LED string is connected to a provided another resistor.

In addition, LEDs and OLDEs often require a separate failure detection when used as a light source, especially in vehicle lights. This is due to the low power consumption of LEDs and OLEDs in general. For example, a control unit housed in a vehicle is unable to detect a change in the power consumption from the on-board network that corresponds to the failure of one or fewer LEDs or OLEDs, since a resulting board-voltage change lies below the vehicle-electrical system voltage fluctuations that occur during normal operation of a vehicle. For example, an electronic circuit arrangement for failure detection accommodated in the vehicle lamp detects the failure of one or more light-emitting diodes in the vehicle lamp, e.g. by means of one or more comparators and communicates this to the control unit. This electronic circuit arrangement for failure detection can be realized by an example applied to the illuminant carrier electronic control circuit.

• zur Regelung und/oder Steuerung der Helligkeit bzw. Leuchtkraft der LEDs und/oder OLEDs, beispielsweise durch eine pulsweitenmodulierte Taktung der Stromversorgung für einen außerhalb des für das menschliche Auge wahrnehmbaren Bereichs gepulsten Betrieb,
• zur Kompensation oder Vermeidung elektromagnetischer Störungen, beispielsweise aufgebaut aus Kondensatoren und/oder Ferriten,
• zum Schutz der LEDs und/oder OLEDs z.B. vor einer Überspannung des Bordnetzes oder vor fehlerhafter Polung, beispielsweise umfassend eine oder mehrere Zenerdioden,

In addition, both LEDs, as well as OLEDs require further electronic control circuits. Examples are electronic control circuits:

• for controlling and / or controlling the brightness or luminosity of the LEDs and / or OLEDs, for example by a pulse-width-modulated clocking of the power supply for a pulsed operation outside the range perceptible to the human eye,
• for compensation or avoidance of electromagnetic interference, for example composed of capacitors and / or ferrites,
• for the protection of the LEDs and / or OLEDs, for example against an overvoltage of the vehicle electrical system or against incorrect polarity, for example comprising one or more zener diodes,

In summary, for almost all LED and / or OLED applications, a more or less extensive electronic control circuit designed for the special LEDs and / or OLEDs has to be applied, for example, to the at least one illuminant carrier. The electronic control circuit comprises in the simplest case, a resistor and a protective diode, but depending on the application also contain much more electronic components, such as microcontroller or controller, comparators, transistors, protective diodes, electrical resistors such as a resistor, capacitors, ferrites, etc.

Thus, a light source having one or more LEDs and / or OLEDs as the light source usually comprises at least one further aforementioned electronic component in addition to one or more LEDs and / or OLEDs that represent electronic components on account of their diode structure. Accordingly, a light source with one or more LEDs and / or OLEDs as light sources can have at least one further electronic component in addition to the at least one LED and / or OLED.

The at least one light source of a luminous means and at least one further electronic component can be arranged on a common illuminant carrier which represents a conductor carrier, or on spatially separated interconnect carriers electrically interconnected, for example, by a cable harness or one or more parts of a cable harness, of which at least one forms the illuminant carrier, be arranged.

The conductor carriers used in conjunction with a light source carrier are conductor carriers, as are also used for the electrical connection of electronic components, for example for the control of other light sources, as LEDs and OLEDs.

Conductor carriers can be made rigid, for example, as so-called printed circuit boards rigid, or as so-called flexible circuit boards, also referred to as printed circuit board flexible films, for example elastically or pliable deformable. In addition, injection molded circuit carriers produced in MID technology (MID technology: Molded Interconnect Device technology) are known, which are produced in the form of a component such as a vehicle lamp with integrated tracks in injection molding and in addition to their function for electrical contacting, for example, electronic components and / or light sources at the same time assume a mechanical function of the vehicle lamp, for example an arrangement of light sources along a predetermined geometry with simultaneous formation of a reflector.

The most widely used conductor carriers are printed circuit boards, referred to as circuit boards, printed circuit boards or PCBs.

A printed circuit board is a carrier for electronic components. It serves for mechanical fastening and electrical connection. Almost every electronic device contains one or more printed circuit boards.

Circuit boards are made of electrically insulating material with adhering thereto, serving as interconnects, electrically conductive connections. The tracks are usually etched from a thin layer of copper. As insulating material fiber reinforced plastic is common. One of the most widely used materials in this area of application is FR-4.

FR-4 or FR4 refers to a class of flame retardant and flame retardant composites consisting of epoxy resin and glass fiber fabric. The abbreviation FR stands for flame retardant and meets the requirement of UL94V-0. FR-4 is available in different variants. To improve the flame retardancy of the composite material with chemical substances such as polybrominated diphenyl ether based on bromine is added, in the halogen-free variant eliminates this addition. The composite FR-4 was specified in 1968, among other composites, by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) in the characteristics of the specification NEMA Ll1.

FR-4, in contrast to similar composites such as FR-2, so-called hard paper, has better creep resistance and lower water absorption. Another advantage of FR-4 is the good adhesion, which ensures the permanent attachment of conductor tracks made of copper on the substrate.

Circuit boards with FR-4 as electrically insulating material are commonly referred to as FR-4 boards.

The electrical contacting and mounting of electronic components on printed circuit boards is carried out by soldering the electronic components in SMD technology on designed as solder pads (pads) games of the tracks or in THT technology trained as Lötaugen games of the tracks. So they are simultaneously mechanically held and electrically connected to these footprints. Larger electronic components can also be attached to the printed circuit board using cable ties, adhesive or screwed connections.

In addition to the FR-4 boards described are adapted to specific applications types of printed circuit boards known. These range from single-sided and two-sided printed circuit boards for simple applications over multilayers with multiple, separated by insulating material layers of electrically conductive connections for example, for complex control circuits, for the interconnection of one or two tracks levels would not be sufficient, to special techniques, such as high-performance electronics applications in which the circuit board not only the assembly and electrical connection, but at the same time also the removal of heat generated at the individual electronic components serves.

A special field of application in vehicle lights, at least for the electrical contacting of light sources of illuminants provided for the fulfillment of one or more light functions of a vehicle lamp, is the use of flexplates as a conductor carrier of a corresponding luminous means.

In this case, flex boards are provided in particular for adapting the course of the arrangement of a plurality of electrically interconnected, for example, designed as LEDs light sources of a light source to complex geometries. The geometries that follow the course of the arrangement of a plurality of electrically interconnected light sources of a light source, an adaptation to the installation situation regarding the outer shape of the vehicle lamp owed. Such an outer shape of a vehicle lamp is predetermined for example by the design of a vehicle, such as a motor vehicle, as well as by the intended contour of the vehicle lamp, which is reflected in the so-called Strakverlauf the vehicle lamp.

