EP3044800B1 - Microswitch for position determination, and use - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a microswitch and a Elekfrokomponentenfräger particular for a motor vehicle with embedded in an electrically insulating material interconnects, electrical connections and an integrated micro-switch. The invention further relates to an advantageous use.

An electric component carrier is a self-supporting component with a housing and electrical conductor tracks inserted into the housing, which have in principle been punched out of a metal sheet. The inserted tracks are encapsulated with insulating material and thus protected from environmental influences. The material of the conductor tracks is so thick and therefore stable that conductor ends can serve as contact pins. In addition, the material is basically flexible, so that conductor ends can be bent in order to make contact in a desired direction. Basically, the conductor tracks are made of metal and are in particular 0.1 mm to 1 mm thick.

To the electrical connections of such a track unit, electrical components are connected, such as switches, detectors, electronic components or electric motors. Such electrical components can be found, for example, in a lock, in particular door lock of a motor vehicle.

For the production of an electrical component carrier, conductor tracks are usually first punched out of a metal sheet and, if necessary, additionally prepared by bending, for example, for the provision of contact lugs and / or drilling. The thus prepared conductor tracks, which may still have supporting and / or connecting webs, are then in a housing of the Electro-component carrier inserted. Subsequently, insulating material is hineingesprifzt in a first step in order to fix the conductor tracks in the housing. Then connecting and / or supporting webs - if present - are separated between the tracks. Finally, the housing is filled by injecting insulating material in the intended manner.

Contact lugs protrude from the insulating material to be connected to components such as a switch, for example by soldering. The protruding tabs form the electrical connections of the electrical component carrier, For example, according to the German patent application 102012211756 a switch is used at the designated location so that its contacts can be soldered to the protruding contacts of the tracks.

A microswitch is an electrical switch with a small gap of the contacts in the open state. The distance is only a few millimeters and allows only small electrical loads that can be switched. Low electrical loads in this sense are found in motor vehicle locks.

It is known to use a microswitch in a motor vehicle to detect a condition, such as the position of pivoting levers and pawls in motor vehicle locks, the position of doors or flaps or connecting a charging plug with a charging socket in vehicles that with an electric motor operated. A pivoting of a lever, a latch, a door of a flap or the nesting of electrical plug into an electrical socket actuates a microswitch. An electrical switch triggered thereby signals the event. An example is from the publications DE 10 2006 059 275 A1 such as WO 13071913 A2 known.

The publication DE 10 2011 089 024 A1 discloses an assembly including an electronic component carrier and a switching device. The switching device of the assembly is in this case formed by means of at least one contact region of at least two lead frame conductors and a contactless magnetically displaceable switching medium of the assembly, by means of which contact regions of different lead frame conductors can be selectively bridged. The contact areas provided for forming a switching functionality are exposed on a surface of the carrier and can thus be swept or contacted by the switching medium on the carrier surface and thereby selectively bridged. Switch positions of the switching device can be detected.

The publication DE 10 2004 040 395 A1 discloses an electrical switch for a motor vehicle with two tracks and a switch contact arranged above the tracks in the form of a deformable snap-action disc. The switching contact permanently electrically contacts one of the two conductor tracks. By actuating the switch, the switching contact is deformed and thereby electrically connected to the other conductor track.

The DE 10 2006 024 292 A1 discloses a handle for electrically actuating a closure on a flap or door in a vehicle. A punched filter is integrated into an electrical component carrier which serves as an insert in the housing mold during injection molding of the cup-shaped handle housing. The electrical component carrier has at its inner end a cup-like receptacle, which serves for inserting a deformable snap disk. The snap disc is part of an electrical switch to electrically connect normally closed contacts with each other.

From the DE 23 59 971 A1 a microswitch is two interconnects integrated into a surface, wherein the microswitch comprises a surface-displaceable arcuate elastically deformable conductor element having two end regions which is elastically deformed by actuation of the microswitch so that both end regions of the conductor element can be displaced , wherein by the displacement of the end portions of the conductor element can be electrically switched.

Unless stated otherwise below, the aforementioned features can be combined individually or in any combination with the subject matter of the invention described below.

It is an object of the invention to provide a further developed micro-switch, which in particular also allows detection of the position of the microswitch.

To solve the problem, a micro-switch according to the features of claim 1 is proposed.

By moving two electrical conductors are electrically connected to each other or an electrical connection between two conductors is interrupted. The displacement thus causes an electrical switching.

One or more contact surfaces, which electrically connect to each other by the displacement, have different electrical conductive areas in such a way that change by moving electrical resistances of electrically connected surfaces. It can then be determined by resistance measurements a plurality of different switch positions. Is such a micro-switch for a position detection used, so more than two different positions can be detected.

