WO2007090741A1

WO2007090741A1 - Electronic control unit, in particular for controlling a safety system and/or comfort system in a motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2007090741A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/050696
Authority: WO
Inventors: Henryk Frenzel; Christian Meyer; Oliver Menke
Original assignee: Continental Automotive Gmbh
Priority date: 2006-02-09
Filing date: 2007-01-24
Publication date: 2007-08-16
Also published as: DE102006006078B4; DE102006006078A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electronic control unit (1), in particular for controlling a safety system and/or comfort system in a motor vehicle, comprising: a printed circuit board (3) with an electronic subassembly unit (6, 7) arranged thereon; a housing (2) in which the printed circuit board (3) is positioned; and a connecting unit (4) which is at least partially inserted into the housing (2), makes contact electrically with the electronic subassembly unit (6, 7) and via which the control unit (1) can be connected to a system to be controlled; characterized in that at least one clamping element (8) of essentially wedge-shaped design is provided which firmly clamps the printed circuit board (3) in the housing (2).

Description

description

Electronic control unit, in particular for controlling a safety system and / or comfort system in a motor vehicle

The invention relates to an electronic control unit, which is provided in particular for controlling a safety system and / or comfort system in a motor vehicle. However, the invention is not limited to safety systems or comfort systems, but it can be used in all control devices in which circuit boards are to be inserted into a housing and vibration and rattling is to be avoided.

In motor vehicles are safety systems, such as, for example, an air bag controlled by electronic control units where these units in ^¬ electronic components, in particular sensors for the detection of physical parameters, extensive sen. For example, should a au ^¬ ßergewöhnliche acceleration are detected by a sensor when the air bag control system, a corresponding activation of the system is effected by the electronic control unit. To integrate the electronic components in the vehicle interior, the electronic control unit comprises a housing in which the Lei ^¬ terplatte is positioned with the electronic components arranged thereon. Further, an on ^¬, on the housing is attached connection unit which lectric contacted by the circuit board and here ^¬ e by the electronic components on the circuit board and via which the control unit is connected to be controlled to a system.

In order to ensure vibration-free and / or rattle-free fastening of the printed circuit board in the housing of the control unit, in the prior art, for example, printed circuit boards with self-tapping mounting screws are used, which are rotated in the housing. Other types of attachment of the circuit board are, for example, the caulking of the circuit terplatte in the housing over plastic pins and hot gas rivets. Moreover, it is known to effect attachment of printed circuit boards in the housing by clamping springs.

All known from the prior art electronic control units have the disadvantage that the mounting of the circuit board in the housing is complex.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide an electronic control unit in which the circuit board is attached in a simple manner backlash-free and / or rattle-free in the housing.

This object is achieved by the independent patent claims. Further developments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

The electronic control unit according to the invention comprises a printed circuit board with an electronic assembly unit arranged thereon and a housing in which the printed circuit board ^{¬ is} positioned. Further, a terminal unit is provided, which at least partially inserted into the housing ^¬ is set and electrically contacts the electronic component unit, wherein the control unit via the connection unit to a system to be controlled can be connected. In order to effect a simple and play-free and / or rattle-free attachment of the circuit board in the housing, at least one essentially wedge-shaped clamping element is used according to the invention, which clamps the circuit board in the housing. It will in this case of the fact ge ^¬ makes that a clamping effect can be achieved by a wedge shape in a simple manner, which fixes the printed circuit board in the housing. Furthermore, a tole ^¬ rance compensation of the mechanical internal dimensions of the housing and the thickness tolerance of the circuit board is effected by the wedge shape.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one clamping element acts in such a way with the Tail unit and the circuit board together that by inserting the terminal unit into the housing, the terminal ^¬ unit exerts a force on the clamping element such that the printed circuit board positioned in the housing is clamped by the Klemmele- ment in the housing. As a result, by a single operation, namely by inserting the terminal unit in the housing, at the same time the hard ^¬ clamping of the circuit board in the housing can be effected. It can thus be dispensed with a separate mounting step for the circuit board, for example, on the mounting of the circuit board by screws.