Flexplates allow by their flexibility in a simple way bridging different Abstrahlwinkelausrichtungen and horizontal and / or vertical level differences of one or more chains, for example, designed as LEDs light sources, without any deviation of the arrangement of a light source from a beam angle and / or a horizontal and / or vertical level of a neighboring light source again need to provide a separately electrically to be contacted own trace carrier.

The electrical contacting of OLEDs is a special field of application, which prefers the use of flexplates. Flexplates allow easy electrical contacting of OLEDs, for example by soldering or by means of conductive adhesive (ACF), the flexplate having a required flexibility between the electrical connection of an OLED provided on the flexplate, for example to a power supply, and the electrical connection between the flexplate and OLED ensures.

A primary development goal in the manufacture of vehicles and components of vehicles, such as vehicle lights, are low manufacturing costs.

In the field of electronic circuits on conductor carriers, the electrical contacting of the conductor carrier has a decisive influence on the manufacturing costs.

A cost-effective electrical contacting of circuit board carriers designed as printed circuit boards uses a direct plug connection.

A direct plug-in connection differs from an indirect plug-in connection in that only one plug part is required, which contacts printed conductors, for example directly on a printed circuit board. In the case of an indirect plug connection, a counterpart connected to the conductor tracks, for example a printed circuit board, is required, which receives the plug part.

A direct plug connection can be produced, for example, by means of edge contact plugs, also referred to as side board plugs.

An edge contact plug has a housing which partially surrounds one or more contact means.

The individual contact means of Randkontaktsteckern are formed by single or flat cables, for example by soldering or crimping or screw terminals connectable brackets which engage around a circuit board and electrically contact on one or on opposite sides of the circuit board identically executed traces.

A common example of plug-in parts which can be used as side board plugs or edge contact plugs for direct plug-in connections are RAST plug connectors (RAST; grid connection plug-in technology). These are connectors of the so-called domestic appliance standards RAST 2.5 and RAST 5, wherein the numbers indicate the millimeter distance between adjacent contact centers.

The home appliance specification RAST is under the umbrella of the Zentralverband Elektrotechnik- und Elektronikindustrie e. V. (ZVEI) was launched by a working group of manufacturers of large household appliances and connectors with the goal To standardize components, to ensure the conformity of the connectors of different manufacturers and to exclude errors in the production process due to incorrectly mated connectors and, consequently, to simplify assembly in the assembly of terminals and to minimize miswiring. RAST also allows grouping of ports, eliminating the use of individual ports and individual wiring harnesses. In close cooperation between the most important German manufacturers of household appliances and connectors, a standard that has become common until today has emerged.

Today, RAST connectors have long been standard on a variety of sensor, switch, actuator and motor control cables that can be directly or indirectly connected to the PCB and / or components. The advantages of RAST plugs have also been recognized by other industries, so that even outside of home appliances, a steadily growing worldwide distribution can be found, for example in heating technology or the automotive industry.

By DE 10 2010 047 899 A1 is a light source with at least one arranged on a circuit board light source and a detachably connectable to an edge region of the circuit board, in a pre-assembly and a final assembly position can be brought edge contact plug known. The edge contact plug has contact elements formed by contact elements, to which electrical lines are connected. The printed circuit board has conductor tracks which are connected directly or indirectly via a drive device to electrical connections of the light source. The printed conductors have contact points which contact the contact elements when the edge contact plug is in the final assembly position.

By embracing the edge of a conductor carrier edge contact plugs can not be used in conjunction with cost and application technology very advantageous flexplates, since their foil-thin thickness dimension does not allow by single or flat cables, for example by soldering or crimping or screw terminals connectable clips formed contact means of edge contact plugs from one edge of a flex board forth on such postpone, without running the risk of damaging the flex board while still allowing a flex board between two opposing one side on a connecting side, for example by means of a web preferably integrally resiliently interconnected electrically connected to each other Connecting side by a predetermined distance sufficient to clamp a printed circuit board, preferably a standard printed circuit board, more preferably a FR-4 board, between the contact wings to clamp spaced contact swing of a designed as a clamp contact means of a edge contact plug and thereby electrically to their interconnects to contact.

Therefore, expensive, two-part, indirect plug-in connections with a flexplate-mounted plug or socket part and a cable or plug-in part mounted on the line side must be used for flex boards. Examples of two-part, indirect plug-in connections are standing or lying flexplate-mounted pin troughs with and without snap-in tabs, and cable-mounted female connectors with crimp connection or with insulation displacement connection or with screw terminal connection, to which both ribbon and individual cables can be attached. The contact means of flexplatinenmontierte male or female part are electrically connected to the tracks of the flex board, for example by soldering or crimping.

However, indirect connectors are more expensive by about a factor of twelve compared to edge-type connectors.

Thus, in comparison with an indirect connector required for the electrical contacting of flexplates according to the prior art, FR4 circuit boards can be electrically contacted for about one twelfth of the cost by means of a direct plug-in connection designed by means of edge contact plugs.

In order to meet the cost pressure, for example in the automotive industry, it would be desirable to combine flex boards with edge contact plugs.

Due to the small thickness of flex boards of only a few tenths of a millimeter, however, direct plug connections produced by edge contact plugs are not used in flex boards.

One from a cost point of view, for example, with built in a vehicle lamp strakfolgend, for example, designed as LEDs light sources of bulbs or built in a vehicle lamp, using flexplatinen electrically contacted OLEDs as light sources striving combination of flex board and edge contact plug is therefore not feasible according to the prior art.

An object of the invention is to provide a cost-effective electrical connector for flex boards in vehicle lights.

The object is solved by the features of the independent claim. Further advantageous embodiments are described by the subclaims.

The invention accordingly relates to a direct plug-in connection for the electrical contacting of flexible printed circuit board carriers designed as flexplates in vehicle lamps.

The direct plug-in connection comprises a flexible strip conductor carrier provided with at least one electrically conductive strip or interconnectable conductor track, for example with one or more electronic components. The flexible conductor carrier is designed as a flexplate formed by a flex foil. In addition, the direct plug-in connection comprises a peripheral contact plug with a number of contact means which corresponds to at least a number of required electrical connections of the conductor carrier required, for example, to operate at least one by a or more via formed on the conductor carrier tracks electrically contacted, for example, electrically interconnected electronic components.

