EP3037611B1 - Electric components for a closure element of a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electrical component for a closure element of a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a method for mounting such an electrical component according to the preamble of claim 15.

The term "closure element" is to be understood in the present case. These include in particular side doors, rear doors, tailgates, trunk lids or hoods. A closure element in this sense can basically also be designed in the manner of a sliding door.

The term "electrical component" is also widely understood herein. It includes all electrical components that are in any way provided with an electrical connection. These include, for example motor vehicle locks, damper actuators o. Like ..

Finally, the term "motor vehicle lock" is to be understood in the present case. It includes not only a motor vehicle lock in the strict sense, but also auxiliary closing drives, auxiliary opening drives o. The like., Which may be coupled to the closing elements of a motor vehicle lock. In the present case, the electrical component "motor vehicle lock" is in the foreground.

A known electrical component ( DE 199 00 309 A1 ) is designed as a motor vehicle lock. It has a designed as a housing component carrier, which in addition to the closing elements latch and pawl also has an electric drive assembly for the motorized lifting of the pawl and an associated conductor arrangement. The motor vehicle lock is further equipped with an electrical encoder for detecting an adjustment information about the drive assembly. The conductor arrangement is usually designed as a stamped grid, which is embedded in the component carrier.

The above-mentioned components of the motor vehicle lock are in the wet room of the motor vehicle lock, which is for the production of an electrical Contact between the electrical encoder and the lead frame is fundamentally problematic. To avoid contact problems, which may be due in particular to corrosion, it is usually provided that at least the electrical contact point between the encoder and the conductor arrangement with a plastic resin o. The like. Is shed. This is costly and manufacturing process less reliable.

Another known component for a closure element of a motor vehicle ( EP 1 284 333 A2 ) shows a transmitter with a micro-switch o. The like., The encoder receives via its housing a plug connection with a component carrier.

The invention is based on the problem, the known electrical component for a closure element of a motor vehicle functional and manufacturing technology to improve.

The above problem is solved in an electrical component according to the preamble of claim 1 by the features of the characterizing part of claim 1.

Essential is the fundamental consideration that can produce a water-sealed cavity with a plug connection between the encoder and the component carrier, in which an electrical contact between the encoder contact arrangement and the conductor contact arrangement can be made. By sealing the cavity, the electrical contact point between the transmitter and the conductor arrangement, with a suitable design, is free of moisture, so that a corrosion affecting the electrical contact does not occur at the relevant contact arrangements or only to a reduced extent.

In detail, it is first proposed that the encoder has a transmitter housing and in the transmitter housing an electrical encoder contact arrangement. In the assembled state, the transmitter housing and the component carrier are in a water-sealing engagement with one another via a mechanical plug-in connection, whereby the correspondingly sealed cavity is created. Of particular importance is the fact that in the sealed cavity, the electrical contact between the donor contact assembly and the conductor contact arrangement is made so that the electrical contact is protected against moisture as mentioned above.

The term "waterproofing" means in this case that the engagement between the encoder housing and component carrier the entry of moisture in the Cavity reduced, but not necessarily completely eliminated. It should be noted that depending on the connector different levels of tightness can be generated.

Of particular importance for the proposed solution is the fact that the already necessary mechanical connection between the encoder housing and component carrier is used to form a water-sealed cavity in which the electrical contact between the encoder contact arrangement and the conductor contact arrangement is made. This dual use of the mechanical connection between the encoder housing and the component carrier leads to a production-optimized arrangement, as can be dispensed with a casting of the contact point. The proposed use of a plug connection results in a high level of process reliability when mounting the encoder on or in the component carrier.

The particularly preferred embodiments according to claims 3 and 4 relate to advantageous variants for the plug seal between the encoder housing and component carrier. A particularly simple embodiment is that the encoder housing or the component carrier is equipped with at least one O-ring.

In the particularly preferred embodiment according to claim 6, a longitudinal guide for a guide of the encoder is provided during the assembly movement, so that a precise alignment of the encoder housing is ensured. In particular, in the embodiment of the encoder as a rotary encoder, which must be aligned with a shaft o. The like., This is particularly advantageous.