In particular, the displaceable conductor element is arcuate and elastically deformable. At least one end of the arcuate conductor element rests on the surface in which the one or more conductor tracks are integrated. For displacement, the arcuate conductor element is elastically deformed such that at least one end region, preferably the two end regions of the arcuate conductor element, are displaced.

One end of the arcuate, elastically deformable conductor element may be permanently connected to an electrical conductor and / or be permanently mounted. Upon actuation of the microswitch then only the other end is moved so as to switch electrically. U. a. For manufacturing reasons, however, it is preferable that both ends - as described below - are moved by actuation of the microswitch along a surface with integrated conductor tracks. Such a microswitch can be made very small and still allow to detect a plurality of positions.

A surface which contacts another surface by displacement of the conductor element has, in one embodiment, different metals or different metal alloys. As a result, mechanically resistant surface areas with differently electrically conductive areas are provided.

In one embodiment, the microswitch on more than two tracks, which can be contacted by moving electrically. This can be contacted further improved different positions of the microswitch.

In a technically simple to manufacture embodiment of the invention, the one or more surface areas of the verschlebaren conductor element electrically contact by moving an electrical conductor of the microswitch, electrically different surface areas conductive on in particular due to different metals from which the surface or the areas are formed , All firmly mounted tracks of the microswitch can then be made from a simple sheet by punching, which simplifies the production,

In one embodiment of the invention, the surface region comprising differently conductive regions is provided by a contact pill. The contact pill is firmly connected to an electrical conductor or the at least partially displaceable conductor element, for example by soldering. This allows a targeted separate production of the surface having different conductive surface areas.

In one embodiment, the differently conductive surface regions extend in strip form and perpendicular to the displacement direction of the at least partially displaceable conductor element. By means of this refinement, a plurality of positions or positions of the microswitch can be further improved.

Good electrically conductive surface areas consist in one embodiment of the invention made of copper or silver. In comparison, poorly conductive areas consist in one embodiment of the invention of stainless steel, iron or brass or a metallic alloy, since alloys regularly conduct in comparison to pure metals poorly electrically.

The invention further relates to an electrical component carrier having a base part of electrically insulating material and electrical conductor tracks for connecting electrical components, wherein conductor tracks are enveloped by the material of the base part. At least two, preferably three electrical tracks of the electrical component carrier are an integral part of the electrical microswitch.

By this configuration, an electrical switch must not be soldered to protruding contacts of an electrical component carrier. Printed conductors that already comprise an electrical component carrier are an immediate component of the electrical microswitch. The production cost is correspondingly low. If at least three electrical conductor tracks are part of the switch, a plurality of positions of the switch can be detected in a further improved manner in a simple manner. The switch is very simple and therefore robust and durable.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, four tracks are present, which are an integral part of the switch. In the idle state, that is, in the non-actuated state of the switch, the arcuate conductor element advantageously contacts two internal conductor tracks. Internal printed conductors are those which are located between two further printed conductors of the microswitch. If the switch is actuated, this causes that the two internal printed conductors are no longer electrically connected to each other, but instead the two external printed conductors. This can be used for example for detecting the position of the microswitch.

The conductor track sections of the microswitch, which can be contacted by the arcuate conductor element, advantageously run parallel to one another, so as to minimize the required installation space,

In one embodiment, the microswitch comprises a cap or a lid with a central region and an area of deformable plastic material adjacent thereto. When the microswitch is actuated, the central region transmits such a force to the arcuate conductor element that it deforms in the aforesaid manner.

In one embodiment of the invention, the areas of the tracks that may be contacted by the arcuate conductor element terminate flush with adjacent surfaces, at least with the surface, on the ends of the arcuate conductor element or on the ends of the arcuate conductor element by operating the switch rest. As a result, the force is advantageously kept low, which must be expended for operating the switch.

In one embodiment of the invention, the switch comprises guide means and / or position means for guiding and / or positioning the arcuate conductor element.

In one embodiment of the invention, there is a pin protruding from the surface of the electrical component carrier that extends through a hole in the arcuate conductor element. This positioning means ensures in a technically simple manner that the arcuate conductor element retains its position relative to the conductor tracks.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the two ends of the arcuate conductor element are guided by adjacent webs. Faulty movements are thus avoided.

In one embodiment of the invention, the ends of the arcuate conductor element are bent and opposite to the other arc shape of the arcuate conductor element. As a result, frictional resistances are kept low, which occur during actuation of the microswitch.

An electronic component carrier with the microswitch can and should be electrically connected to at least two other electrical components. This distinguishes an electronic component carrier from a microswitch that is not an integral part of an electronic component carrier. Examples of further components within the meaning of the present invention are one or more sensors or detectors, one or more motors, one or more further microswitches. Also, the electrical component carrier in addition to the interconnects, which are a direct part of the integrated microswitch, further traces on.

