GB2323980A

GB2323980A - PCB connector forming end of housing

Info

Publication number: GB2323980A
Application number: GB9802925A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Henryk Frenzel
Original assignee: Siemens AG
Current assignee: Siemens AG
Priority date: 1997-02-11
Filing date: 1998-02-11
Publication date: 1998-10-07
Anticipated expiration: 2018-02-11
Also published as: FR2759529A1; DE19705173C2; GB2323980B; FR2759529B1; DE19705173A1; GB9802925D0

Abstract

An electrical apparatus having a cup-shaped housing (1) for receiving a circuit carrier (2) is described, which is closed by a closing portion (3) on an end face (11) of the housing (1). In this connection, a plug portion (4) is aligned at right angles to a broad side (21) of the circuit carrier (2) and is arranged over an edge region (22) of this broad side (21). Plug portion (4) and closing portion (3) are constructed in one piece. Such an apparatus permits the use of uncurved connection pins (41) in the plug portion (4), which pins can be guided directly into the circuit carrier (2).

Description

2323980 -I- ELECTRICAL APPARATUS The invention relates to an electrical

apparatus having a cup-shaped housing for receiving a circuit carrier.

Such an apparatus is known from the German Laid Open patent specification DE 42 40 755 AI. Arranged towards the end-face opening of the housing is a closing portion which closes the housing. Constructed in one piece with the closing portion is a plug portion having connection pins which are connected, inside the housing, to the circuit carrier by way of contact wires. The plug portion having connection pins is aligned in parallel with the broad sides of the circuit carrier.

If appropriate, the connection pins can also protrude from the electrical apparatus in a manner such that they are bent at any angle up to 900. In order to achieve this, the connection pins would, however, have to be bent after they emerge from the plug portion. Alternatively, in the case of a specified connection pattern inside the apparatus, the connection pins could have a radius in the plug portion. In this case, the following procedure would be necessary: a stamped grid having connection pins which are connected to each other by way of webs is stamped from a metal strip. The webs serve to stabilise the stamped grid. The stamped grid is subsequently bent in such a way that the connection pins have the desired radius. The stamped grid, subject to the webs, is then encapsulated with a encapsulating tool before the electrically conductive webs between the connection pins, which webs are,not required, are stamped out. Alternatively, the connection pins can be stamped out of a metal strip individually. The connection pins are then bent and arranged in a holder so that they can be encapsulated by a encapsulating tool.

Both methods for preparing a plug portion having connection pins protruding from the apparatus at an angle of 900 in accordance with DE 42 40 755 AI for the cup-shaped housing that is suggested there are extremely expensive, because a plurality of stamping processes. bending processes and encapsulating processes are required in each case, for which processes suitable tools are to be made available. The encapsulating tool for encapsulating the stamped grid or the individual connection pins is to be adjusted extremely precisely in order to avoid flaws at the connection pin guide through the plug portion. If there is a large number of connection pins, the apparatus in accordance with DE 42 40 755 AI furthermore has a plurality of connection-pin rows so that connection pins of different lengths which have a radius at different places are required.

Furthermore, in the case of such an apparatus, a high expenditure is involved if, for example, the number of connection pins or the spatial arrangement thereof is altered at the request of the customer: in this case, the stamping tool, the bending tool and in particular also the encapsulating tool are to be readjusted.

There is known from the patent specification DE 44 29 983 Cl an electrical apparatus for a motor vehicle in which a plug holder provided with plug pins forms part of the housing, which is connected to the rest of the housing by way of locking connections and to a supporting body by way of locking hooks. The patent specification CH 635 961 AS describes an electrical apparatus housing having a lid and a terminal strip. The terminal strip has sheet-metal shaped parts which are constructed as flatpin plugs and are inserted into an appropriate recess in the housing lid. Each flat-pin plug is provided with plug- is in contacts which protrude outwards at an angle. A shock protection rim extends upwards in parallel with the plug-in contacts.

