EP3188319B1 - Method for fastening an component to a substrate via a bracket and assembly comprising a component and a bracket - Google Patents

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates mainly, but not exclusively, to the fields of electrical, electronic, mechanical and mechatronic assembly and connectors.

TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND

During the manufacture of a product, for example during the manufacture of an electronic card, it is often necessary to assemble different elements on the same substrate. The 'substrate' is any part; however, it often comes in the form of a plate, such as a PCB (from the English 'Printed Circuit Board'). It can also be a plastic case, a metal plate, or any other part. The substrate is therefore any part, on which must be mounted or to which must be connected at least one element.

The term “element” here denotes any part which is called upon to be integrated into a product during manufacture. An element can in particular be an electrical, electronic, mechanical or mechatronic component. The element can also be an electric cable, in particular a cable (or a conductor) for the power supply and / or for data transmission.

In most of the component manufacturing or assembly processes, there is provided for each element an operation of fixing the element to the substrate, for example by welding or brazing.

The term “fixing” in this document broadly designates any method, and by extension any device, serving to achieve a connection, at least mechanical, between two elements.

The purpose of the fixing may be to achieve a mechanical connection between the two elements; alternatively, it may be to connect them electrically. In this case, the fixing of the elements together is simply their connection or their mutual electrical connection.

Usually, in a manufacturing process, the attachment of an element in a product is carried out at a certain stage of the process. The fixing carried out during this step is generally defined so as to ensure the connection provided between the element and the substrate (this connection can be the mechanical support of the element, and / or the electrical connection of the element, etc. .) throughout the life of the product. This sometimes induces very strong requirements as to the fixing operation. The Traditional manufacturing or assembly processes, due to this constraint, in some cases present relatively high complexity and cost.

The fixing of an element can for example be carried out by using a connection element to a printed circuit such as that disclosed by the document EP2770584 . EP2770584 discloses a support for an element, comprising at least one fixing device comprising at least two substantially parallel fixing branches oriented in an insertion direction, electrically connected to each other, each branch being asymmetrical; the attachment legs having insertion surfaces inclined relative to the insertion direction and oriented in opposite directions to facilitate insertion of the insertion legs into at least one insertion hole in a substrate; and the attachment legs being configured to elastically deform when inserted into said at least one insertion hole. However, the use of such a connection element makes it necessary to position the element with respect to the printed circuit in an extremely precise manner.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

Consequently, the objective of the invention is to provide a method for fixing one or more elements on a substrate, which has increased flexibility compared to known methods for fixing elements on a substrate.

This objective is achieved by means of a method according to claim 13, allowing the attachment of at least one electrical, electronic, mechanical or mechatronic component (as an example of element (s) to be attached to a substrate) to a substrate via a support.

Each of the attachment branches of the support attachment device (s) implemented by this method is asymmetrical, to optimize its insertion into the insertion hole.

The advantage of the method according to the invention lies in particular in the fixing operation carried out in step b). This operation makes it possible to fix the support on the substrate by a very simple insertion operation. As soon as this fixing operation is carried out, the fixing device ensures the positioning and orientation of the support vis-à-vis the substrate, possibly for all the subsequent steps of the manufacturing process and possibly also for a subsequent period.

Advantageously, the insertion operation is carried out with a relatively low insertion force, due to the fact that the fixing branches are specially configured to deform during the establishment of the support. For this, however, provision should be made for the insertion hole to have a sufficient diameter - and / or for the insertion holes to be correctly positioned, if there are several insertion holes. If such an arrangement is adopted, the operation of fixing the support on the substrate can optionally be carried out manually.

For example, in one embodiment, during the fixing operation in step b) a force of less than 25N, or even 15N, is applied to fix the support to the substrate.

The method according to the invention can optionally be implemented for fixing not one, but several electrical, electronic, mechanical or mechatronic components on the substrate, by means of the support.

On each fixing branch, the absence of a retaining stop advantageously allows the insertion of the fixing branches to be reversible, which gives great flexibility to the fixing method.

By "retaining stopper" is meant here an outer surface of the branch which is configured to prevent the extraction of the fixing branch from the insertion hole. To fulfill this function, a retaining stopper can in particular form (or have an outer surface forming) an angle greater than 20 °, or even 40 °, with respect to the direction of insertion of the branch so as to oppose extracting the branch from the insertion hole.

The term “reversible attachment”, in the case of attachment to a substrate, denotes a method of attachment which makes it possible to separate the assembled elements by traction without damaging the substrate. Conversely, an irreversible fixing is a fixing which does not make it possible to separate the assembled elements without damaging the substrate.

For the implementation of the method, during a step i), said at least one component is linked to the support. This connection may or may not be rigid.