In a further preferred embodiment, the conductor arrangement is a stamped grid which is at least partially embedded in the component carrier. In this case, the component-carrier-side part of the plug connection is already formed in the component carrier, so that the cavity can easily form via the plug connection in the region in which the conductor contact arrangement, which is part of the stamped grid, otherwise protrudes from the component carrier. This leads to a very particularly compact design.

The proposed solution is particularly advantageous for the case that the encoder of the detection of an adjustment information about an adjustment of the drive assembly, in particular the position of a drive shaft of the drive assembly to serve. This is because the above-mentioned, accurate orientation of the encoder is advantageous if the encoder is to be aligned, for example, on the drive shaft of the drive assembly.

In detail, the invention proposes that the encoder has a detection arrangement for detecting the Verstellinformation that the encoder has a pivotable about a donor element axis donor element and that by means of the detection arrangement an adjustment information to the donor element, namely the position of the donor element, can be detected.

In the particularly preferred embodiment according to claim 14, the electrical component is a motor vehicle lock, which preferably has the usual closing elements "lock catch" and "pawl". The drive arrangement preferably serves for the motorized adjustment of lock states of a lock mechanism, which may be, for example, the lock states "locked", "unlocked", "anti-theft" and "child-proof". Depending on the respective lock state, the motor vehicle lock can be opened via an outside door handle and / or an inside door handle. In view of the fact that a highly efficient production in motor vehicle locks is of very particular importance, the application of the proposed solution for a motor vehicle lock in the foreground.

According to another teaching according to claim 15, which has independent significance, a method for assembling an above-described electrical component as such is claimed. Essential according to the further teaching is that the encoder has a transmitter housing and in the transmitter housing an electrical encoder contact arrangement, that the encoder housing and the component carrier are brought into contact with each other in a water-sealing engagement via a mechanical connector and that thereby produces an electrical contact between the encoder contact arrangement and the conductor contact arrangement becomes.

Essential to the further teaching is the fact that with the production of the connector, the production of the electrical contact between the encoder contact arrangement and the conductor contact arrangement is accompanied. This already leads to a reduction of process steps, since a separate process step for the production of the electrical contact does not have to be provided. In addition, with the production of the mechanical connector and the proposed seal between the encoder housing and component carrier and thus the cavity between the encoder housing and component carrier made so that three functions, namely the production of the mechanical connector, the production of the electrical contact and the sealing of the mechanical connector, can be implemented with a single assembly movement.

For the remainder, reference is made to the explanation of the proposed method to all explanations of the proposed, electrical component.

Fig. 1

die für die Erläuterung der vorschlagsgemäßen Lehre wesentlichen Bauteile einer vorschlagsgemäßen elektrischen Komponente,

Fig. 2

die elektrische Komponente gemäß Fig. 1 während der Montage des Gebers in einer perspektivischen Ansicht, und

Fig. 3

die Darstellung gemäß Fig. 2 bei montiertem Geber.

In the following, we will explain the invention with reference to a purely exemplary embodiment illustrative drawing. In the drawing shows

Fig. 1

the components of a proposed electrical component essential for the explanation of the proposed teaching,

Fig. 2

the electrical component according to Fig. 1 during assembly of the encoder in a perspective view, and

Fig. 3

the representation according to Fig. 2 with mounted encoder.

The illustrated electrical component 1 may be any electrical component associated with a closure element 2 of a motor vehicle. With regard to the broad understanding of the term "electrical component" and the term "closure element" may be made to the introductory part of the description. Preferably, the electrical component 1 is a motor vehicle lock, as will be explained.

The electrical component 1 has a component carrier 3 which carries an electrical drive arrangement 4 and an electrical conductor arrangement 5 with at least one conductor contact arrangement 6.