In a further preferred embodiment of the control unit according to the invention, the at least one clamping element interacts with at least one corresponding guide on the housing such that the clamping element presses the circuit board against the guide. The guide is ^{vorzugswei ¬} se provided on the lateral inside of the housing. By the leadership of the insertion of the clamping element and the circuit board can be facilitated. Moreover, the at least one guide, preferably on at least one Be ^¬ te a groove, into which one side of the clamping member is made to ^¬. As a result, slipping out of the clamping element from the guide is effectively avoided. In order to provide a very good and uniform clamping force, the least ^¬ one guide at least in a partial area - like the clamping element - wedge-shaped configuration. The provision of a groove is not obligatory. In particular, for materials which are very dimension stable (for example, aluminum housing and wedge made of high-reinforced plastic), ver ^¬ can be dispensed onto the groove.

Particularly simple fastening of the clamping member in the housing is effected in that the element is inserted at least one clamp in at least one guide, where ^¬ is effected by a pinching of the printed circuit board. ^¬ preferential as this at least one clamping element and the at least one guide each comprise a first, essential chen on the insertion direction of the clamping member extending side and a second, substantially in the direction of insertion of the clamping member extending side, wherein on the second side of the guide, the circuit board rests and with inserted clamping element the first sides of the at least one clamping element and the at least one guide against each other Press and thereby cause the second side of the clamping member presses the circuit board against at least a portion of the second side of the guide. By this interaction of the first and second sides of the clamping member and the guide pad is a create for the circuit board ge ^¬ and secondly causes a fixation of the circuit board on the platen by the clamping element on the one.

In a further embodiment, the housing has an O BER and bottom and a plurality of lying between top and bottom side walls, wherein two opposite side walls ^¬ ge each have a guide is formed for receiving a clamping element. Preferably, the housing in this case between the opposite

Side walls on an opening into which the clamping element and the connection unit are inserted.

In a further particularly preferred embodiment of the control unit according to the invention, the clamping of the printed circuit board in the housing is effected by an elastic and / or plastoelastic deformation of the clamping element and / or the guide and / or the printed circuit board. As a result, tolerances in the thickness of the circuit board can be compensated in a simple manner. To support and reinforce this elastic or plasto-elastic deformation, the at least one clamping element may further comprise projections on at least one side, which press against the at least one guide and / or the printed circuit board in the clamped state of the clamping element. In order to control the elasticity of the clamping element and in particular to increase, the clamping element in one further embodiment, one or more Aussparrungen. Preferably, the at least one clamping element and / or the housing made of plastic, which is very good elastic or plastoelastic deformation to compensate for thickness variations of the circuit board is made possible. Gegebe ^¬ appropriate, and metal spring elements can be used as clamping elements.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the clamping element is connected to the connection unit and in particular formed integrally with the connection unit. As a result, the assembly is simplified because no longer separate Klemmele ^¬ elements must be introduced, but by inserting the connection unit already the insertion of the clamping elements is effected.

In a further particularly preferred embodiment of the control unit according to the invention, the connection unit comprises a cover for closing an opening of the housing and a plug arranged in the cover, wherein the at least one clamping element is connected to the cover and / or to the plug. If necessary, a detent may be ^¬ device further provided by a connection unit inserted into the housing is locked in the housing. In this way, a very good fixation of the connection unit is ensured in the housing.

The control unit according to the invention is preferably used for controlling, in particular for triggering, an airbag in a motor vehicle. However, the control unit can also be used for the control of any other components, and their application is not limited to the Steue ^¬ tion of systems in motor vehicles.

Embodiments of the invention are described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it :

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a

Embodiment of the control unit according to the invention;

. 1 Figure 2 is a partially cutaway side view in Exploring ^¬ sion representation of the control unit of the Figure with a slightly modified form of the clamping member.

Fig. 3 is a partially sectioned side view of the Steue ^¬ tion unit of Figure 2 in the assembled state.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the housing of the control unit shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the terminal unit of the control unit shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 shows a modified embodiment of the connection unit shown in Fig. 5 in a perspective view.

In the following, embodiments of the control unit according to the invention in the form of a control unit will be described, which is used for example for triggering an airbag in a motor vehicle. The control unit is in this case, for example, above the so-called exhaust tunnel in Fahrzeu ^¬ ginnenraum.

In Fig. 1 is a perspective view of such a control device 1 is shown. The control unit comprises a housing 2, which is for example a die-cast housing made of aluminum or a plastic housing. The housing is substantially cuboid-shaped, wherein in the view of Fig. 1, the two side walls 2a and 2b and the top 2c of the housing can be seen. Further, the housing comprises at ^¬ is ner front an opening 2d through which during assembly the control unit, a circuit board 3 and a An ^¬ final unit 4 are inserted, as will be described in more detail below.