Step i) of binding said at least one component to the support can be carried out before or after step b) of fixing the support to the substrate. In one embodiment, these two steps can even be confused: the operation which fixes the support on the substrate also has the effect of binding a component to the support, in particular if this component is itself already linked or fixed to the substrate. the substrate.

In the case where the method is implemented to link several components to the substrate, in step i) these different components are linked to the support.

In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the method further comprises a step c) during which a second operation of fixing the support to the substrate is carried out. This second operation makes it possible in particular to obtain a fixing between the support and the substrate having characteristics different from those obtained by the first fixing operation carried out during step b). The characteristics concerned can be mechanical properties of the support to the substrate on the substrate: resistance to traction, to vibrations, etc., and / or non-mechanical properties (resistance to temperature, resistance to salt spray, etc.). For example, in one mode of implementation, the force required to detach the support from the substrate following step c) is greater (and preferably by at least 30%) compared to the force required to detach the support from the substrate following step b) (but before step c).

In one embodiment, the first fixing step (step b) can for example be aimed simply at ensuring that the support is held on the substrate until step c): this step is then simply a temporary fixing step. .

Advantageously, the requirements as to the quality of the fastening produced in step b) can then be lower than those chosen for the second fastening step (step c), which facilitates the design of the manufacturing or assembly process. .

Conversely, the fixing carried out during the second fixing step (step c) generally corresponds to the requirements for holding the support on the substrate for the life of the product. It is therefore generally a solid fixation, often irreversible.

• dans un mode de mise en œuvre, l'étape c) comporte un soudage ou brasage d'au moins une branche de fixation dans ledit au moins un trou d'insertion.
• dans un mode de mise en œuvre, l'étape c) comporte une fixation au substrat dudit au moins un composant et/ou d'une portion du support autre que les branches de fixation. La fixation au substrat soit dudit au moins un composant, et/ou soit de ladite portion du support autre que les branches de fixation, peut être faite par soudage, brasage, collage et / ou tout autre procédé.

Step c) of fixing can be carried out in different ways. It can be carried out via the support and / or via said at least one component. So for example:

• in one embodiment, step c) comprises welding or brazing of at least one fixing branch in said at least one insertion hole.
• in one embodiment, step c) comprises an attachment to the substrate of said at least one component and / or of a portion of the support other than the attachment branches. The attachment to the substrate either of said at least one component, and / or of said portion of the support other than the attachment branches, can be made by welding, brazing, gluing and / or any other process.

The method according to the invention requires a specific support provided to be able to be fixed on the substrate in step b). This support therefore comprises at least a first fixing device, configured to allow the fixing ('the first fixing') of the support on the substrate. This first fixation can be a temporary fixation, and / or a reversible fixation.

The support may optionally include a second fixing device, configured to allow a second operation of fixing the support to the substrate. This second fixing device may comprise a part of the support which can be welded or soldered to the substrate, and / or a mechanical fixing part, for example a part of the support which can be clipped or glued to the substrate, etc.

Optionally, the first fixing device may itself constitute, or form part of the second fixing device: this is the case for example if step c) consists precisely in fixing the first fixing device itself on the substrate. The second fixing operation is then carried out so as to produce a fixing having characteristics other than those provided in step b) by the first fixing operation. In particular, the second fixing operation can be an irreversible fixing operation of the support on the substrate, carried out for example by gluing, welding or soldering the first fixing device on the substrate. In this case, the second fixing device is directly constituted by the first fixing device.

In what follows, to simplify the expression “fixing device”, without precision, designates the first fixing device, unless it is specified that it is about the second fixing device.

The invention also relates to an assembly comprising at least one electrical, electronic, mechanical or mechatronic component, and a fixing support, according to claim 1. This support is a support to which said at least one component is fixed. This support comprises at least one fixing device; it is configured to provide mechanical support for said at least one component on the substrate by means of said at least one fixing device.

Said at least one fixing device comprises at least two substantially parallel fixing branches oriented in an insertion direction, electrically connected to each other; each branch being asymmetrical and without a retaining stop; the attachment legs have insertion surfaces inclined relative to the insertion direction and oriented in opposite directions to facilitate insertion of the insertion legs into at least one insertion hole in a substrate. The support is configured such that, before insertion into an insertion hole, the ends of said at least two fixing branches are not in contact with each other; and the attachment legs are configured to elastically deform when inserted into said at least one insertion hole.

The branches are therefore configured to allow rigid attachment to the substrate. By “rigid attachment” of the support to the substrate, is meant here a method of attachment which allows the support to be maintained in a fixed position and orientation relative to the substrate.

This does not exclude that the fixing device comprises means, in addition to the fixing branches, for maintaining the support on the substrate.