The electrical component 1 also has at least one, here exactly one, electrical encoder 7 for detecting an adjustment information about an adjusting part 8, here and preferably via an adjusting part 8 of the drive assembly 4, on. The function of the drive assembly 4 will be explained in detail below.

Fig. 2 shows that the encoder 7 has an encoder housing 9 and in the encoder housing 9 has an electrical encoder contact assembly 10. Depending on the design of the encoder 7, the electrical encoder contact assembly 10 is used to derive transmitter signals that include the above-mentioned adjustment information. In addition, it may be provided that the encoder contact arrangement 10 of the electrical power supply of the encoder 7 is used when it is the encoder 7 is an active sensor.

Fig. 3 shows that in the mounted state, the encoder housing 7 and the component carrier 3 via a mechanical connector 11 are in water-tight engagement with each other and thereby enclose a correspondingly sealed cavity 12. The resulting cavity 12 is in the sectional view III-III according to Fig. 3 shown. This representation can also be seen that an electrical contact between the encoder contact arrangement 10 and the conductor contact arrangement 6 is made. This means that during assembly, the electrical contact between the encoder contact arrangement 10 and the conductor contact arrangement 6 in this cavity 12 has come about.

It can be a synopsis of Fig. 2 and 3 It can be seen that the cavity 12 is watertight sealed to the immediate vicinity of the encoder 7, so that the contact point 13 located in the cavity 12 between the encoder contact arrangement 10 and the conductor contact arrangement 6 is protected against external moisture. Against this background, the immediate surroundings of the transmitter 7 may also be a wet space, which as such is largely unprotected against the entry of moisture.

The connector 11 between the encoder housing 9 and component carrier 3 is based on an engagement between a connector portion 14 and a mating connector portion 15, wherein connector portion 14 and mating connector portion 15 are each assigned to one of the encoder housing 9 and component carrier 3. By definition, in the present case, the plug section 14 is assigned to the encoder housing 9 and the mating connector section 15 to the component carrier 3.

It can be in turn a synopsis of Fig. 2 and 3 can be seen that the production of the connector 11 in the context of the assembly of the encoder 7 to a substantially linear insertion movement in a direction of insertion 16, in Fig. 2 on a movement from top to bottom, goes back. Such a linear insertion movement can be implemented particularly well in the context of automated production.

For the configuration of connector portion 14 and mating connector portion 15 different advantageous variants are conceivable. Here and preferably, the plug portion 14 is provided with a nozzle 17, while the mating connector portion 15 has a mouth-like shape 18 for receiving the nozzle 17. In this case, the nozzle 17 may be assigned to the encoder housing 9 and the mouth-like formation 18 to the component carrier 3 and vice versa.

The mechanical plug connection 11 is preferably at least one positive connection with which the proposed water-tight engagement can be implemented particularly easily.

In the illustrated and so far preferred embodiment, an elastic plug seal 19 between the encoder housing 9 and component carrier 3 is provided for the waterproofing engagement between the encoder housing 9 and component carrier 3, which exerts a sealing force 20 between the encoder housing 9 and component carrier 3 in the mounted state. The plug seal 19 is best the sectional view III-III according to Fig. 3 refer to.

It can also be seen from the above sectional view that the sealing force 20 between the encoder housing 9 and the component carrier 3 acts essentially transversely to the plug-in direction 16. Alternatively or additionally, it may be provided that the sealing force 20 acts between the encoder housing 9 and the component carrier 3 substantially along the plug-in direction 16. The plug seal 19 between the encoder housing 9 and the component carrier 3 is preferably provided along a closed sealing line 21, so that in the illustrated embodiment, a circumferential seal of the nozzle 17 is ensured. Accordingly, it is preferably provided that the sealing line 21 runs around the plug portion 14 and / or around the mating connector portion 15, based on a rotational axis formed by the plug-in direction 16.

A particularly inexpensive and effective in terms of sealing design of the elastic plug seal 19 is that the plug seal 19 has at least one sealing ring 22, here and preferably O-ring. In the illustrated preferred embodiment, it is provided in the sense of a particularly good seal that two sealing rings 22, in particular O-rings, side by side, preferably immediately adjacent to each other, are arranged.