The conductor carrier has in at least one edge region on a number of electrical contact surfaces, which may be formed, for example, by at least on a surface of the flexplate exposed areas of traces. The number of electrical contact surfaces corresponds to at least a number of, for example, the operation of at least one electrical connection of the conductor carrier required by one or more via printed conductors on the conductor tracks electrically contacted, for example, electrically interconnected electronic components formed device.

In this case, the contact surfaces form the electrical connections required for the operation of at least one device electrically contacted by one or more via conductor tracks formed on the interconnect, for example electrically interconnected electronic components, or at least electrically connected to them.

Thus, the number of contact means of the edge contact plug preferably corresponds to the number of contact surfaces of the flexplate.

The device can be, for example, an electronic circuit which is a part, for example a control device, of a light source of a vehicle lamp comprising one or more light sources. Alternatively or additionally, the device may comprise one or more light sources of a luminous means of a vehicle lamp.

For example, at least one provided to fulfill at least one light function of a vehicle light source as at least one electronic component or in addition to one or more electronic components by means of at least a portion of the tracks of the printed circuit board carrier designed as a flex board electrically contacted, for example, be provided on the conductor carrier. The conductor tracks of the conductor carrier can thus be connected directly or indirectly via an electronic circuit to electrical connections of the at least one electrically contacted, for example provided on the conductor carrier light source by means of at least a portion of the tracks of the printed circuit board carrier.

The at least one light source is preferably at least one LED and / or at least one OLED.

The edge contact plug may include a housing partially surrounding the one or more contact means.

Each of the contact means of the edge contact plug comprises a clamp with two opposing, on one side on a connecting side, for example by means of a web preferably integrally resiliently elastically connected to each other in the sense contact swings that the free ends of the contact wings of a clamp abut each other in an initial state or by a small Distance of, for example, only a few tenths of a millimeter from each other are spaced apart from each other, and can be deflected away from each other while overcoming the spring load. The contact wings are spaced from each other at the connection side by a predetermined distance sufficient to insert a printed circuit board, preferably a standard printed circuit board, more preferably a FR-4 board, between the contact wings.

At least in a region at the free ends of the contact wings spaced from the connection side, as previously described, there is a smaller distance so that a printed circuit board inserted between the contact wings of the one or more clips used as contact means of the edge contact plug is resiliently clamped at least in the area of their free ends , In this case, preferably a widening is provided from the free ends, in order to be able to insert a printed circuit board simply between the contact wings.

At the contact means summarized electrical lines are connected or connectable, for example, to a wiring harness.

The direct plug connection is characterized in that the flexplate is reinforced, at least in at least one edge region having one or more contact surfaces, by means of a reinforcing element, for example a FR4 board, arranged on the rear side of the flexplate facing away from the contact surfaces, so that a stack is formed in the edge region Flexplatine and reinforcing element is obtained, which has a total thickness and stability, which can be contacted by means of the edge contact plug electrically.

If the edge contact plug is plugged from the edge onto the edge region of the flexplate provided with the reinforcing element, the free end of at least one contact rocker of each of the contact means of the edge contact plug designed as clamps clamps the flexplate to one of its contact surfaces.

The contact surfaces are preferably formed by conductor tracks of the flexplate. The contact means of the edge contact plug contact the contact surfaces of the flexplate in a final assembly position of the edge contact plug. In the final assembly position, the edge contact plug engages from an edge of the stack formed in an edge region of the flexplate by the reinforcing element and the flexplate, each with one contact rocker of its contact means designed as clamps, the stack of a first surface formed by the flexplate, and one each Contact rocker of its designed as a parent contact means the stack of one of the first surface opposite and connected via the edge to the first surface, formed by a parallel to the flex board oriented, but this opposite side of the reinforcing member formed second surface, so that the stack from both sides of Bordering on its two opposite and interconnected by the edge Surfaces of the two contact wings of the at least one executed as a clamp contact means and each contact surface is clamped to make an electrical contact between it and a contact means between the contact wings of the executed as brackets contact means of the edge contact plug.

The thickness of the stack of flexplate and reinforcing element preferably corresponds to the thickness of a between the serving as a contact means of the edge contact plug brackets insertable circuit board.

The reinforcing element may be provided with conductor tracks as described below, which can be brought into electrical connection with the electrically conductive strip conductors of the flexplate, for example by soldering or ACF bonding.

The contact surfaces, together with the interconnects of the flexplate to be electrically contacted, are preferably located on the side of the flexplate facing away from the reinforcing element. This ensures a reliable electrical contact.

Alternatively or additionally, the reinforcing element can be provided with a number of contact means of the edge contact plug corresponding number of electrically connected to the contact surfaces of the printed circuit board carrier and / or connectable, accessible from at least one edge of the reinforcing element for the contact means of the edge contact plug electrical contact points.

In order to be able to be electrically contacted on both sides by the contact means of the edge contact plug formed as clamps for increasing the electrical contact reliability of the direct plug connection, the electrical contact points of the reinforcing element and the contact surfaces of the flexplate can be symmetrical to a lying inside the reinforcing element, parallel to the flexplate in the region of the reinforcing element be arranged extending mirror plane, wherein each contact point of the reinforcing member is electrically connected to its associated, with respect to the mirror surface contact surface of the flexplate, so that each contact means of the edge contact plug forming clamp pushed onto the edge region of the edge contact plug with its contact wings a Contact surface of the Flex board and one of these associated and electrically contacted with this contact point of the reinforcing element electrically contacted.

Thus, a reinforcing element formed, for example, by a FR4 board provided with contact points may be provided on its side facing away from the flexplate with conductor tracks which can be designed to coincide with the interconnects of the flexplate to be electrically contacted by means of a edge contact plug and be connected to them in an electrically conductive manner. As a result, the edge contact plug engages both on the flexplate and on the FR4 board on the contact pads of the flexplate and contact points of the reinforcing element to be electrically contacted by means of strip conductors, thereby increasing the contact reliability.

The reinforcing element provided with electrical contact points can have vertical electrical connections, for example in the form of plated-through holes, through-holes or VIAs (Vertical Interconnect Access), between conductor track planes formed on its two mutually opposite surfaces. Here, the contact points in a first interconnect level, and provided with the contact surfaces of the flex foil electrically connectable terminals in a second interconnect level.