For example, this maintenance can be reinforced by support stops that the support can include in certain embodiments.

With the support defined above, when the fixing branches are inserted into the insertion hole (s), they rest resiliently on the walls of this or these insertion hole (s): this support allows the support to be held in a fixed position relative to the substrate.

It is understood that if the configuration of the support and of the components which are to be linked to it so requires, it may be necessary to provide not one, but several fixing devices to allow the support to be fixed on the substrate.

The holder has a 'upper part', which is the part of the holder located axially above the fixing branches when the latter are directed downwards (the direction of insertion being the vertical direction).

This upper part is generally the main part of the support: the part which allows the fixing of the component (s) to be fixed to the substrate. The upper part can be arranged and oriented very freely.

In particular, thanks to the fact that the fixing branches secure the support rigidly on the substrate, the center of gravity of the upper part may not be located above the fixing branches.

Thus, in one embodiment, the center of gravity of the upper part of the support is not located, along the direction of insertion, in an extension of the fixing branches or of a volume located between them.

In one embodiment, the center of gravity of the upper part of the support is located on one side of a median plane (plane of inertia) of the fixing branches.

In one embodiment, at least 60%, or even at least 75% by weight of the upper part of the support is located on the same side of a median plane of the fixing branches.

Preferably, in the support according to the invention, each fixing branch has a distal end distant from the rest of the support by a minimum distance of 0.2 mm (before insertion into an insertion hole): this allows it to be deform during insertion. This arrangement allows the ends of the fixing branches not to be in contact with each other.

Furthermore, the fact that the branches are designed to deform elastically does not exclude a certain plastic deformation of the latter during their insertion into the insertion hole or holes.

To facilitate their insertion into the insertion hole (s), the attachment legs of the or each attachment device have insertion surfaces inclined with respect to the direction of insertion and oriented in opposite directions (viewed in a plane). perpendicular to the insertion direction). These surfaces first contact the interior walls of the insertion hole (s); due to this contact, and the inclination of the insertion surfaces, the fixing legs are forced to deform to allow their insertion into the insertion hole (s).

Due to the deformation imposed on them during their insertion, the branches generate opposing mutual forces in the plane perpendicular to the direction of insertion; for each fixing device, the result of these forces is zero. The fact that the insertion surfaces are oriented in opposite directions means that in projection in a plane perpendicular to the insertion direction, the directions perpendicular to these surfaces are directed in radial directions with respect to a central point.

Advantageously, thanks to the support of the fixing branches on the walls of the insertion hole (s), the fixing device (s) provide mechanical fixing to the substrate of the fixing support and of the component (s) which are attached to it.

• soit elles prennent appui sur le côté intérieur, par rapport à un axe médian placé à mi-distance entre les axes des branches de fixation. Chaque branche est alors déformée radialement vers l'extérieur, c'est-à-dire suivant une direction qui tend à l'écarter de l'axe médian. Dans ce cas, les branches de fixation sont insérées dans au moins deux trous d'insertion ;
• soit elles prennent appui sur le côté extérieur par rapport à l'axe médian. Lors de la fixation du support, chaque branche est alors déformée radialement vers l'intérieur, c'est-à-dire vers l'axe médian. Dans ce cas, les branches de fixation peuvent être insérées dans un trou d'insertion unique (ou éventuellement dans plusieurs trous d'insertion).

The fixing branches can have two configurations:

• or they bear on the inner side, relative to a median axis placed midway between the axes of the fixing branches. Each branch is then deformed radially outwards, that is to say in a direction which tends to move it away from the median axis. In this case, the fixing branches are inserted into at least two insertion holes;
• or they are supported on the outer side with respect to the median axis. When fixing the support, each branch is then deformed radially inwards, that is to say towards the median axis. In this case, the fixing branches can be inserted in a single insertion hole (or possibly in several insertion holes).

When the fixing branches are resiliently resting against the walls of the insertion hole (s), they ensure the rigid retention of the support on the substrate - in combination where appropriate with the fixing branches of the other fixing devices. fixing, and / or with additional holding means. The number of fixing branches and the number of fixing devices are dimensioned according to the importance of the holding forces necessary to hold the support in position on the substrate.

The following embodiments can be implemented and possibly combined:
In one embodiment, a fixing device has exactly two fixing branches.

In one embodiment, the fixing branches of a fixing device are arranged in the same plane.

In one embodiment, a center distance between two fixing branches is less than 5 mm, and preferably less than 2 mm, and more preferably still less than 1 mm. In particular, the branches can be configured to be inserted in one and the same insertion hole. Finally, according to particular embodiments of the invention, the support according to the invention can comprise one or more of the following characteristics, taken in isolation or in technically possible combinations:
In one embodiment, the support further comprises at least one clipping device, configured to allow attachment of the support to the substrate by clipping. A clipping device is a device including at least one retaining lug configured to elastically deform during the placement of a part on a substrate and, once in place, prevent the extraction or removal of the part.