The plug seal 19, in particular the at least one sealing ring 22, can be designed as a kind of molded seal with very different cross-sectional shapes. For example, the plug seal 19, in particular the sealing ring 22, have a round, elliptical, angular or the like cross section. Furthermore, the plug seal 19 may have at least one sealing lip.

The assembly of the encoder 7, which is characterized by the transition from Fig. 2 on Fig. 3 results in a plugging of the encoder housing 9 in the context of a here and preferably linear assembly movement in or on the component carrier 3 back. Accordingly, it is preferably such that the assembly movement comprises the above-mentioned plugging movement for the production of the plug connection 11. The assembly movement can only be linear in sections and in particular comprise at least one rotary movement section.

The above assembly movement preferably also comprises the production of the electrical contact between the encoder contact arrangement 10 and the conductor contact arrangement 6. The production of the plug connection 11 and the production of the electrical contact between the encoder contact arrangement 10 and the conductor contact arrangement 6 can take place substantially simultaneously. However, it may also be advantageous if the production of the plug connection 11 and the production of the electrical contact between the encoder contact arrangement 10 and the conductor contact arrangement 6 are carried out successively in any order within the assembly movement, so that the production of the connector 11 and the production of the contact do not interfere with each other. Before the preparation of the mechanical connector 11 and the preparation of the electrical contact between the encoder contact assembly 10 and the conductor contact arrangement 6 is preferably provided an alignment movement, in which the encoder housing is longitudinally guided as explained below.

To support the assembly of the encoder 7, but also for the positioning of the encoder 7 in the assembled state, a longitudinal guide 23 is provided for a guide of the encoder 7. In this case, it is preferably the case that the encoder housing 9 runs on or in the longitudinal guide 23 during the assembly movement, and, preferably, that the longitudinal guide 23 is in positioning engagement with the transmitter housing 9 when the encoder 7 is mounted. A synopsis of Fig. 2 and 3 shows that when mounted encoder 7, the longitudinal guide 23 together with the encoder housing 9 forms a tongue and groove connection.

Fig. 3 shows that the longitudinal guide 23 extends over a substantial part of the encoder housing 9, and in particular that, when the transmitter is mounted, the longitudinal guide 23 is in leading engagement with the transmitter housing 9 via a substantial part of the transmitter housing 9. This not only allows a very accurate orientation of the encoder housing 9 along the longitudinal guide 23, but also a certain definition of the encoder housing 9, which can be supported by a clamping engagement between the longitudinal guide 23 and the encoder housing 9 in a simple mechanical manner.

In general, the longitudinal guide 23 is provided with a guide formation 24, which is seen in cross-section transverse to the insertion direction 16, in positive engagement with the encoder housing 9. The Führungsausformung 24 is here equipped as a guide groove 25 which cooperates with a guide web 26 on the encoder housing 9. This can also be provided vice versa such that the guide groove on the encoder housing 9 and the guide web on the longitudinal guide 23 is arranged.

A particularly stable guidance results from the fact that the longitudinal guide 23 has two partial longitudinal guides 23a, 23b, which are arranged on two opposite sides of the transmitter 7. Quite generally, the encoder housing 9 is thereby bordered on two opposite sides of the transmitter housing 9 in the sense of a longitudinal guide.

Manufacturing technology is advantageous that in the context of the assembly of the encoder 7 with the production of the mechanical connector 11 between the encoder housing 7 and component carrier 3 and the production of the electrical contact between the encoder contact assembly 11 and the conductor contact assembly 6 is accompanied. Thus, it is possible that both a mechanically sealing connection and an electrical connection can be produced with a single plug movement. Accordingly, it is preferably the case that the production of the electrical contact also goes back to a plug connection, namely an electrical plug connection. In this sense, the conductor contact arrangement 6 and / or the encoder contact arrangement 10 for producing the electrical contact has at least one plug contact and / or at least one electrical insulation displacement terminal 27. Here and preferably, the encoder contact arrangement 10 is equipped with corresponding insulation displacement terminals 27.