Since the micro-switch is compact, small and lightweight and can be well protected from environmental influences, it is particularly suitable for use in motor vehicles .. in particular to determine a position of a component of the motor vehicle, such as a component of a motor vehicle lock or the position a door, a flap, a plug or a camera.

Figur 1:

Komponenten des Elektrokomponententrägers im nicht montierten Zustand;

Figur 2:

Elektrokomponententräger;

Figur 3:

Schnitt durch den Elektrokomponententräger im nicht betätigten Zustand;

Figur 4:

Schnitt durch den Elektrokomponententräger im betätigten Zustand.

Figur 5:

Schnitt durch einen zweiten Elektrokomponententräger im nicht betätigten Zustand:

Figur 6:

Schnitt durch den zweiten Elektrokomponententräger im betätigten Zustand;

Figur 7:

vergrößerte Darstellung eines Ausschnitts eines Leiterendes in einer ersten Stellung;

Figur 8:

vergrößerte Darstellung eines Ausschnitts eines Leiterendes in einer zweiten Stellung;

Show it:

FIG. 1:

Components of the electrical component carrier in the unassembled state;

FIG. 2:

Electric component carrier;

FIG. 3:

Section through the electrical component carrier in the non-actuated state;

FIG. 4:

Section through the electrical component carrier in the actuated state.

FIG. 5:

Section through a second electronic component carrier in the non-actuated state:

FIG. 6:

Section through the second electronic component carrier in the actuated state;

FIG. 7:

enlarged view of a section of a conductor end in a first position;

FIG. 8:

enlarged view of a section of a conductor end in a second position;

The FIGS. 1 to 4 illustrate the structure of a microswitch, which is integrated in an electrical component carrier 1. The electrical component carrier comprises a base part 2 made of electrically insulating material and electrical conductor tracks 3, 4, 5. The base part can be produced by a plastic housing and material injected into the housing. The pre-injection into the housing inserted tracks 3, 4, 5 are partially covered by the material of the base part 2. Four electrical interconnects 4. 5 of the electrical component carrier 1 are an immediate part of an electrical microswitch. The microswitch comprises a curved conductor element 6, which is elastically deformable. By actuating the microswitch, the arcuate conductor element 6 is elastically deformed in such a way that the two end regions 7 of the conductor element 6 are displaced. FIG. 4 shows in section the shifted and consequently the actuated state. By moving the two end portions 7, the two electrical Conductor tracks 4 electrically connected to each other. The electrical connection between the two interconnects 5, however, is interrupted by pressing.

In the resting state of the switch 1 contacted the arcuate Leiferelement 6 with its end portions 7, the two inner conductor tracks 5, like the FIG. 3 clarified. These inner conductor tracks 5 are located between the two further conductor tracks 4.

The end regions 7 have on the surface, which contact the conductor tracks 5, strip-shaped two different metals with different electrical conductivities. This leads to measurable changes in resistance during a shift. The resistance changes allow more detailed information about the position of the arcuate conductor element, which is caused by the degree of depression of the cap 13.

The conductor track sections of the microswitch, which are arranged between the two webs 8 and which can be contacted by the arcuate conductor element 6, run parallel to one another, so as to minimize the required installation space. These sections or regions of the conductor tracks 4, 5, which are arranged between the two webs 8 and which can be contacted by the arcuate conductor element 6, terminate flush with the surface thereof with the adjoining surface 9 of the insulating material. Moreover, the surfaces of the tracks 4, 5 are flush with the adjacent surface, as far as they are disposed within the protruding, annular rim 10.

There is a protruding from the surface of the Elektrokomponenfenträgers 1 pin 11, which passes through the hole 12 in the arcuate conductor element 6, which serve as a position means. The two ends 7 of the arcuate conductor element 6 are guided by the laterally adjacent webs 8.

The ends 7 of the arcuate conductor element 6 are bent and opposite to the other arc shape of the arcuate conductor element 6. This arc-shaped support surfaces for the end regions 7 are created, whereby frictional resistances are kept low, which occur during actuation of the microswitch 1.

The protruding edge 10 is the dust and moisture-tight attachment of the lid 13. The lid 13 is deformable, as the comparison of FIG. 4 with the FIG. 3 clarified.

The tracks 3 of the Elektrokoroponententrägers are not part of the microswitch. These should be electrically connected to another electrical component.

An inboard edge 14 of the lid rests on the arcuate conductor element 6. By pressing down the lid 13, the arcuate conductor element 6 is thereby pressed down and the microswitch is actuated. For pressing down a region 15 of the lid 13 is provided, which extends from the outside in the direction of the edge 14 in a cylindrical manner. In the cylindrical shape, the pin 11 extends into it, which thus serves at the same time the leadership of the lid 13. Seen from the region 15, the cover 13 extends wave-shaped (16) in the radial direction. As a result, the operation is facilitated.