In one embodiment, the fixing support is formed entirely from a single sheet, in particular by folding and cutting.

• Elles peuvent être des surfaces d'appui servant à faciliter l'insertion manuelle et la préhension du support ; et/ou
• Elles peuvent servir de surface support pour le ou les composants fixés au support.

In one embodiment, the fixing support has at least one bearing surface substantially perpendicular to the direction of insertion. This or these bearing surfaces can fulfill the following functions:

• They can be support surfaces serving to facilitate manual insertion and gripping of the support; and or
• They can serve as a support surface for the component (s) attached to the support.

In the fixing support, the bearing surface (s) can be configured in a fairly free manner with respect to the fixing branches.

Thus in one embodiment, the bearing surface (s) is (are) not located, depending on the direction of insertion, in an extension of the fixing branches or of a volume located between them.

In one embodiment, the support surface (s) is or are located on one side of a median plane (a plane of inertia) of the fixing branches.

Furthermore, in one embodiment, the support also has at least one electrical contact in the form of a rod, formed integrally with the fixing branches, oriented in the direction of insertion. This (S) contact (S) is or are generally of symmetrical form (compared to a plane of symmetry of the contact).

In one embodiment, the support also has at least one electrical contact, formed integrally with the fixing branches, and having a portion perpendicular to the direction of insertion.

The electrical contacts indicated above may optionally constitute or form part of the second device for fixing the support. The second fixing then consists in soldering or soldering this or these contact (s) to the substrate.

Furthermore, the support may also have at least one support stop, configured to limit the insertion of the branches into said at least one insertion hole. The support stop (s) preferably have one or more surface (s) substantially perpendicular (s) to the direction of insertion.

These stops allow the support to rest on the upper surface of the substrate and thus retain the desired orientation with respect to the latter. Preferably, in the case where there are two fixing branches, it is possible to provide two support stops arranged on either side of the two fixing branches.

The invention also includes an assembly comprising a substrate, and at least one support as defined above.

In one embodiment, the attachment branches of at least one attachment device are inserted into a single insertion hole.

In one embodiment, the first attachment device constitutes an electrical contact for at least one component attached to the attachment support.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique de face d'un support de fixation, dans un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue schématique en perspective du support de fixation de la figure 1;
• la figure 3 est une vue schématique en coupe d'un composant fixé sur un substrat au moyen d'un support de fixation dans un deuxième mode de réalisation de l'invention,
• la figure 4 est une vue schématique en perspective du composant fixé sur un substrat représenté par la figure 3 ;
• la figure 5 est une vue schématique en perspective d'un support de fixation, dans un troisième mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la figure 6 est une vue schématique en coupe du support de fixation représenté par la figure 5 ;
• la figure 7 est une vue schématique en coupe d'un support de fixation, dans un quatrième mode de réalisation de l'invention ; et
• la figure 8 est un diagramme schématique illustrant un mode de mise en œuvre du procédé selon l'invention.

The invention will be well understood and its advantages will appear better on reading the following detailed description of embodiments shown by way of non-limiting examples. The description refers to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• the figure 1 is a schematic front view of a fixing support, in a first embodiment of the invention;
• the figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the mounting bracket of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 3 is a schematic sectional view of a component fixed to a substrate by means of a fixing support in a second embodiment of the invention,
• the figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of the component attached to a substrate represented by the figure 3 ;
• the figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of a fixing support, in a third embodiment of the invention;
• the figure 6 is a schematic sectional view of the mounting bracket shown by figure 5 ;
• the figure 7 is a schematic sectional view of a fixing support, in a fourth embodiment of the invention; and
• the figure 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of the method according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

To facilitate understanding, identical or corresponding elements bear the same reference in the various embodiments presented.

With reference to figures 1 and 2 , a support or fixing support 10 implemented in a first embodiment of the invention will now be presented.

The support 10 is produced entirely in a portion of sheet metal, by folding and cutting.

The support 10 comprises two parts, namely respectively a support part 12 configured to easily apply a manual insertion force, and / or receive or be fixed to an electrical or electronic component, and a fixing device 20.

The device 20 constitutes a fixing device (first fixing device) within the meaning of the invention, which is a reversible fixing device; but which can also allow the irreversible fixing of the support 10 on a substrate, as will be explained below.

The fixing device 20 is constituted by a central part 22, by two fixing branches 24A, 24B, and by two support stops 32A, 32B.