The vertical electrical connections may be made by internally metallized holes in the reinforcing member or by rivets and pins passing through both the reinforcing member and the flexplate, to name but a few conceivable embodiments.

In order to secure the relative position and position between reinforcing element and flexplate against slipping, at least during the sliding of the edge contact plug, reinforcing element and flexplate can be interconnected.

The reinforcing element can be attached to the flexplate, for example by gluing, crimping, stapling, riveting, or, in the case where the reinforcing element is provided with contact points, by soldering-to enumerate only a few conceivable fastening options.

In particular, in the case of a provided with contact points, for example, designed as a FR4 board reinforcing element, this can be done on the flex board be soldered for example in SMD and / or THT and / or reflow technology. ACF bonding is also conceivable for mounting.

In other words, at least the electrical connections between the contact points of the reinforcing element or the electrically connected to the contact points of the reinforcing element interconnects of the reinforcing element and the contact surfaces of the flex board or electrically connected to the contact surfaces of the flex board interconnects of the flexplate by soldering, for example in SMD technology or be or be produced in THT technology or by means of conductive adhesive.

A conductive adhesive is an electrically conductive adhesive.

Conductive adhesives consist of the adhesives and inorganic, electrically conductive fillers. Their share is about 30%. Because of the metallic fillers used, the joints are also thermally well conductive. Well-suited fillers include silver, gold, palladium, nickel and platinum.

Its own class of conductive adhesives form so-called anisotropic conductive adhesives. Spherical conductive particles are used as filling material. The total volume is only 5% formed by the conductive material. As a result, a locally limited electrical connection is achieved. When applied as a thin film, the electrical connection is made only vertically between the bonded surfaces, but not horizontally, because the balls do not touch each other. This allows the large-scale application of the adhesive without adjustment. The disadvantage is the limitation of the operating temperature to 80 degrees Celsius and a principle-related implied short-circuit probability.

Although a compound with a conductive adhesive is less conductive than a solder joint, but is elastic and thus mechanically stronger. A high elasticity, for example, achieve silicone adhesive.

In addition to the electrical connections of its optionally provided contact points with the contact surfaces of the flexplate or the interconnects of the flexplate connected electrically to the contact surfaces of the flexplate, the reinforcing element may have one or more further mechanical connections to the flexplate which transmit mechanical stresses between the reinforcing element and the flexplate.

Conceivable mechanical connections can be made by screwing and / or riveting and / or gluing.

The possibly provided contact points of the reinforcing element or the electrically connected to the contact points of the reinforcing element interconnects of the reinforcing element and thus the reinforcing element itself, can with the contact surfaces of the flexplate or the electrically connected to the contact surfaces of the flexplate interconnects of the flexplate and thus with the conductor carrier in the same operation at least electrically connected, for example, be soldered, such as one or more arranged on the circuit board carrier forming the flex board and electrically contacted by their interconnects electronic components, such as one or more LEDs and / or resistors and / or semiconductor devices, to claim without completeness only to list some conceivable remaining electronic components, so that no separate assembly step for mounting the reinforcing element on the flex board needed becomes.

It is important to emphasize that the electrical contacting between the contact means of the edge contact plug and the electrical connections of the conductor carrier preferably takes place via the contact surfaces of the flex foil.

In principle, the electrical contacting between the contact means of the edge contact plug and the electrical connections of the conductor carrier may alternatively take place via the contact points of the reinforcing element-as is carried out for the reinforcing element designed with contact points.

As a result, it is possible to adapt the material pairings which strike each other in the case of direct plug connections. For example, a material equality at the contact between contact means of the edge contact plug and contact point of the reinforcing element can be produced thereby, for example, to avoid corrosion. Suitable for this purpose, for example, similar material pairings, such as tin-tin or gold-gold.

Preferably, the electrical contact between the contact means of the edge contact plug and the electrical connections of the conductor carrier takes place both via the contact surfaces of the flex foil, as well as via the contact points of the reinforcing element.

The direct plug connection may alternatively or additionally comprise single or a combination of a plurality of features described in the introduction with reference to the prior art and / or in one or more of the documents mentioned in the prior art and / or in the following description of the embodiments illustrated in the drawings ,

Application examples of the invention can be found, for example, in the electrical contacting of OLEDs of a cable set for internal Leuchtenkontaktierung, when contacting arranged on Flexfolien LEDs, when contacting arranged on Flexfolien control circuits and the like.

The invention also makes it possible to electrically contact Felx boards cost-effectively by means of edge contact plugs comprising direct plug-in connections.

Additional, over the solution of the task and / or on the above mentioned to the individual features mentioned advantages over the prior art are listed below.

The invention makes it possible to limit the excess use of flex foil used in the prior art in which excess use of the flex foil is carried out significantly longer than required to plug and / or socket for producing an indirect plug connection, for example by crimping or SMD To mount soldering. In the invention, the flex foil can be kept very short. As a result, a Poka Yoke principle is realized at the same time by the arrangement of the electrically contacted by the flex foil light sources predetermined positionally correct installation of Flexplatine in a luminaire housing, because in comparison to the prior art held short Flexfolie a vertörnen and thus a faulty electrical contact with a Randkontaktstecker does not allow. In the prior art, a position fixation of a contact system formed by an indirect connector and the long flex films is very complex, as well as only partially feasible. Due to the invention, the flex foil can be kept very short. Likewise, by the invention by a Direct plug connection manufactured electrical contact fixed in the vehicle lamp and thus rattling can be prevented.

Further advantages over the prior art result from the fact that an adaptation of the thickness of the stack to the width of the contact means of the edge contact plug is possible.

The reinforcing element makes it possible to inexpensively contact a flexplate with a standard direct plug connection comprising a peripheral contact plug. Standard direct connectors require a standard printed circuit board, such as a FR-4 board.

Randkontaktstecker for standard circuit boards are much cheaper than the example for electrical contacting of flex boards hitherto required indirect connectors from a line side mounted female or male part and an example in SMD technology conductor track carrier side mounted, the line side mounted female or male part receiving board-mounted plug or female connector. In addition, the secure locking of an indirect connector in the assembly is a common source of error. The coming in vehicle lights used direct connectors using edge contact plugs, however, can be easily secured constructively against incomplete insertion.

This eliminates the problem of producing and controlling a secure locking or locking indirect connectors in the assembly.

In summary, by using a reinforcing member in the form of, for example, a standard printed circuit board, such as a FR-4 board, a conductor track carrier deviating from a standard printed circuit board, such as a flex board, can be inexpensively contacted by standard connectors, such as direct connectors. As a result, for example, also other, very thin conductor carrier can also contact by direct plug connector.

