WO2011045228A2

WO2011045228A2 - Adapter plate for fixing a housing in a vehicle and corresponding control device

Info

Publication number: WO2011045228A2
Application number: PCT/EP2010/065013
Authority: WO
Inventors: Manfred Moser; Mark Wonner; Roland Cupal
Original assignee: Robert Bosch Gmbh
Priority date: 2009-10-12
Filing date: 2010-10-07
Publication date: 2011-04-21
Also published as: DE102009045565A1; WO2011045228A3; BR112012008451A2; CN102577649B; CN102577649A

Abstract

The invention relates to an adapter plate (50) for fixing a housing (10), in particular for a control device (1) for passenger protection means in a vehicle, and a corresponding control device (1) that can be fixed in the vehicle by means of the adapter plate (50). According to the invention, the adapter plate (50) comprises first fixing openings (56) for fixing the housing (10) on the adapter plate (50) and second fixing openings (53) for fixing the adapter plate (50) on the vehicle, wherein the first and second fixing openings (56, 53) are disposed so that a fixing geometry of the housing (10) having no more than two fixing points is adapted to a vehicle fixing geometry having at least three fixing points.

Description

description

title

Adapter plate for mounting a housing in a vehicle and corresponding control unit

State of the art

The invention relates to an adapter plate for mounting a housing, in particular for a control device of personal protection means, in a vehicle or a corresponding control device with such an adapter plate according to the preamble of the independent claims.

In the utility model DE 201 12 595 111 a housing for receiving a printed circuit board with electronic components is described. The housing described consists of a generally cuboid hood made of plastic, which has a plug collar on one of its narrow sides, and a bottom plate closing the hood. The circuit board is mechanically and electrically connected to at least three of the four corners of the hood with metallic mounting sockets, wherein the hood has at these corners depending on a mounting flange and the mounting sockets are anchored in the mounting flanges of the hood. Perpendicular to the mounting flanges, the hood has indentations that facilitate access by a tool to mounting screws that are inserted through the mounting bushes to secure the housing to a vehicle body.

Disclosure of the invention

The adapter plate according to the invention for fastening a housing, in particular for a control device of personal protection means, in a vehicle having the features of independent claim 1 has the advantage that first mounting holes for attachment of the housing to the Adapter plate and second mounting holes for mounting the adapter plate are provided on the vehicle, wherein the first and second mounting holes are arranged so that a mounting geometry of the housing is adapted with at most two attachment points to a Fahrzeugbefestigungsgeomet- ria with at least three attachment points.

The adapter plate according to the invention can be used for example for fastening a control device for personal protection means of a vehicle with the features of independent claim 8.

Embodiments of the invention advantageously make it possible to install a simple and cost-effectively produced control device in the vehicle, which can be adapted essentially to the installation conditions specified there independently of the installation location, the mounting geometry in the vehicle, i. the arrangement of the attachment points is predetermined. Depending on the installation conditions, the adapter plate may comprise three, four or more second attachment openings for three, four or more attachment points. By using only a maximum of two first connection arrangements for fastening the control unit to the adapter plate, which correspond to the first fastening openings of the adapter plate, the costs for the

Control unit can be reduced. Such a cost-effective controller includes, for example, a plastic housing with integrated sockets and integrated customer interface and a plastic floor with integrated sockets. The customer interface includes a printed circuit board with an integrated SMD (Surface Mounted Devices) pin header. Since the first connection arrangements for connecting the plastic cover, the plastic bottom and the at least one printed circuit board are used in addition to the frictional connection with the adapter plate, the non-positive assembly of the control unit can be made prior to installation on the vehicle. Thus, the fastening of the guide plate takes place in an advantageous manner with the assembly of the control unit and the attachment to the adapter plate. The attachment in the vehicle is then carried out by appropriate further connection means on the adapter plate. This achieves an extremely cost-effective solution which can be easily adapted to the conditions at the installation site, and nevertheless leads to a robust, non-positive connection of the housing cover of the housing bottom and the PCB of the controller with the adapter plate and via the adapter plate with the vehicle body leads.

It is particularly advantageous that at most two first connecting means for the frictional assembly of the plastic lid of the plastic floor and the at least one circuit board are used. As at most two first connecting means, for example screws but also rivets, clamps or other non-positive connection means are possible e.g. also nuts over studs. Usually, the at most two first connection means for the frictional connection with the vehicle body must protrude beyond the housing bottom or housing cover in order to connect to the adapter plate.

Because the non-positive assembly of the control unit takes place only with the attachment to the adapter plate, it is possible to pre-fix the

Plastic cover of the plastic floor and the circuit board provided. This pre-fixing can be achieved with second connecting means, which are designed simpler than the at most two first connecting means which serve for frictional assembly and for connection to the adapter plate. Examples of this are clips, etc. However, it is also a pre-fixing with the maximum of two first connection means possible.

The measures and refinements recited in the dependent claims advantageous improvements of the independent patent claim 1 specified adapter plate for mounting a housing and the specified in the independent claim 8 controller, in particular for personal protection means of a vehicle are possible.

It is particularly advantageous that the first attachment openings are made in a base body of the adapter plate in order to connect to the

To allow ECU housing. Since the dimensions of the control unit housing, in particular of the housing base, are known, the shape of the base body of the adapter plate can be adapted accordingly to the control unit housing. In order to enable a cost-effective attachment of the ECU housing, can in the first mounting holes in advantageous Threaded to be able to screw in, for example, designed as a screw connecting means first.