The conductor arrangement 5 can basically be designed cable-based. It is also conceivable that the conductor arrangement 5 is at least partially provided by the conductor tracks of an electronic circuit board. However, here and preferably it is the case that the conductor arrangement 5 has a stamped grid 28, which is accommodated at least partially by the component carrier 3, here embedded in the component carrier 3. This is preferably realized in that the component carrier 2 is designed as a plastic part and is produced in the plastic injection molding process when inserted into the respective injection mold punched grid 28. Preferably, the conductor contact arrangement 6 is part of the stamped grid 28, wherein the conductor contact arrangement 6 protrudes here in the region of the cavity 12 from the component carrier 3, moreover, in particular from a wall element 29. This is best according to the illustration Fig. 3 refer to. The conductor contact arrangement 6 is correspondingly formed by individual projecting from the wall member 29 conductor lugs 30 of the lead frame 28, which come in the assembly of the encoder 7 in engagement with the above-mentioned insulation displacement terminals 27 and the electrical contact between the encoder contact assembly 10 and conductor contact assembly 6 produce.

In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the component carrier 3 is a component of a component housing 31, which receives, among other things, the encoder 7. In Fig. 3 is indicated that the component housing 31 may be configured at least two parts and here has a first housing part 32 and a second housing part 33. While the mechanical connector 11 is provided between the encoder housing 9 and component carrier 3 on the first housing part 32, the second housing part 33 assumes the function of a housing cover, which engages with the encoder 7 in such a way that a release of the connector 11, in particular a movement of the Encoders 7 against the insertion direction 16, is blocked by the second housing part 33.

Another way of determining the encoder housing 9 on the component housing 31 is based on the fact that a latching arrangement, not shown here may be provided and that the production of the connector 11 is associated with a production of a corresponding latching engagement between the encoder housing 9 and the component carrier 3 via the latching arrangement wherein the latching engagement a release of the connector 11, in particular a movement of the encoder 7 counter to the insertion direction 16, counteracts. In this case, it is preferably provided that the encoder housing 9 has at least one latching element which is in latching engagement with mounted encoder 7 with at least one counter-latching element of the component carrier 3. The at least one latching element may be, for example, a latching hook, while the latching element may correspond to a latching shoulder or the like. The latching arrangement is preferably provided separately from the plug connection, so that the water-sealing engagement of the plug connection 11 is not impaired by the latching arrangement.

For the design of the encoder 7 quite different implementation options are conceivable depending on the technical conditions. According to the invention, the encoder 7 has a detection arrangement 34 for detecting the respective adjustment information, wherein the detection arrangement 34 is preferably arranged in the encoder housing 9.

In principle, the detection arrangement 34 can enable contactless detection of the adjustment movement of a shaft or the like. This is the case, for example, if the detection arrangement 34 has a Hall sensor which interacts with a drive-side magnet or the like. However, in the illustrated and so far preferred embodiment, the detection arrangement 34 works touching, as will be explained.

In principle, the detection arrangement 34 can work as a rotary encoder for a shaft. Alternatively, it may be provided that the detection arrangement 34 operates as a switch for detecting engagement with a mechanical component. In the simplest case, it is the case that the detection arrangement 34 works as a microswitch arrangement.

In the illustrated encoder 7, an adjustable encoder element 35 is provided, wherein by means of the detection arrangement 34 an adjustment information to the encoder element 35, here the position of the encoder element 35, can be detected. In this case, the encoder element 35 is pivotable, here even rotatable.

To ensure that no moisture can penetrate into the transmitter housing 9 is, as in Fig. 2 shown, an annular sliding seal 36 between the encoder element 35 and encoder housing 9 is provided.

In addition, a housing seal 39 is provided between two housing parts 37, 38 of the transmitter housing 9, which is also designed here annular.