The housing is in the vehicle via three attached to the housing flanges 2e, for example, via a screw buildin ^¬ Untitled. There are two flanges on the side walls 2a and 2b and a flange on the rear side of the housing (see FIGS. 2 and 3). From the shape of the outer side of the side wall 2a it can be seen that on the inside of this side wall, a guide 5 is located, which is wedge-shaped in the front region 5a and opens into a paralle ^¬ len section 5b with parallel sides. An identical to the guide 5 guide is symmetrical on the other side surface 2b. When assembling the control device of Fig. 1, the printed circuit board 3 is in the housing ^{gescho ¬} ben and this lies on a parallel to the ground extending side of the guide 5, as will be described in more detail below.

On the circuit board 3 is an electronic ^¬ group assembly with a plurality of interconnected ^¬ th electronic components, in Fig. 1 of these components, a plurality of capacitors 6 can be seen. The assembly unit in particular has a Sen ^¬ sorbaugruppe to 7, detected by the acceleration who will ^¬ controlled to and triggering of the airbag. The sensor ^¬ assembly 7 is shown in FIG. 2.

When assembling the device of Fig. 1, the unit of printed circuit board 3 and 4 terminal unit is inserted into the housing ^¬ , whereby the terminal unit 4 is placed on the opening 2 d of the housing. The connection unit comprises two wedge-shaped clamping elements 8, a cover 4a and a plug 4b, which are inseparably connected to one another. Of the

Lid 4a has latching lugs 4d, which latch in the housing when De ^¬ ckel. In the lid is the plug 4b, which includes a plurality of pin contacts 4c, via which the plug is electrically connected to the system to be controlled, in the present case with the airbag. The pin contacts 4c extending through the cover 4a toward the rear of the connection unit 4, where they stand in the installed supply of the terminal unit 4, the circuit board 3 sponding to entspre ^¬ electrical contact points contact.

From the cover 4a of the connection unit, the two parallel wedge-shaped clamping elements 8 extend substantially perpendicular to the cover to the rear, wherein in Fig. 1, only one of the clamping elements can be seen. These Klemmele ^¬ elements 8 are preferably made of plastic and are formed integrally with the lid 4a in the embodiment described here. The clamping elements each have a substantially horizontally extending underside 8 a and a ^¬ inclined to the horizontal, extending at an acute angle top 8 b. During assembly of the control unit, the connection unit 4 is inserted into the housing 2, is positioned in the already be ^¬ the circuit board 3 in the guide. 5 When inserted, the wedge elements 8 move in the wedge-shaped portions 5a of the guide 5, wherein the bottom 8a of the wedges on the top of the circuit board 3 slides. Finally, at the end of the insertion process, the upper side 8b presses against the upper side of the wedge-shaped section 5a, thereby causing jamming of the wedge element 8 in the wedge-shaped section 5a. As a result, a clamping force is exerted from above on the upper side of the printed circuit board 3, so that a clamping of the same in the guide 5 is effected. The clamping wedges 8 and optionally also the guide 5 are here preferably made of a plastic which is elastically or plastoelastically deformed when inserting the wedge into the guide, whereby unevenness or thickness tolerances of the printed circuit board 3 are compensated.

As can be seen from the foregoing, a simple assembly of the control unit is made possible by the ^¬ clamping the circuit board with clamping wedges in the housing without again separate mounting devices, for example in the Form of screws, for fixing the circuit board in the housing are necessary, as is the case with comparable devices in the prior art. In particular, not only a contacting of the printed circuit board 3 by contact pins 4c, but also a clamping of the printed circuit board 3 in the corresponding guide 5 via the clamping elements 8 is effected by the process of inserting the terminal unit 4 into the housing 2.

Fig. 2 shows a partially sectioned side view of

Control device of Fig. 1 with slightly modified clamping element 8. Here, both the guide 5 and the printed circuit board 3 and the clamping element 8 is shown in a sectional view. 2 shows in particular the exact shape of the guide with its wedge-shaped section 5a and its parallel section 5b. The guide case has a horizontal underside Un ^¬ to 5c to which the underside of the circuit board 3 rests in the assembled state. Furthermore, the guide comprises an upper side 5d which, starting from the housing opening 2d, initially runs obliquely at substantially the same angle of inclination as the upper side 8b of the wedge and finally opens into the parallel section 5b, in which it runs parallel to the lower side 5c. From Fig. 2 it can be seen further that both the bottom 8a and the top 8b of the clamping wedge 8 adjacent to the wedge tip have a plurality of tiny projections 8c. After insertion of the clamping wedge these tiny projections engage in the upper ^¬ side of the circuit board 3 and in the upper side 5d of the Füh ^¬ tion 5 and cause an increase in the see plastoelasti- deformation of the wedge or guide.