Fig. 1

ein erstes Ausführungsbeispiel einer Direktsteckverbindung in einem Längsschnitt.

Fig. 2

ein zweites Ausführungsbeispiel einer Direktsteckverbindung in einer Draufsicht.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. The proportions of the individual elements to one another in the figures do not always correspond to the actual size ratios, as some shapes are simplified and other shapes are shown for better illustration enlarged in relation to other elements are shown. For identical or equivalent elements of the invention, identical reference numerals are used. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only reference symbols are shown in the individual figures, which are required for the description of the respective figure. The illustrated embodiments are only examples of how the connector according to the invention can be configured and do not represent a final limitation. It shows in a schematic representation:

Fig. 1

a first embodiment of a direct plug connection in a longitudinal section.

Fig. 2

A second embodiment of a direct plug connection in a plan view.

• eine mit einer oder mehreren Leiterbahnen versehene Flexplatine 21 als flexiblen Leiterbahnträger 02,
• einen Randkontaktstecker 03 mit einer Anzahl von Kontaktmitteln 30, welche einer Zahl von elektrischen Anschlüssen der Flexplatine 21 entspricht,

wobei:

• die elektrischen Anschlüsse der Flexplatine 21 durch eine Anzahl von in zumindest einem durch gestrichelte Linien begrenzt dargestellten Randbereich 20 der Flexplatine 21 vorgesehenen elektrischen Kontaktflächen gebildet sind, welche Anzahl zumindest einer Zahl von beispielsweise zum Betrieb wenigstens einer durch ein oder mehrere via auf der Flexplatine 21 ausgebildeten Leiterbahnen elektrisch kontaktierte, beispielsweise untereinander elektrisch verbundene Elektronikbauteile gebildeten Einrichtung erforderlichen elektrischen Anschlüssen der Flexplatine 21 entspricht, oder die elektrischen Anschlüsse der Flexplatine 21 mit diesen elektrischen Kontaktflächen elektrisch leitend verbunden sind,
• jedes der Kontaktmittel 30 des Randkontaktsteckers 03 eine Klammer 31 mit zwei um einen vorgegebenen Abstand einander gegenüberliegend angeordneten, einseitig an einer Verbindungsseite 33 beispielsweise mittels eines Stegs vorzugsweise einstückig in dem Sinne federelastisch und elektrisch leitfähig miteinander verbundenen Kontaktschwingen 32 umfasst, dass die freien Enden 34 der Kontaktschwingen 32 einer jeden Klammer 31 in einem Ausgangszustand aneinander anliegen oder um einen geringen Abstand von beispielsweise nur wenigen zehntel Millimetern als den vorgegebenen Abstand einander gegenüberliegend voneinander beabstandet sind, und unter Überwindung der Federbelastung voneinander weg ausgelenkt werden können,
• die Flexplatine 21 mindestens in wenigstens einem zumindest eine Kontaktfläche aufweisenden Randbereich 20 mittels eines vorzugsweise auf der den Kontaktflächen abgewandten Rückseite 22 der Flexplatine 21 angeordneten Verstärkungselements 04, beispielsweise einer FR4 Platine 41, verstärkt ist, so dass in dem Randbereich 20 ein Stapel aus Flexplatine 21 und Verstärkungselement 04 erhalten wird, der insgesamt eine Dicke und Stabilität aufweist, die mit dem vorgegebenen Abstand zwischen den Kontaktschwingen 32 korrespondiert und dadurch mittels des Randkontaktsteckers 03 elektrisch kontaktiert werden kann.

An in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 shown fully or in parts directly plug-in connection 01 for electrical contacting of flexible circuit boards used as a flexible conductor carrier 02 in vehicle lights, for example, for electrical contacting of OLEDs and / or LEDs Flexplates 21 comprises:

• a flexplate 21 provided with one or more interconnects as a flexible interconnect carrier 02,
• a peripheral contact plug 03 having a number of contact means 30 which corresponds to a number of electrical connections of the flexplate 21,

in which:

• the electrical connections of the flexplate 21 are formed by a number of electrical contact surfaces provided in at least one edge region 20 of the flexplate 21 limited by dashed lines, which number is at least a number of, for example, at least one of one or more via on the flexplate 21 Conductors electrically contacted, for example, interconnected with each other electrically connected electronic components device required electrical connections of the flex board 21, or the electrical connections of the flex board 21 are electrically connected to these electrical contact surfaces,
• each of the contact means 30 of the edge contact plug 03 a clip 31 with two arranged by a predetermined distance opposite one another, on one side on a connecting side 33, for example by means of a web preferably in one piece resiliently and electrically conductive with each other connected contact wings 32 includes that the free ends 34 of the contact wings 32 of each clip 31 abut each other in an initial state or by a small distance of, for example, only a few tenths of a millimeter apart as the predetermined distance from each other, and overcoming the spring load away from each other can be deflected
• the flexplate 21 is reinforced at least in at least one edge region 20 having at least one contact surface by means of a reinforcing element 04, for example a FR4 circuit board 41, preferably arranged on the rear side 22 of the flexplate 21 facing away from the contact surfaces, so that in the edge region 20 a stack of flexplate 21 and reinforcing element 04 is obtained, which has a total thickness and stability, which corresponds to the predetermined distance between the contact rocker 32 and thereby can be electrically contacted by means of the edge contact plug 03.

When produced direct plug-in connection 01, corresponding to a final assembly position of the edge contact plug 03, the edge contact plug 03 engages from one edge of the stack formed in the edge region 20 of the flexplate 21 by the reinforcing member 04 and the flexplate 21 coming with a respective contact rocker 32 of its designed as a parentheses 31 contact means 30 the stack of a formed by the flexplate 21 first surface 23 ago, and with one contact rocker of its designed as a clamps 31 contact means 30 the stack of one of the first surface 23 opposite and connected via the edge to the first surface 23, by a parallel to the flexplate 21 oriented, but this opposite side of the reinforcing element 04 formed second surface 24 ago, so that the stack from both sides coming from the edge at its two opposite and interconnected by the edge surfaces 23, 24 of de n two contact wings 32 of at least one executed as a bracket 31 contact means 30 and each contact surface is clamped making an electrical contact between it and a contact means 30 between the contact legs 32 of the clamps 31 designed as a contact means 30 of the edge contact plug 03.