For the embodiment of the plug seal 19, the sliding seal 36 and the housing seal 39, various advantageous variants are conceivable. In principle, the seals 19, 36, 39 can be designed at least in part as an insertion seal. However, in terms of manufacturing technology, it may be advantageous for at least one of these seals 19, 36, 39 to be molded onto the transmitter housing 9 in a two-component injection molding process. Finally, it is conceivable that the seals 19, 36, 39 are at least partially part of a one-piece sealing body, which can considerably simplify the manufacture and assembly of the seals 19, 36, 39.

It results from a synopsis of Fig. 2 and 3 in that the detection arrangement 34 has a slip ring arrangement 40, as indicated above. The transmitter element 35 is correspondingly assigned a grinder 41, which is in electrical contact with the slip ring assembly 40 in dependence on the rotational position of the transmitter element 35. The grinder 41 and / or the slip ring assembly 40 are electrically connected to the donor contact assembly 10, so that the resulting adjustment information can be picked up via the encoder contact arrangement 10.

An interesting feature in the illustrated embodiment is the fact that the encoder element 35 is pivotable about a transmitter element axis 35a and that the transmitter element axis 35a is aligned transversely to the plug-in direction 16 of the plug connection 11. As a result, the orientation of the encoder element axis 35a can be reproducibly positioned in space with simple means. As indicated above, the encoder 7 can serve to detect an adjustment information about an adjustment part 8 of the drive arrangement 4. Here, and preferably, it is such that the encoder 7 of the detection of the position of a drive shaft 42 of the drive assembly 4 is used. Basically, the encoder 7 but also the detection of the position of levers o. The like. Serve.

In the illustrated embodiment, the transmitter element 35 is preferably coupled to the drive shaft 42 of the drive assembly 4. Preferably, the encoder element 35 is pivotable about a encoder shaft axis 35a, wherein the encoder shaft axis 35a is aligned coaxially with the drive shaft axis 42a. The encoder element 35 preferably has an encoder shaft 43, which is coupled via a coupling element, not shown, with the drive shaft 42.

As mentioned above, the proposed electrical component 1 is preferably a motor vehicle lock. The electrical component 1 then preferably has closing elements 44, 45, in particular a latch 44 and a pawl 45, on. Furthermore, a lock mechanism 46 is preferably further provided, which in Fig. 1 is indicated. In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the component carrier 3 carries both the closing elements 44, 45 and the lock mechanism 46. The basic operation of the designed as a motor vehicle lock electrical component 1 is the German patent application DE 10 2012 003 698 A1 referring to the applicant.

Preferably, the drive assembly 4 is the motorized adjustment of lock states of the motor vehicle lock such as "locked", "unlocked", "theft-proof" or "child-proof". The setting of the lock states of the lock mechanism 46 via a targeted pivoting in Fig. 1 shown control shaft 47 by means of the drive assembly 4. The drive assembly 4 is designed for such a gradual approach of control positions out. Also in this respect may be made to the statements in the above German patent application.

Alternatively to the setting of lock states, the drive arrangement 4 can also serve for the motorized lifting of the pawl 45 in the sense of an opening drive. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the drive arrangement 4 acts as a closing auxiliary drive, for example, in order to adjust the latch 44 from a prelocking position into a main closing position.

In principle, the drive arrangement 4 can serve for the motorized adjustment of the closure element 2 itself. Accordingly, the drive assembly 2 then serves the motorized adjustment of the closure element between an open position and a closed position.

In all the above-mentioned applications, the proposed solution brings the aforementioned manufacturing advantages, namely the ease of assembly and in particular the high process reliability during assembly, with it.

According to another teaching, which also has independent significance, a method for assembling an electrical component 1 for a closure element 2 of a motor vehicle is claimed. It is initially assumed that in the assembled state, an above component carrier 3, which carries an electric drive assembly 4 and an electrical conductor assembly 5 with at least one conductor contact arrangement 6, and at least one electrical encoder 7 are provided for detecting an adjustment information about an adjustment.