The two fixing branches 24A, 24B as well as the two support stops 32A, 32B extend from the central part 22 in a direction Z called the insertion direction.

These two branches have substantially the form of parallel rods, without contact with each other, each of these rods being asymmetrical.

As the ends of these branches are not in contact with one another, the branches 24A and 24B can be elastically deformed so as to bring about a coming together of the two branches, possibly going as far as bringing them into contact. of the ends of the two branches.

The bearing portion 12 extends in a lateral direction X perpendicular to the insertion direction Z. By naming Y the direction perpendicular to the X and Z directions, the bearing portion 12 extends in the XY plane and is thus perpendicular to the direction of insertion.

Most often, the insertion of the branches 24A and 24B is done by moving them downward along their Z axis. Also conventionally, the direction of insertion will be called the up / down direction for the support, the branches 24 being directed downwards. The XY plane of the attachment part will be considered to be a horizontal plane. The fixing branches 24A and 24B, collectively called the branches 24, are bulging outwards. They have insertion surfaces 26A, 26B. These insertion surfaces are surfaces inclined with respect to the insertion direction Z; they are oriented in opposite directions in order to facilitate the insertion of the insertion legs into at least one insertion hole 52.

The bulges formed on the branches 24 are not very pronounced and do not constitute stops which would be liable to block the branches 24 and prevent their extraction from the insertion hole. The branches 24 therefore do not have a retaining stop; they can be inserted but also extracted from an insertion hole. They are thus configured to be inserted reversibly into an insertion hole.

Furthermore, on the side opposite to the central part 22, the branches 24 have distal ends 28A and 28B. These ends are spaced from each other by a distance d greater than 0.2 mm as well as vis-à-vis the rest of the support.

The branches 24 are configured to be inserted into a single insertion hole. During this insertion, due to the fact that the inclined insertion surfaces 26A, 26B press on the edges of the insertion hole, the branches 24A and 24B deform elastically in the opposite directions B and A respectively, i.e. say they are getting closer. Due to this deformation, which is at least partially elastic (partial plasticization can take place), the branches 24A and 24B apply reaction forces on the substrate, when the support is in the insertion position. As a result, the fixing support 10 is fixed on the substrate and thus the component (bonded or fixed to the support) is also fixed and held on the substrate.

In the insertion position, the part of the support which is located above the branches 24 constitutes the upper part of the support. In the present case, it comprises the central part 22 of the fixing device 20 and the bearing part 12.

Thanks to the rigid fixing of the support 10 on the substrate 50 provided by the branches 24, the upper part of the support 10 is held in a fixed position above the substrate, while it is arranged in cantilever, namely in a position offset from the fixing branches 24A and 24B: the upper part is not arranged either in the extension of the branches 24 in the Z direction, or even in the extension of the volume defined between the branches 24A and 24B.

Thus, the center of gravity of the upper part of the support is offset to the side with respect to the median plane of the fixing branches.

In this embodiment, the upper part of the support is placed entirely on one side of the median plane of the branches 24, namely the YZ plane. Although it is therefore entirely cantilevered on one side of this plane, the fixing provided by the branches 24 proves to be sufficient to keep the support 10 in a fixed position.

In other embodiments, the upper part of the support extends on both sides of the median plane of the fixing branches. Also in this case, the upper part of the support can optionally be arranged asymmetrically with respect to this plane. For example, 60% or even 75% of the upper part of the support can be on one side of this plane, the remaining 40% to 25% being on the other side of it.

Furthermore, the fixing support 10 is designed for a second fixing operation (step c): after having been inserted into the insertion hole, the branches 24 are brazed or welded therein. This brazing or welding makes it possible to fix irreversibly the support 10 on the substrate 50.

Consequently, for the support 10, the branches 24 constitute both the first and the second fixing device.

A mounting bracket 10 in a second embodiment of the invention is illustrated by the figures 3 and 4 .

More precisely, these figures represent a component 100 fixed to a substrate 50 by means of a support 10. The component 100 can be a mechanical, electrical, mechatronic or electromechanical component.

The substrate 50 can be, without limitation, of lead frame type (in English, Neadframe '), a printed circuit or PCB (from the English' Printed Circuit Board '), a substrate with direct copper links or DBC (from the English 'Direct Bonded Copper'), or other.

As in the previous embodiment, the support 10 comprises a bearing part 12 and a first fixing device 20. The latter comprises a central part 22 and two fixing branches 24A and 24B which extend downwardly to from the central part 22.

The main differences from the first embodiment are as follows.

The support 10 represented by the figures 3 and 4 comprises, in addition to the two branches 24, an electrical contact 30.