For this purpose, in the unassembled state of the direct plug-in connection 01, at least in a region at the free ends 34 of the contact wings 32, there is a smaller distance than the predetermined distance.

The thickness of the stack of flexplate 21 and reinforcing element 04 preferably corresponds to the thickness of a between the serving as a contact means 30 of the edge contact plug 03 brackets 31 insertable circuit board.

The number of contact means 30 corresponds to at least a number of, for example, the operation of at least one electrical connections of the printed circuit board carrier 02 configured as a flexible printed circuit board 21 electrically contacted by one or more via on the interconnect 02 formed interconnects electrically connected, for example, electrically interconnected electronic components.

The printed circuit board carrier 02 embodied as a flexplate 21 has a number of electrical contact surfaces serving as electrical connections in at least one edge region 20, which can be formed, for example, by sections of interconnects of the flexplate 21 that are bare at least on one surface of the flexplate 21. The number of electrical contact surfaces preferably also corresponds to at least a number of, for example, the operation of at least one electrical connections of the printed circuit board carrier designed as a flexible printed circuit board, which are electrically contacted by one or more via printed conductors formed on the conductor carrier 02.

As described, the contact surfaces can form the electrical connections required for the operation of at least one device electrically contacted by one or more via printed conductors 02, for example electrically interconnected electronic components, or at least electrically connected thereto.

Thus, the number of contact means 30 of the edge contact plug 03 preferably corresponds to the number of contact surfaces of the flexplate 21.

The device can be, for example, an electronic circuit which is a part, for example a control device, of a light source of a vehicle lamp comprising one or more light sources. Alternatively or additionally, the device may comprise one or more light sources of a luminous means of a vehicle lamp.

For example, at least one provided to fulfill at least one light function of a vehicle light source as at least one electronic component or in addition to one or more electronic components by means of at least a portion of the tracks of the printed circuit board as a flex board 02 electrically contacted, for example, be provided on the conductor carrier 02. The conductor tracks of the conductor carrier 02 can thus be connected directly or indirectly via an electronic circuit with electrical connections of the at least one electrically contacted, for example, on the conductor carrier 02 provided light source by means of at least a portion of the tracks of the printed circuit board carrier 02 running as a flex board.

The at least one light source is preferably at least one LED and / or at least one OLED.

The edge contact plug 03 may have a housing 05 which partially surrounds the one or more contact means 30.

At the contact means 30 can be connected or connectable, for example, to a cable harness combined electrical lines 06.

The contact surfaces, together with the strip conductors 21 of the flexplate 21 to be electrically contacted, may lie on the side of the flexplate 21 facing away from the reinforcing element 04.

If the edge contact plug is plugged from the edge onto the edge region 20 of the flexplate 21 provided with the reinforcement element 04, the free end 34 clamps the flexplate 21 to one of its contact surfaces at least one contact rocker 32 of each of the contact means 30 of the edge contact plug 03 embodied as clamps 31. if the reinforcing element 04 is provided on the rear surfaces 22 of the flexplate 21 facing away from the contact surfaces.

As a result, a direct electrical contacting of the contact surfaces of the flexplate 21 by the contact means 30 of the edge contact plug 03 is obtained.

The reinforcing element 04 may be provided with conductor tracks, which can be brought into electrical connection with the electrically conductive strip conductors of the flexplate 21, for example by soldering or ACF bonding.

If the reinforcing element 04 is provided on the front side 25 of the flexplate 21 facing the contact surfaces, then the reinforcing element 04 is at least corresponding to a number corresponding to, for example, the number of contact means 30 of the edge contact plug, but at least one number corresponding to the number of contact surfaces of the flexplate 21 the contact surfaces of the flexplate 21 electrically connected, provided by at least one edge 41 of the stack 04 of flexplate 21 and reinforcing element 04 for the contact means 30 of the edge contact plug 03 accessible electrical contact points 40. These contact points 40 may be formed by conductor tracks of the reinforcing element 04 and / or be electrically connected to the contact surfaces and / or at least by means of the reinforcing element 04 provided conductor tracks with the contact surfaces and / or with these electrically connected conductor tracks of the flexplate 21. If the edge contact plug 03 is plugged from the edge onto the edge region 20 of the flexplate 21 provided with the reinforcing element 04, the free end 34 clamps the stack of flexplate 21 and reinforcing element 04 at least one contact rocker 32 of each of the contact means 30 of the edge contact plug 03 embodied as clamps 31 at each one of the contact points 40 of the reinforcing element 04.

Accordingly, the reinforcing element 04 with one of the number of contact means 30 of the edge contact plug 03 corresponding number of electrically connected and / or connectable with the contact surfaces of the running as a flex circuit board 21 conductor carrier 02, at least one edge of the reinforcing element 04 for the contact means 30 of the edge contact plug 03 be provided accessible electrical contact points 40.

An increase in the contact reliability can be obtained by the reinforcing element 04 is disposed on the rear surfaces 22 of the flexplate 21 facing away from the contact surfaces of the flexplate 21, and the reinforcing element 04 additionally has contact points 21 electrically connected to the contact surfaces of the flexplate 21.

In order to be electrically contacted on both sides by the trained as brackets 31 contact means 30 of the edge contact plug 03 to increase the electrical contact safety of Direktsteckverbindung 01, the electrical contact points 40 of the reinforcing element 04 and the contact surfaces of the flexplate 21 are symmetrical to a lying within the reinforcing element 04 . arranged parallel to the flat in the region of the reinforcing element flexplane 21 extending mirror plane. Each contact point 40 of the reinforcing element 04 is in this case electrically connected electrically to its associated, with respect to the mirror plane opposite contact surface of the flexplate 21. In this way, each clamp 31 forming a contact means 30 of the edge contact plug 03 contacts a contact surface of the flexplate 21 with a contact surface of the flexplate 21 and a contact pad 40 of the reinforcing element 40 associated therewith, in contact with the contact strip 32 on the edge region 20 of the edge contact plug 03.

Thus, a reinforcing element 04 formed, for example, by a FR4 board 41 provided with contact points 40 may be provided with conductor tracks on its side facing away from the second surface 24 of the stack of flexplate 21 and reinforcing element 04, the side facing away from the flexplate 21, which are provided with the means of a edge contact plug 03 to be contacted electrically, for example, formed by lying on the front side 25 of the flex board 21 blank traces formed contact surfaces of the flex board 21 consistent and can be electrically connected to this. As a result, the edge contact plug 03 engages both on the flexplate 21 and on the FR4 board 41 on the contact surfaces of the flexplate 21 and contact points 40 of the reinforcing element 04 which are electrically contacted by the contact strip 03, for example, whereby the contact reliability is increased.