An electrical apparatus which supports a flexible printed-circuit board having an electronic circuit is known from the German Laid Open patent specification DE 41 07 620 Al. An edge section of the printedcircuit board is connected to a housing portion. The printed board is rolled up in a spiral shape inside the housing.

The German Laid Open patent specification DE 42 17 066 Al relates to a device for coupling electrotechnical terminals to a bus which transmits information. A bus coupling portion is arranged together with a bus connecting means in a housing section and can be connected to an application portion in a further housing section at a user interface by means of electrical plug-in connectors and mechanical locking means to form a complete housing.

A housing for small-scale electrical appliances having terminals at the top is known from the patent specification DD 205 802. The housing comprises a housing portion, a terminal receiver and a front portion, which closes the terminal receiver.

The present invention seeks to develop an electrical apparatus having connection pins which protrude from the electrical apparatus at right angles to the broad side of the circuit carrier, which electrical apparatus has a simple construction and can be manufactured in only a few production steps.

According to the invention, there is provided an electrical apparatus comprising a cup-shaped housing for receiving a circuit carrier, a closing portion for a plug-in opening in an end face of the housing, which is constructed in one piece with a plug portion having connection pins which are aligned substantially at is right angles to a broad side of the received circuit carrier and transversely with respect to the plug-in opening.

In this connection, the plug portion and the connection pins are aligned substantially at right angles to a broad side of the circuit carrier and are preferably arranged near an edge region of this broad side. As a result of this, the connection pins can be constructed so as to be straight, i.e. uncurved without radius/bend, can penetrate the plug portion and can, if appropriate, be guided directly into the circuit carrier. The essential advantage of the invention lies in that as a result of the uncurved construction of the connection pins, the latter can be pressed into, for example shot into, a prefabricated plug portion. Bending processes and encapsulating processes and also stamping processes that are expensive in terms of manufacturing technology can be avoided. After the preparation of the plug portion and closing portion, for example using a plastics injection mould, the connection pins are pressed into the plug portion. The printed-circuit board is fastened to the plug portion or closing portion with fastening means, for example screws or rivet necks. The connection pins can be welded to the circuit carrier directly, without an additional bending process. In this connection, the connection pins can be mounted on the broad side which faces the plug portion, particularly if this broad side of the circuit carrier is to be equipped with surfacemountable components. Alternatively, the connection pins can be guided through the circuit carrier and welded or soldered to the broad side of the circuit carrier that faces away from the plug portion, something which is particularly advantageous either if this opposite broad side is to be equipped with surface-mountable components or if the broad side which is faces the plug portion has conventional components whose connection pins are likewise guided through the circuit carrier and which are soldered to the opposite broad side. In this way, components and connection pins can be soldered to the strip conductors of the circuit carrier in one soldering process.

Advantageously, all the connection pins of the apparatus in accordance with the invention can be the same length. As a result of this, the expenditure on manufacturing the connection pins is considerably reduced. Furthermore, in the event of alterations of the connection pin grouping or connection pin arrangement on the plug portion, connection pins can simply be left out, without a readjustment of the stamping or encapsulating tools being required. A further advantage arising from the use of straight pins that is rendered possible by the invention lies in that the said pins can be arranged in the plug portion with substantially lower tolerances than connection pins which are inserted and encapsulated, so that the connection pin pattern facing the circuit carrier is constructed in an extremely tolerance-exact manner.

Advantageous developments of the invention are set out in the subclaims.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how it may be brought into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a side view of an electrical apparatus in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 shows a cross-section of an electrical apparatus in accordance with the invention, without housing; Figures 3 and 4 show a cross-section through the electrical apparatus in accordance with the invention; Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a one-piece plug portion and closing portion; and Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a circuit carrier mounted on the one- piece plug portion and closing portion.