This contact 30 has the form of a bent arm, which extends from the central part 22. The first part of the arm extends downwards in the Z direction (like the branches 24); the second part 31 of the arm, after a 90 ° bend, extends horizontally in the direction X - but on the side opposite to the bearing part 12.

As can be seen in particular on the Fig. 4 , the contact 30 serves to ensure an electrical contact between the fixing support 10 and a conductive track 54 formed on the upper surface of the substrate 50. The contact 30 thus uses the SMT contact technology ('Surface Mounted technology' in English, that is to say literally 'Surface Mounted technology'): it is a contact designed to ensure electrical contact with the upper surface of the substrate. The contact thus extends at least partly in a plane (XY) perpendicular to the direction of insertion (Z).

In the example presented, the electrical contact between the component 100 and the conductive track 54 is provided by the horizontal part 31 of the arm 30. To ensure permanent electrical contact between the contact 30 and the conductive track 54, the contact 30 is soldered. on the track 54, on the surface of the substrate 50. Due to the solder, the support 10 is fixed irreversibly on the substrate 50: in this embodiment, the contact 30 constitutes the second device for fixing the support 10.

The support 10 is shown with the branches 24 inserted in an insertion hole 52 made in the substrate 50. The interior of the insertion hole 52 is lined. a socket, which can allow a weld to be made with the branches 24 and also provide an electrical contact function.

In addition, as in the previous embodiment, the support 10 comprises two support stops 32A and 32B, arranged on either side of the branches 24.

As seen on figures 3 and 4 , these support stops are configured to limit the insertion of the branches into the insertion hole 52 and provide a function of mechanically maintaining the position and the orientation of the support 10 relative to the substrate 50, in addition to maintaining provided by the fixing branches 24. To perform their function, each of the stops 32A and 32B has a contact surface perpendicular to the insertion direction Z.

A mounting bracket in a third embodiment of the invention is illustrated by the figures 5 and 6 .

This embodiment differs from the embodiment illustrated by the figures 3 and 4 by the type of electrical contact that the support 10 has in addition to the reversible fixing device 20: in the embodiment of figures 3 and 4 , the electrical contact 30 of the support 10 is a contact using SMT technology. Conversely, in the embodiment of the figure 6 , the support 10 comprises two electrical contacts 30A and 30B of “through-hole” type technology (in English “THT”, “through-hole technology”).

Each of these two contacts 30A and 30B has the shape of a rod extending from the central part 22 along the insertion direction Z. It is therefore configured to be inserted into an insertion hole made in the substrate. 50 and thus pass through the substrate 50.

Preferably, the contacts 30A and 30B should be inserted into insertion holes equipped with metal sockets. Conversely, it is not necessary for the insertion hole (s) provided to accommodate the branches 24 to be metallized, except in the case where these branches must ensure not only a temporary fixing. during manufacture of the electronic card, but also an electrical contact between the component and the electronic card.

As shown in the figure 6 on which the following characteristic has been deliberately exaggerated, the electrical contacts 30A and 30B are introduced with play into the insertion holes provided to receive them, arranged in the substrate 50. Conversely, in the inserted position shown in FIG. figure 6 , the branches 24 are supported on the inner wall of the insertion hole 52. This difference emphasizes the essential function of the fixing device 20: it makes it possible to rigidly support, to maintain in a fixed position, the fixing support 10 on the substrate 50. As the branches 24 bear without play on the substrate 50, they make it possible to maintain in position fixes the support 10 on the substrate 50; such holding in position could not be ensured by the contacts 30.

A mounting bracket in a fourth embodiment of the invention is illustrated by figure 7 .

This embodiment is extremely close to the embodiment illustrated by the figures 5 and 6 . The only difference lies in the shape of the branches 24 and the arrangement of the insertion holes in the substrate 50.

Indeed, instead of the branches 24 being intended to be inserted into a single insertion hole, with the insertion surfaces 26A and 26B bearing on the outside, on the wall of the hole 52, in the embodiment of the figure 7 the branches 24 are designed to be inserted into two different insertion holes 52.

In addition, the insertion surfaces 26A and 26B are provided to bear not on the outside but on the inside (with respect to a median axis between the respective axes of the fixing branches 24A and 24B). Thus, during the insertion of the branches 24 into the insertion holes, the two fixing branches 24A and 24B move away slightly from each other, resting on the internal walls of the insertion holes. Thanks to these supports, as in the previous embodiments, the support 10 is rigidly fixed to the substrate; advantageously, this fixing is reversible.

With reference to the figure 8 , an example of implementation of the method according to the invention will now be presented. Although the method is claimed in the context of fixing at least one electronic, electrical, mechanical or mechatronic component on the substrate, the method can be implemented for an element of any type, as well as for the fixing of several. elements and not just one.