The FIGS. 5 and 6 show an embodiment of the invention with three tracks of the microswitch. The conductor track 17 is widened in comparison to the conductor tracks 4 and 5, so that there is always a contact with the arcuate conductor element 6. One of the two tracks 3 or 4 can be used to detect or detect the position of the microswitch. But it is also possible to use both tracks 4 and 5 for switching.

The FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate the determination of two other positions of the arcuate conductor element 6 due to differently good conductive portions of the conductor element end 7. The portion 7a consists of a poorly conductive metal. Section 7b consists of a good conductive metal. Surfaces of the two sections 7a and 7b, which can contact the tracks 4 and 5, run in a web-shaped manner perpendicular to the direction of movement of the end 7. In the case of FIG. 7 contacted only the comparatively poorly conductive portion 7a, the electrical conductor 4. There is now indeed an electrically conductive connection. However, the ohmic resistance is relatively high. The measurement of this resistance signals that in the FIG. 7 If the middle operating region 15 cap 13 is pushed further in the direction of the electrical component carrier, then the highly conductive portion 7b contacts the electrical conductor. The electrical resistance drops, indicating that the in the FIG. 8 shown position is reached.

This can be used, for example, to detect the position of a pivotable rotary latch in a motor vehicle lock, which can be latched by one or more pawls in a position Vorrast and in a position Hauptast. If the end 7 contacts the conductor track 4, then the rotary catch is in an open position. Achieved the end 7 in the FIG. 7 shown Position, so the catch is in the position Vorrast. Reaches the catch in the FIG. 8 shown spot, so the catch has reached the position of main load. If there is no electrically conductive contact, the catch is in an intermediate position during opening or closing. With only a compact micro-switch so a plurality of positions can be detected.

It is sufficient if one end 7 has different conductive sections. However, it is preferable that both ends 7 have different conductive portions 7a and 7b. Resistance changes can either be amplified to make measuring easier. It is also possible. To increase the possibilities of variation. Instead of the ends 7 or in addition, printed conductors 4, 5, 17 may be provided with different conductive sections, for example to increase detection possibilities.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1:

Electric component support

2:

base

3, 4, 5:

electrical trace

6:

arcuate conductor element

7:

End of the ladder element

7a:

poorly conductive portion of the conductor element end

7b:

good conductive portion of the conductor element end

8th:

web

9:

surface

10:

ring-shaped edge

11:

pen

12:

Hole in the arcuate conductor element

13:

cover

14:

inside edge of the lid

15:

operating range

16:

wavy course

17:

conductor path

18:

annular lid edge

19:

annular lid area

Claims (11)

1. Microswitch with at least one strip conductor (4, 5, 17), integrated into an surface (9), whereby the microswitch has a conductor element (6) with two end areas (7), the conductor element (6) being shiftable along the surface and being in particular arch-shaped and being elastically malleable, which conductor element (6) is elastically deformed by activation of the microswitch in such a way that at least one of the end areas (7) of the conductor element (6) can be shifted, whereby by shifting of at least one end area (7) of the conductor element (6) it can be electrically switched, characterized in that a contact surface which enables electrical switching by generation of an electrical contact by shifting has areas (7a, 7b) with differing electric conductability.
2. Microswitch according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one end area (7) of the conductor element (6) has different metals and/or different metal alloys to form the differently electrically conductible areas (7a, 7b).
3. Microswitch according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the deformable strip conductor (6) has the differently conductible areas (7a, 7b).
4. Microswitch according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the differently conductible areas (7a, 7b) are arranged in a track or strip-shaped manner vertically to the shifting direction of the shiftable conductor element (6).
5. Microswitch according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that in the non-activated state of the microswitch the deformable conductor element (6) contacts two internal strip conductors (5) arranged between two further strip conductors (4).
6. Microswitch according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the areas comprising one or several strip conductors (4, 5, 17) which can be contacted by the deformable conductor element (6) are flush with the adjacent surface (9).
7. Microswitch according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the microswitch comprises guides and/or positioners in order to guide and/or position the deformable conductor element (6).
8. Microswitch according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that there is a pin (11) protruding from an internal surface (9) of the microswitch which reaches through a hole (12) in the deformable conductor element (6).
9. Microswitch according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the two ends (7) of the conductor element (6) are guided by adjacent bridges (8).
10. Electronic component carrier (1) with a base section (2) consisting of electrically insulating material and electrical strip conductors (2, 3, 4, 5, 17) for connecting electrical components, whereby strip conductors (2, 3, 4, 5, 17) are at least partially encased by the material of the base section and at least one, preferably at least two electrical strip conductors (4, 5, 17) of the electronic component carrier are a direct component of an electrical microswitch which comprises the characteristics according to one of the previous claims.
11. Use of a microswitch or electronic component carrier according to one of the previous claims for position determination of a motor vehicle component.

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