Essential for the proposed method is first that the encoder housing 9 and the component carrier 3 via a mechanical connector 11 are brought together in a waterproofing engagement. It is also essential that an electrical contact between the encoder contact arrangement 10 and the conductor contact arrangement 6 is produced. The preparation of the mechanical connector 11 and the electrical contact is carried out either simultaneously, successively or overlapping. The advantage here is that the mechanical connector 11 and the electrical contact can be made in one and the same assembly movement.

Further preferably, the assembly movement is, at least in sections, a linear movement that can be automated with simple devices. With regard to further variants and advantages of the proposed method may be made to the above statements on the proposed electrical component.

Claims (15)

1. Electrical component for a closure element (2) of a motor vehicle, comprising a component carrier (3) which carries an electrical drive arrangement (4) and an electrical conductor arrangement (5) with at least one conductor contact arrangement (6), and comprising at least one electrical encoder (7) for detecting adjustment information about an adjustment part (8), in particular about an adjustment part (8) of the drive arrangement (4), wherein the encoder (7) has an encoder housing (9) and, in the encoder housing (9), an electrical encoder contact arrangement (10), and wherein the encoder housing (9) and the component carrier (3) are in waterproofing engagement with one another by means of a mechanical plug-in connection (11) and, in this way, enclose a correspondingly sealed-off cavity (12) in which electrical contact is established between the encoder contact arrangement (10) and the conductor contact arrangement (6), characterized in that the encoder (7) has a detection arrangement (34) for detecting the adjustment information, in that the encoder (7) has an encoder element (35) which can be pivoted about an encoder element axis (35a), and in that adjustment information relating to the encoder element (35), specifically the position of the encoder element (35), can be detected by means of the detection arrangement (34).
2. Electrical component according to Claim 1, characterized in that the plug-in connection (11) between the encoder housing (9) and the component carrier (3) stems from engagement between a plug section (14) and a mating plug section (15), and in that the plug section (14) and the mating plug section (15) are respectively associated with one of the encoder housing (9) and the component carrier (3), preferably in that the process of establishing the plug-in connection (11) stems from a substantially linear plug-in movement in a plug-in direction (16).
3. Electrical component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an elastic plug seal (19) is provided between the encoder housing (9) and the component carrier (3) for the waterproofing engagement between the encoder housing (9) and the component carrier (3), which elastic plug seal exerts a sealing force (20) between the encoder housing (9) and the component carrier (3), preferably in that the sealing force (20) between the encoder housing (9) and the component carrier (3) acts substantially transversely in relation to the plug-in direction (16), or in that the sealing force (20) between the encoder housing (9) and the component carrier (3) acts substantially along the plug-in direction (16).
4. Electrical component according to Claim 2 and possibly according to Claim 3, characterized in that the plug seal (19) between the encoder housing (9) and the component carrier (3) is provided along a closed sealing line (21), preferably in that the sealing line (21) runs around the plug section (14) and/or around the mating plug section (15), further preferably in that the plug seal (19) has at least one sealing ring (22), in particular o-ring.
5. Electrical component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, for the purpose of mounting the encoder (7), the encoder housing (9) is plugged into or onto the component carrier (3) by an, in particular, linear mounting movement, preferably in that the mounting movement comprises the plug-in movement for establishing the mechanical plug-in connection (11), and/or in that the mounting movement comprises the process of establishing the electrical contact between the encoder contact arrangement (10) and the conductor contact arrangement (6), preferably in that, as part of the mounting movement, the process of establishing the plug-in connection (11) and the process of establishing the electrical contact between the encoder contact arrangement (10) and the conductor contact arrangement (6) take place in succession, preferably in that the mounting movement comprises an orientation movement before the process of establishing the mechanical plug-in connection (11) and the process of establishing the electrical contact between the encoder contact arrangement (10) and the conductor contact arrangement (6).