Figure 1 shows a side view of an electrical apparatus in accordance with the invention, having a cup-shaped housing 1, which is closed on the end face 11 with a closing portion 3. A broad side 12 of the housing 1 has on the end face 11 a cutout 13 for receiving a plug portion 4 which protrudes at right angles to the broad side 12 of the housing 1. A further plug portion 5 protrudes from the closing portion 3 in an extension of the end face 11 of the housing 1. The closing portion 3 is produced, for example from plastics, in one piece with the plug portion 4 and the further plug portion 5, and is used to close the cup-shaped housing 1. In this way, mechanical forces applied via the plug portions 4 and 5 are caught by way of the closing portion 3 and possibly the housing 1 and are not transmitted to sensitive circuit components inside the housing. The housing 1 can likewise be produced from plastics. Arranged in the cup-shaped housing 1 is a circuit carrier (not shown in Figure 1), which is electrically conductively connected to connection pins of the plug portion 4 and of the further plug portion 5. If the electrical circuit inside the housing 1 is sensitive to interfering radiation, the housing 1 is preferably made of metal. The closing portion 3 and the housing 1 are connected to each other securely but preferably detachably by way of mechanical fastening means, such as, for example, locking hooks among other things. In this way, a high ease of maintenance and repair is achieved, because after the release of the fastening means between the housing 1 and the closing portion 3, the closing portion 3 together with the circuit carrier only has to be pulled out of the housing 1.

Figure 2 shows by way of example a closing portion 3 with a circuit carrier 2. The plug portion 4 and also the further plug portion 5 are again preformed on the closing portion. A circuit carrier 2 having a broad side 21, which is equipped with components, is mechanically connected to the closing portion 3. Connection pins 41 and 51 are guided into the circuit carrier 2, in which case in accordance with the invention, the plug portion 4 is arranged over an edge region 22 of the broad side 21 of the circuit carrier 2, so that the connection pins 41 - without having to have a curvature - can be pressed into the plug portion 4 and thus, in accordance with Figure 2, can be guided directly into the circuit carrier 2.

Figure 3 shows the cross-section of a closing portion 3 and circuit carrier 2, which have been inserted at least substantially into the cupshaped housing 1. The broad side 21 and also the opposing broad side of the circuit carrier 2 are equipped with electrical components 23. The dotted line delimits in particular the cutout 13 which is provided for the plug portion 4. The cup-shaped housing I is closed with the one-piece closing portion and plug portion 3 and 4. The circuit carrier 2 is preferably a conventionally rigid printed-circuit board, but can also be a thin flexible or rigid printed-circuit board which is mounted on a cooling plate.

Figure 4 corresponds to Figure 3 to a considerable extent. only the closing portion 3 and the plug portion 4 are constructionally different. Furthermore, the closing portion 3, plug portion 4 and circuit carrier 2 have been inserted completely into the housing 1.

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a one-piece closing portion and plug portion 3 and 4, with the plug portion 4 being constructed so as to receive three mating plugs. webs having preformed rivet pins can be seen on either side of the plug arrangement. The circuit carrier is fastened to these rivet pins.

Figure 6 shows a plug-in portion, comprising closing portion 3, plug portion 4 and circuit carrier 2 fastened thereto. Connection pins 41 of the plug portion 4 are guided directly into the circuit carrier 2.

The cup-shaped housing 1 can be made up of a plurality of housing portions. In particular, there can likewise be arranged on the further end face a similarly constructed one-piece closing portion and plug portion 3 and 4.

Claims

1. An electrical apparatus comprising a cupshaped housing for receiving a circuit carrier, a closing portion for a plug-in opening in an end face of the housing, which is constructed in one piece with a plug portion having connection pins which are aligned substantially at right angles to a broad side of the received circuit carrier and transversely with respect to the plug-in opening.

2. The electrical apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plug portion and the connection pins are arranged near an edge region of the broad side of the received circuit carrier.

3. The electrical apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the connection pins are constructed so as to be straight.

4. The electrical apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the connection pins are guided into the received circuit carrier.

S. The electrical apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the connection pins are pressed into the plug portion.

6. The electrical apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the plug portion and the closing portion are produced from plastics.

7. The electrical apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a broad side of the housing has on the end face a cut-out for receiving the plug portion.

B. The electrical apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the circuit carrier and the closing portion are mechanically connected and can be inserted jointly into the housing.

9. The electrical apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.