The reinforcing element 04 provided with electrical contact points 40 may have vertical electrical connections, for example in the form of plated-through holes, through-holes or VIAs (Vertical Interconnect Access), between conductor track planes formed on its two mutually opposite surfaces. The contact points 40 are provided in a first interconnect plane, and with the contact surfaces of the flex foil 21 electrically connectable terminals in a second interconnect level.

The vertical electrical connections may be made by internally metallized holes in the reinforcement element 04 or by rivets and pins passing through both the reinforcement element 04 and the flexplate 21, to name but a few conceivable embodiments.

The contact points 40 of the reinforcing element 04 and / or with the contact points 40 of the reinforcing element 04 electrically connected conductor tracks of the Reinforcing element 04 and the contact surfaces of the flexplate 21 and / or interconnects of the flexplate 21 that are electrically connected to the contact surfaces of the flexplate 21 can be electrically connected to one another by soldering, for example, in SMD technology or in THT technology or by conductive adhesive.

A conductive adhesive is an electrically conductive adhesive.

Conductive adhesives consist of the adhesives and inorganic, electrically conductive fillers. Their share is about 30%. Because of the metallic fillers used, the joints are also thermally well conductive. Well-suited fillers include silver, gold, palladium, nickel and platinum.

Its own class of conductive adhesives form so-called anisotropic conductive adhesives. Spherical conductive particles are used as filling material. The total volume is only 5% formed by the conductive material. As a result, a locally limited electrical connection is achieved. When applied as a thin film, the electrical connection is made only vertically between the bonded surfaces, but not horizontally, because the balls do not touch each other. This allows the large-scale application of the adhesive without adjustment. The disadvantage is the limitation of the operating temperature to 80 degrees Celsius and a principle-related implied short-circuit probability.

Although a compound with a conductive adhesive is less conductive than a solder joint, but is elastic and thus mechanically stronger. A high elasticity, for example, achieve silicone adhesive.

The optionally provided contact points 40 of the reinforcing element 04 or the conductor paths of the reinforcing element 04 which are electrically connected to the optionally provided contact points 40 of the reinforcing element 04, and thus the reinforcing element 04 itself, can be connected to the contact surfaces of the flexplate 21 or to the interconnects electrically connected to the contact surfaces of the flexplate 21 the flexplate 21 and thus at least electrically connected to the conductor carrier 02 in the same operation, for example, soldered as one or more arranged on the conductor carrier 02 forming flex board 21 and electrically contacted by their tracks electronic components, such as one or more LEDs and / or Resistances and / or semiconductor devices, without claim to completeness to list only a few conceivable remaining electronic components, so that no separate assembly step for attaching the reinforcing element 04 on the flexplate 21 is required.

In particular, in the case of a provided with contact points 40, for example, designed as FR4 board 41 reinforcing element 04, this may be soldered to the flex board 21, for example in SMD and / or THT and / or reflow technology. ACF bonding is also conceivable for mounting.

The reinforcing element 04 may, in addition to optionally provided, for example by solder joints made electrical connections of its optionally provided contact points 40 with the contact surfaces of the flex board 21 and the electrically connected to the contact surfaces of the flex board 21 interconnects of the flex board 21 one or more other mechanical connections to the flex board 21st which transmit mechanical loads between reinforcing element 04 and flexplate 21.

Accordingly, the reinforcing element 04 and the flexplate 21 can in each case be mechanically connected to one another in order to prevent the relative position and position between the reinforcing element 04 and the flexplate 21 from slipping, at least during the sliding of the edge contact plug 03.

Conceivable mechanical connections can be made by screwing and / or riveting and / or gluing.

In summary, the reinforcing element 04 may, for example, by gluing, crimping, stapling, riveting, and / or in the case that the reinforcing element 04 is provided with contact points 40, by soldering or ACF bonding - to enumerate only a few possible mounting options - on the flexplate 21st be attached.

The contact wings 32 may be spaced from each other at the connecting side 33 by a predetermined distance sufficient to insert a printed circuit board, preferably a standard printed circuit board, more preferably a FR-4 board 41, between the contact wings 32.

The thickness of the stack of flexplate 21 and reinforcing element, which is only a few tenths of a millimeter thicker due to the film thickness of the flexplate, in this case likewise fits between the contact wings 32 of the contact means 30 of FIG Edge contact plug 03. This makes it possible to use standard edge contact plug, such as the RAST plug described above.

At least in a region at the spaced from the connecting side 33 free ends 34 of the contact swing 32 is preferably a lesser distance, so that between the contact wings 32 of the one or more than 30 contact means 30 of the edge contact plug 03 serving clamps 31 inserted circuit board at least in the area of their free Ends 34 is clamped resiliently.

The contact wings 32 may have at their free ends an expansion at least up to the predetermined distance. Coming from the free ends 34 of the contact wings 32 can therefore be provided an expansion in order to easily insert the stack of flexplate 21 and reinforcing element 04 between the contact wings 32 can.

The edge contact plug 03 can be executed, for example, coded for Verpolungsschutz. This can be done for example via ribs on the edge contact plug 03 and / or corresponding grooves and in this engaging ribs on the edge contact plug 03 and the stack of flexplate 21 and reinforcing element 04 in the edge region 20. Alternatively or additionally, for example by ribs or grooves and with these corresponding ribs lateral slipping of the edge contact plug 03 can be avoided in the edge region 20. This also helps with Poka Yoke if several plug options are available in a vehicle light. An accidental incorrect attachment of the edge contact plug 03 is thereby avoided or even impossible.

It is important to emphasize that the electrical contacting between the contact means 30 of the edge contact plug 03 and the electrical connections of the conductor carrier 02 preferably takes place via the contact surfaces of the flex foil 21.

In principle, as with the reinforcing element 04 designed with contact points 40, the electrical contacting between the contact means 30 of the edge contact plug 03 and the electrical connections of the conductor carrier 02 can alternatively take place via the contact points 40 of the reinforcing element 04.

As a result, it is possible to adapt the material pairings which strike each other in the case of direct plug connections 01. For example, a material equality at the contact between contact means 30 of the edge contact plug 03 and contact point 40 of the reinforcing element 04 can thereby be produced, for example for corrosion prevention. Suitable for this purpose, for example, similar material pairings, such as tin-tin or gold-gold.