In the embodiment of Fig. 2, the wedge 8 is formed integrally with the lid 4a, which is not necessarily neces ^¬ dig. In particular, it is also possible that the wedge is used as a separate element regardless of the connection unit 4 in the housing and the clamping of the conductor ^¬ plate 3 causes. From Fig. 2 it can also be seen that the wedge at its lying away from its tip end a has inner recess 8d and two opposite Ausnehmun ^¬ conditions 8e at the top and bottom 8b and 8a. By the recess and the recesses, the material of the wedge is weakened, so that its elasticity is increased and occurring tolerances in the thickness of the circuit board can be compensated thereby better.

FIG. 3 shows the control ^device shown in FIG. 2 in the assembled state. Here, it is clearly seen how the underside 8a of the wedge 8 plate on top of the conductor ^¬ 3 presses the circuit board 3 in turn rests with its underside on the bottom 5c of the guide. 5 Fer ^¬ ner can be seen that the top 8b rests against the obliquely duri ^¬ fenden portion of the top 5d of the guide 5. By exerting a corresponding horizontal force during insertion of the wedge 8, an elastic or plasto-elastic deformation of the wedge and possibly the guide is effected and jamming of the wedge in the guide is achieved. In the region of the recesses 8e and the recess 8d, the deformation is stronger here, since the material is weakened there. By the elastic deformation of the wedge, it is to jam mög ^¬ Lich circuit boards of different thicknesses in the housing, it being possible only ensures must that the thickness of the circuit board 5 is not the distance between the top and bottom of the guide in the area of the parallel portion 5b exceeds. Is in the ge in Fig. 3 ^¬ example shown, a thicker board is used, the same clamping force can be effected by the wedge 8, and thus the terminal unit 4 are less pushed deep into the housing slightly, so that the lid 4 with its inside not at the edge of the opening 2d of the housing is on ^¬ , but is somewhat spaced from this.

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the inside the casing, 2. It can be seen in particular that surfaces on both Seitenflä ^¬ 2a and 2b guides 5 are provided. In addition, the exact configuration of the bottom 5c and the upper side 5d of the guide 5 can be seen. The bottom 5c is Here, the upper surface of a formed in the housing 2, substantially cuboidal base, whereas the upper side 5d forms the bottom of a groove 5e. Through this groove, lateral slipping out of the wedge 8 from the guide 5 is prevented. On the back 2f of the housing are also a

Formed plurality of lower and upper clamping projections 2g. The lower and upper clamping projections form two Rei ^¬ hen with an intermediate distance in which the rear end of the circuit board 3 is inserted. As a result, an additional support of the circuit board is effected at its rear end in the housing and in particular prevents vibrations in horizon ^¬ tal level.

Fig. 5 shows a rear perspective view of the on-circuit unit as it gets into the inventive control ^¬ Fig. 1 is used. It can be seen that the wedge-shaped clamping elements 8 extending perpendicularly from the cover are provided on the right and on the left edge of the lid 4a, which in the embodiment of FIG. 5 is provided on its underside 8a in a partial region for weakening the material

Wedge are omitted. Otherwise, no recesses or recesses are provided in the wedge-shaped clamping elements. Includes the lid 4a of the connection unit 4, a 4e inwardly extending pedestal on its top and Untersei- 4d te the latching lugs for latching to the housing 2 angeord ^¬ net are. In the central region of the base 4e are the rear ends of the contact pins 4c, which extend through the lid and are bent downwards. There are in this case 4c provided a plurality of parallel-arranged contact pins, the lower ends of corresponding contact Stel ^¬ le on the circuit board after mounting the connector unit

4 contact the housing.

FIG. 6 shows a view corresponding to FIG. 5 of a further embodiment of a connection unit 4. The connection unit corresponds essentially to that shown in FIG.