In the context of the manufacture of an electronic card produced on a substrate 50, this method makes it possible to fix a component 100 on the substrate 50, by carrying out the following steps:

a) Supply of the mounting bracket

A support is provided having at least two attachment legs configured to be inserted into at least one insertion hole of the substrate and thus to allow a first attachment of the support to the substrate. This support can in particular be a fixing support as defined above.

b) First fixing of the fixing support on the substrate

The support is then fixed on the substrate. This first fixing operation makes it possible to meet a first fixing criterion, such as, for example, ensuring a mechanical maintenance of the support during the manufacture of the product, until a second fixing operation which, in turn, ensures the mechanical maintenance of the support on the product. the substrate throughout the lifetime of the product produced.

The first fixing operation can optionally be carried out by hand, when the fixing device allows insertion with a sufficiently low insertion force. For example, if one uses a fixing support such as presented by the preceding examples, the insertion by hand is made possible by the fact that the support has a bearing surface 12 oriented horizontally, perpendicular to the direction of 'insertion. As the bearing part 12 is arranged in the plane (XY) perpendicular to the insertion direction (Z), the bearing part 12 has a bearing surface on which it is possible to press to insert the support 10 into the hole 52 of the substrate 50.

In addition, in the embodiment presented, the shape of the legs and the insertion hole is designed to allow manual insertion of the legs 34 into the insertion hole 52. Thanks to this, the insertion force of the support remains at an acceptable value for manual insertion, namely a value preferably less than 25N or even if possible 12N.

c) Second fixing of the fixing support on the substrate

Although the method of fixing at least one component to a substrate according to the invention does not necessarily require a second fixing operation on the substrate, the embodiment presented includes such a second operation, which constitutes step vs).

During this step, a second operation of fixing the support to the substrate is then carried out. This second fixing operation is final.

The second fixing operation can be carried out at least in the following two ways: on the one hand, one branch 24 or the two branches 24 can be soldered or soldered on the substrate 50. In this case, to allow the contact to be maintained for a long time. electric via the fixing branches 24 of the support 10, the insertion hole (s) can be fitted with a cylindrical metal sleeve, of diameter (s) adapted to the dimensions fixing branches of the support, and inside which the fixing branches are inserted and then brazed or welded.

Alternatively, or in addition, the second fixing consists of (or can comprise) the fixing of one or more electrical contacts 30 on the substrate 100. This mode of implementation corresponds to the case of the supports represented by the figures 3 and 4 , Where 5 and 6 . The second fixing then consists in fixing the contact 30, or the contacts 30A and 30B, on the substrate 50. This fixing can be done in particular by brazing or welding.

Alternatively, the support may include a mechanical fastening element, for example by clipping, serving to ensure the second step of fastening the support to the substrate.

The implementation of the method must moreover be completed by a step i) of binding of the component to the fixing support.

During this step, the component is linked to the mounting bracket. Most often, the connection thus produced is rigid and the component has no degree of freedom with respect to the support, but certain degrees of freedom of the component with respect to the support may remain free, for certain applications.

This binding operation i) can be performed at different times, with respect to steps a), b) and c), depending on the constraints of the intended application.

These different possibilities are illustrated by arrows i1) to i6) on the figure 8 :
According to a first possibility i1, the component is linked to the fixing support even before step a): a support is obtained to which the component is already linked.

In a second possibility i2, firstly the fixing support is provided (step a); the component is then fixed thereon; the next step or the following steps of process b) and optionally c) are then carried out.

In a third possibility i3, step b) of fixing the support to the substrate also constitutes the step of binding the component to the support. Consider for example the assembly comprising a substrate 50 and a support 10 illustrated in figure 4 . When fixing the support 10 on the substrate 50, the support is brought into contact, and therefore bonded, with the conductive track 54, considered here as an “element” within the meaning of the present disclosure.

Consequently, in this example the fixing of the support 10 on the substrate 50 also makes it possible to bind the element 54 to the support 10.

• après l'étape b) de fixation réversible du support sur le substrat, mais avant l'étape c) de fixation définitive du support sur le substrat ;
• pendant l'étape c) de fixation définitive du support sur le substrat ; et

après l'étape b) de fixation définitive du support sur le substrat.In a fourth, fifth and sixth possibility i4, i5 and i6, the component is fixed to the support respectively:

• after step b) of reversible attachment of the support to the substrate, but before step c) of definitive attachment of the support to the substrate;
• during step c) of definitive fixing of the support on the substrate; and

after step b) of definitive fixing of the support on the substrate.