The electrical contacting between the contact means 30 of the edge contact plug 03 and the electrical connections of the conductor carrier 02 preferably takes place both via the contact surfaces of the flex foil 21 and via the contact points 40 of the reinforcing element 04. This electrical contact has the highest contact reliability, with the restriction of an optionally limited corrosion resistance due to possibly different material pairings between the contact means 30 of the edge contact plug 03 and the contact surfaces of the flexplate 21 and / or between the contact means 30 of the edge contact plug 03 and the contact points 40 of the reinforcing element 04 ,

The reinforcing element 04 itself, as well as the flexplate 21, may be as shown in FIG Fig. 2 shown cut, for example, to receive a peripheral contact plug 03, the outermost contact means 30 may be surrounded to the side of the edge contact plug 03 out of a housing 05 and thereby isolated.

It is also important to emphasize that the term used in the present description edge contact plug 03 is representative of any suitable for the production of a direct connector 01 connector.

It will be appreciated that the invention is a solution to the problem of inexpensively combining flex boards 21 and edge contact plugs 03 into a direct plug connection 01.

Flex boards 21 can not yet connect via direct connectors, such as edge contact plug 03, as they are much too thin and unstable to postpone a peripheral contact plug 03 on a rim 20 on it.

An electrical connection to flex boards 21 so far can only be made via expensive indirect connectors whose line side mounted socket or plug part receiving leiterbahnträgermontiertes plug or Socket part, for example, in SMD technology can be electrically and mechanically connected to the tracks of a flex board 21.

The previously used expensive indirect connectors consist of two mutually latching parts, a plug part, which is connected to, for example, combined into a wire harness lines, and a plug part receiving female counterpart, which is soldered to the flex board 21. In the manufacture of the indirect connector is also important to ensure that the two parts of the indirect connector correctly lock together before the lamp housing and the lens of a vehicle in its interior such a connector having vehicle connection, for example by a welded joint, such as a Laser welding connection to be interconnected.

The present Direktsteckverbindung 01 eliminates all these problems cost.

The direct plug-in connection 01 may alternatively or additionally be single or a combination of a plurality of features mentioned in the prior art and / or in one or more of the prior art documents and / or in the foregoing description of the embodiments illustrated in the drawings exhibit.

The invention is not limited by the description with reference to the embodiments. Rather, the invention encompasses any novel feature as well as any combination of features, including in particular any combination of features in the claims, even if that feature or combination itself is not explicitly stated in the claims or embodiments.

The invention is particularly industrially applicable in the field of manufacturing vehicle lights, in particular motor vehicle lights.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

01

Direct connector

02

Conductor carrier

03

Edge plug

04

reinforcing element

05

casing

06

management

20

border area

21

Flex board

22

back

23

surface

24

surface

25

front

30

contact means

31

clip

32

Contact rocker

33

Links page

34

free end

40

contact point

41

FR4 board

Claims (12)

Direct plug connection (01) for electrical contacting of conductor carriers (02) in vehicle lamps comprising: a flexplate (21) provided with one or more tracks as a conductor carrier (02), a peripheral contact plug (03) having a number of contact means (30) which corresponds to a number of electrical connections of the flexplate (21), in which: the electrical connections of the flexplate (21) are formed by a number of electrical contact surfaces provided in at least one edge region (20) of the flexplate (21), or are connected to them electrically conductively, - Each of the contact means (30) comprises a clamp (31) with two arranged by a predetermined distance opposite each other, resiliently and electrically conductive interconnected contact wings (32), - The free ends (34) of the contact wings (32) of a clip (31) are spaced in an initial state by a distance smaller than the predetermined distance from each other opposite each other, and can be deflected away from each other overcoming the spring load, - The flexplate (21) is reinforced at least in at least one at least one contact surface having edge region (21) by means of a reinforcing element (04), so that in the edge region (20) a stack of flexplate (21) and reinforcing element (04) is obtained the total has a thickness which corresponds to the predetermined distance between the contact wings (32). A direct plug-in connector according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing member (04) has a number of contact surfaces corresponding to at least the number of contact surfaces electrically connected to the contact surfaces of the flexplate (21), at least one edge of the stack of flexplate (21) and reinforcement member (04) (30) of the edge contact plug (03) accessible electrical contact points (40). Direct plug connection according to claim 2, wherein the reinforcing element (02) on the contact surfaces facing away from rear side (22) of the flexplate (21) is arranged and the electrical contact points (40) of the reinforcing element (04) and the contact surfaces of the flexplate (21) symmetrical to a wherein each contact point (40) of the reinforcing element (04) is electrically arranged with its associated, with respect to the mirror plane opposite contact surface the flexplate (21) is electrically connected so that each clip (31) forming a contact means (30) of the edge contact plug (03) has a contact surface of the contact strip (32) pushed into the edge region (20) in the edge contact plug (03) Flexplatine (21) and one of these associated and electrically connected to this contact point e (40) of the reinforcing element (04) electrically contacted. A direct plug connection according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the reinforcing element (04) provided with electrical contact points (40) has vertical electrical connections between conductor track planes formed on its two opposite surfaces, wherein the contact points (40) are arranged in a first conductor track plane, and with the contact surfaces of the Flex foil (21) are provided electrically connectable terminals in a second interconnect level. Direct plug connection according to one of claims 2, 3 or 4, wherein the contact points (40) of the reinforcing element (04) and / or with the contact points (40) of the reinforcing element (04) electrically connected conductor tracks of the reinforcing element (04) and the contact surfaces of the flexplate ( 21) and / or electrically connected to the contact surfaces of the flexplate (21) interconnects of the flexplate (21) by soldering or by means of conductive adhesive are interconnected. A direct plug connection according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reinforcing element (04) is an FR4 board (41). Direct plug connection according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the reinforcing element (04) and the flexplate (21) are mechanically connected to each other. A direct plug-in connector as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the contact wings (32) on the connection side (33) are spaced apart a predetermined distance sufficient to insert a circuit board (41) between the contact wings (32). Direct plug connection according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the contact wings (32) at their free ends (34) have a widening at least up to the predetermined distance. Direct plug connection according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the contact wings (32) are connected on one side by means of a web in one piece resiliently with each other electrically conductive. Vehicle lamp with a direct plug connection according to one of the preceding claims. A vehicle lamp according to claim 11, wherein the vehicle lamp is designed as a tail lamp.

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