5, however, the wedges 8 have a triangular, large-area recess 8g. Because of this tion is weakened the material of the wedges and thereby de ^¬ ren increased elasticity when inserting the wedges in the guide.

Claims

claims

1. Electronic control unit (1), in particular for controlling a safety system and / or comfort system in a motor vehicle, comprising: a printed circuit board (3) with an e-lektronischen assembly unit (6, 7) arranged thereon; a housing (2) in which the printed circuit board (3) is positio ^¬ ned; - An at least partially into the housing (2) inserted and the electronic assembly unit (6, 7) elek ^¬ trically contacting terminal unit (4) via which the control unit (1) can be connected to a system to be controlled; characterized in that at least one substantially wedge-shaped clamping element (8) is provided, which clamps the printed circuit board (3) in the housing (2).

2. Control unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one clamping element (8) in such a way with the on ^¬ final unit (4) and the circuit board (3) cooperates, that by the insertion of the terminal unit (4) in the housing (2 ), the terminal unit (4) a force to the clamping ^¬ element (8) in such a way exerts that ned in the housing (2) positio ^¬ circuit board (3) is clamped by the clamping element (8) in the Ge ^¬ housing (2).

3. Control unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one clamping element (8) with at least one corresponding guide (5) on the housing (2) cooperates such that the clamping element (8) the printed circuit board (3) against the Guide (5) presses.

4. Control unit according to claim 3, characterized in that the at least one guide (5) on the inside of the hous ^¬ ses (2) is provided.

5. Control unit according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the at least one guide (5) at least on one side (5d) has a groove (5e), in which a side (8b) of the at least one clamping element (8) is accommodated.

6. Control unit according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the at least one guide (5) is designed at least in a Teilbe ^¬ rich substantially wedge-shaped.

7. The control unit according to claim 3, wherein the at least one clamping element (8) is inserted into the at least one guide (5) and thereby pinching the printed circuit board (3) is effected.

8. Control unit according to claim 7, characterized in that the at least one clamping element (8) and the at least one guide (5) each have a first, substantially obliquely to

Insertion direction of the clamping element (8) extending side (5d, 8b) and a second, substantially in the insertion direction of the clamping element (8) extending side (5c, 8a), wherein on the second side (5c) of the guide (5) the circuit board (3) rests and at the inserted clamping element (8), the ers ^¬ ten sides (5d, 8b) of the press at least one clamping element (8) and the at least one guide (5) against each other and thereby cause the second side (8a) of Clamp ^¬ elements the printed circuit board (3) against at least a part of the second side (5c) of the guide (5) presses.

9. Control unit according to one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that the housing (2) has a top and a bottom side and a plurality of side walls (2a, 2b) located between the top and bottom sides, wherein in each case a guide (5) for receiving a clamping element is provided on two opposite side walls (2a, 2b) (8) is formed.

10. Control unit according to claim 9, characterized in that the housing (2) between the opposite side walls (2 a, 2 b) has an opening (2 d), in which the Klemmele ^¬ ment (8) and the connection unit (4) is inserted.

11. Control unit according to one of claims 3 to 10, dadurchgekennzeichchn et, that by clamping the circuit board (3) in the housing (2) an elastic and / or plastoelastic deformation of the clamping element (8) and / or the guide (5) and / or the circuit board (3) is effected.

12. Control unit according to claim 11, characterized in that the at least one clamping element (8) at least at a Be ^¬ te projections (8c), which in the clamped state of the clamping element (8) against the at least one guide (5) and / or the Press PCB (3).

13. Control unit according to one of the preceding Ansprü ^¬ che, characterized in that the at least one clamping element (8) has one or more recesses (8d, 8e).

14. Control unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one clamping element (8) and / or the housing (2) at least partially made of plastic.

15. Control unit according to one of the preceding Ansprü ^¬ che, characterized in that the at least one clamping element (8) is connected to the connection unit (4) and in particular is formed integrally with the connection unit (4).

16. Control unit according to one of the preceding Ansprü ^¬ che, characterized in that the connection unit (4) comprises a cover (4a) for closing an opening (2d) of the housing (2) and in the cover (4a) arranged plug (4b) in which the at least one clamping element (8) is connected to the cover (4a) and / or to the plug (4b).

17. Control unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a latching device (4d) is provided, by means of which the connection unit (4) inserted into the housing (2) is latched in the housing (2).

18. Control unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (1) is used for controlling, in particular for triggering, an airbag in a motor vehicle.