6. Electrical component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a longitudinal guide (23) is provided for guiding the encoder (7), preferably in that the encoder housing (9) runs on or in the longitudinal guide (23) during the mounting movement, preferably in that the longitudinal guide (23) is in positioning engagement with the encoder housing (9) when the encoder (7) is mounted, further preferably in that, when the encoder (7) is mounted, the longitudinal guide (23) forms a tongue-and-groove connection together with the encoder housing (9).
7. Electrical component according to Claim 6, characterized in that the longitudinal guide (23) extends over a substantial portion of the encoder housing (9), preferably in that, when the encoder (7) is mounted, the longitudinal guide (23) is in guiding engagement with the encoder housing (9) over a substantial portion of the encoder housing (9).
8. Electrical component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, during the process of mounting the encoder (7), the process of establishing the mechanical plug-in connection (11) between the encoder housing (9) and the component carrier (3) is accompanied by the process of establishing the electrical contact between the encoder contact arrangement (10) and the conductor contact arrangement (6), preferably in that the conductor contact arrangement (6) and/or the encoder contact arrangement (10) have or has at least one plug-in contact and/or at least one electrical insulation-displacement terminal (27) for the purpose of establishing the electrical contact.
9. Electrical component according to Claim 2 and possibly according to one of Claims 3 to 8, characterized in that the component carrier (3) is a constituent part of a component housing (31) that accommodates the encoder (7), preferably in that the component housing (31) is of at least two-part configuration, further preferably in that a housing part (33) of the component housing (31), in particular a housing cover, is in engagement with the encoder (7) in such a way that release of the plug-in connection (11), in particular movement of the encoder (7) counter to the plug-in direction (16), is blocked by the housing part (33).
10. Electrical component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a latching arrangement is provided, and in that the process of establishing latching engagement between the encoder housing (9) and the component carrier (3) by means of the latching arrangement is accompanied by the process of establishing the plug-in connection (11), wherein the latching engagement counteracts release of the plug-in connection (11), in particular movement of the encoder (7) counter to the plug-in direction (16), preferably in that the encoder housing (9) has at least one latching element which, when the encoder (7) is mounted, is in engagement with at least one mating latching element of the component carrier (3) for the purpose of establishing the latching engagement.
11. Electrical component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detection arrangement (34) is arranged in the encoder housing (9) .
12. Electrical component according to Claim 11, characterized in that the detection arrangement (34) operates as a rotary encoder for a shaft, or in that the detection arrangement (34) operates as a switch for detecting engagement with a mechanical component, preferably in that the detection arrangement (34) operates as a microswitch arrangement.
13. Electrical component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the encoder element (35) is coupled to a drive shaft (42) of the drive arrangement (4), preferably in that the encoder element (35) can be pivoted about an encoder shaft axis (35a), and in that the encoder shaft axis (35a) is oriented coaxially in relation to the drive shaft axis (42a).
14. Electrical component according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrical component (1) is a motor vehicle lock, preferably in that the motor vehicle lock carries locking elements (44, 45), in particular a lock latch (44) and a locking pawl (45), and has a lock mechanism (46) which is carried by the component carrier (3).
15. Method for mounting an electrical component (1) for a closure element (2) of a motor vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein, in the mounted state, a component carrier (3), which carries an electrical drive arrangement (4) and an electrical conductor arrangement (5) with at least one conductor contact arrangement (6), and at least one electrical encoder (7) for detecting adjustment information about an adjustment part (8), in particular about an adjustment part (8) of the drive arrangement (4) are provided, wherein the encoder (7) has an encoder housing (9) and, in the encoder housing (9), an electrical encoder contact arrangement (10), and wherein the encoder housing (9) and the component carrier (3) are brought into waterproofing engagement with one another by means of a mechanical plug-in connection (11), and wherein, in so doing, an electrical contact is established between the encoder contact arrangement (10) and the conductor contact arrangement (6), characterized in that the encoder (7) has a detection arrangement (34) for detecting the adjustment information, in that the encoder (7) has an encoder element (35) which can be pivoted about an encoder element axis, and in that adjustment information relating to the encoder element (35), specifically the position of the encoder element (35), is detected by means of the detection arrangement (34).

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