During the process of manufacturing the electronic card from the substrate 50, the first and second fixing steps (steps b) and c)) are not necessarily consecutive: they can be separated by intermediate assembly steps. For example, provision can be made for the temporary fixing (step b)) of a certain number of components on the substrate, on different fixing supports, then a single step of second fixing, for example irreversible (step c) of the different components on the substrate. substrate. This final step can for example be a wave soldering step (reflow), once all the components have been put in place.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments, it is evident that various modifications and changes can be made to these examples without departing from the general scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Furthermore, individual characteristics of the different embodiments mentioned can be combined in additional embodiments. Therefore, the description and the drawings should be taken in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

Claims (16)

1. An assembly comprising at least one electrical, electronic, mechanical, or mechatronic component, and a support (10) to which said at least one component (100) is fastened, wherein:

   the support includes at least one fastener device (20) ;

   the support is configured to mechanically support said at least one component on a substrate by means of said at least one fastener device; and wherein

   said at least one fastener device (20) comprises at least two substantially parallel fastener branches (24A, 24B) extending in an insertion direction (Z), electrically connected to each other;

   each fastener branch is asymmetrical and does not have any retention abutment;

   the fastener branches (24A, 24B) present insertion surfaces (26A, 26B) that are inclined relative to the insertion direction and that are oriented in opposite directions in order to facilitate insertion of the fastener branches in at least one insertion hole (52) formed in the substrate;

   the support is configured so that, before insertion in an insertion hole, the ends of the fastener branches are not in contact with each other; and

   the fastener branches are configured to deform elastically while they are being inserted in said at least one insertion hole.
2. An assembly according to claim 1, in which at least one fastener device comprises exactly two fastener branches (24A, 24B).
3. An assembly according to claim 1 or 2, whose support presents a thrust surface (12) that is substantially perpendicular to the insertion direction.
4. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a center of gravity of an upper portion of the support (10), situated axially above the fastener branches when they point downwards, does not lie, in the insertion direction, in line with the fastener branches (24) or a volume situated between them.
5. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which at least 60% by weight, or even at least 75% by weight of an upper portion of the support (10), situated axially above the fastener branches (24A,24B) when they point downwards, is situated on one side of a midplane (YZ) of the fastener branches (24A,24B).
6. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5, whose support further includes at least one electrical contact (30A, 30B) in the form of a pin, that is formed integrally with the fastener branches (24A, 24B) and that extends in the insertion direction.
7. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6, whose support further includes at least one electrical contact (30) that is formed integrally with the fastener branches and that presents a portion perpendicular to the insertion direction.
8. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7, whose support further includes at least two bearing abutments (32A, 32B), these abutments presenting contact surfaces perpendicular to the insertion direction (Z).
9. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8, whose support is formed integrally from a single piece of sheet metal.
10. A set comprising a substrate (50), and an assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 9.
11. A set according to claim 10, in which, when the support is fastened on the substrate, said fastener branches are not in contact with each other.
12. A set according to claim 10 or 11, arranged so that a force of less than 25 N is sufficient to fasten the support (10) to the substrate (50).
13. A fastening method for fastening at least one electrical, electronic, mechanical, or mechatronic component (100) to a substrate (50) via a support (10), the method comprising the following steps:

    a) providing:

    at least one electrical, electronic, mechanical, or mechatronic component (100);

    a substrate (50) presenting at least one insertion hole (52); and

    a support (10)comprising at least one fastener device (20), said at least one fastener device (20) comprising at least two substantially parallel fastener branches (24A, 24B) extending in an insertion direction (Z), electrically connected to each other, each fastener branch being asymmetrical and having no retention abutment, the fastener branches (24A, 24B) presenting insertion surfaces (26A, 26B) that are inclined relative to the insertion direction and that are oriented in opposite directions in order to facilitate insertion of the fastener branches in at least one insertion hole (52) formed in the substrate, the support being configured so that, before insertion in an insertion hole, the ends of the fastener branches are not in contact with each other, and the fastener branches being configured to deform elastically while they are being inserted in said at least one insertion hole;

    i) connecting said at least one component to the support;

    b) fastening the support (10) on the substrate (50) by inserting the fastener branches (24A, 24B) of the support in said at least one insertion hole (52) of the substrate, so that the support is rigidly held on the substrate and mechanically supports said at least one component on the substrate by means of said at least one fastener device.
14. A fastening method according to claim 13, further comprising a step c) during which a second operation of fastening the support (10) on the substrate (50) is performed, in particular by welding or soldering.
15. A fastening method according to claim 13 or 14, in which fastening step c) comprises fastening to the substrate said at least one component and/or a portion of the support other than the fastener branches.
16. A fastening method according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein a force of less than 25 N is applied to fasten the support (10) to the substrate (50) in step b), in particular is applied by hand.

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