In a further embodiment of the adapter plate according to the invention, the second attachment openings are introduced into fastening tabs, which are integrally formed on the base body. The fastening tabs are formed in accordance with the mounting geometry in the vehicle at corresponding positions on the base body of the adapter plate. In order to further improve the adaptation to the attachment geometry, the fastening straps can each be connected to the base body via a compensating bevel, which enables a corresponding height compensation.

In a further embodiment of the adapter plate according to the invention an expression for positioning the housing on the base body is formed. The shape of the expression is adapted to the shape of the housing bottom and advantageously facilitates the positioning of the control unit housing prior to attachment to the adapter plate.

In a further embodiment of the adapter plate according to the invention, the adapter plate is made as a stamped sheet metal part, whereby a simple and inexpensive production of the adapter plate is made possible.

The at least one printed circuit board, the plastic lid and the plastic bottom are designed in an advantageous manner so that the control unit can be attached by at least one connecting element to the adapter plate. Ie. the plastic lid and the plastic bottom each have a socket and the circuit board at least one bore. Thus, a connecting element such as a screw, a bolt or a rivet can be passed through this passage to secure the three elements together. In addition, when the connector is conductive, a ground connection between the circuit board and the adapter plate can be made. In an embodiment of the control device according to the invention, the two first connection assemblies each comprise at least one socket, which is anchored in the plastic lid and / or in the plastic bottom, a connecting means and one of the first mounting holes in the adapter plate, wherein the connecting means ge through the at least one socket in the mounting hole - leads is. This means that the bushings for the connecting means, like a screw, can be provided both in the plastic lid and in the plastic bottom. The threads are then located under the control unit in the adapter plate. Also in the sockets threads can be provided. For a reliable, non-positive screw is possible. That means pro

Connecting means are provided two sockets. The bushes can be introduced in various ways in the plastic lid or the plastic floor. A special variant is the pressing or that encapsulation in the plastic. An advantageous variant is the encapsulation in the plastic lid and pressing in the plastic floor. In this case, the maximum of two connecting means can be advantageously formed as screws, wherein a variety of types of screws can be used. The screw connections are reliable and can be produced inexpensively.

In a further embodiment of the control device according to the invention, the housing is prefixed for later attachment by at least one non-positive and / or positive second connection arrangement. In a corresponding embodiment, a prefixing of the circuit board with the plastic bottom and the plastic lid without tools is possible in an advantageous manner. Thus, no previous screwing the circuit board on the housing base or in conjunction with the housing cover is necessary. This greatly simplifies the assembly of the controller. For a pre-fixing is provided, which is realized for example by the mere compression of the housing bottom, the housing cover and the circuit board. The connection can be formed positively and / or non-positively. The decisive factor is that no tools are necessary. When assembling the control device according to the invention, first the printed circuit board is equipped, for example with SMD components, in order to then solder them in a reflow soldering process. Then is achieved by the mating of the circuit board, the plastic bottom and the plastic lid, the prefixing, for example, by holding clips together the housing. The plastic lid and the plastic bottom together make up the case. Later, when the housing is to be fastened to the adapter plate, this attachment is achieved, for example, by means of screws that pass through the plastic cover both through the printed circuit board and through the plastic floor. Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of a control device with an embodiment of an adapter plate according to the invention prior to attachment.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic perspective illustration of the exemplary embodiment of the adapter plate according to the invention from FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic perspective illustration of a housing bottom with a printed circuit board for the control device shown in FIG. 1.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of the first embodiment of the control device with the embodiment of the adapter plate according to the invention of FIG. 1 after attachment.

5 shows a schematic perspective exploded view of a second embodiment of a control device with the exemplary embodiment of an adapter plate according to the invention before the attachment according to FIG. 2.

Embodiments of the invention

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of a control device 1 in a prefixed state prior to attachment to an adapter plate 50 according to the invention. Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of an adapter plate 50 according to the invention for attachment of the control device 1 of Fig. 1 or 5 in the vehicle. FIG. 3 shows a housing bottom 30 with a printed circuit board 20 for the control device 1 shown in FIG. 1. 4 shows the control unit 1 after attachment to the adapter plate 50 according to the invention.

In the illustrated first embodiment, the control unit 1 is used for personal protection means of a vehicle and processes sensor signals such as Acceleration signals and generated in response to control signals for the personal protection. Personal protective equipment means active and passive personal protective equipment. These include passive personal protection devices, such as airbags. Belt tensioners, crash-active headrests or crash-active other seat components, but also pedestrian protection and also brakes and a vehicle dynamics control.

As is apparent from FIGS. 1 to 4, the first exemplary embodiment of the control device 1 comprises at least one printed circuit board 20 with electronic components (not shown), a plastic cover 11 with integrally formed side walls 12 and the plastic base 30, which form a housing 10 of the control device 1 and between which the at least one printed circuit board 20 is arranged. Four latching connections 46, of which only one is visible in FIG. 1, each comprise a latching nose 32 integrally formed on the housing base 30 and a latching clip 18 integrally formed on a side wall 12 and effecting a prefixing of the plastic cover 11, shown in FIG Plastic bottom 30 and the at least one circuit board 20 with each other. For non-positive connection of the at least one printed circuit board 20 with the housing bottom 30 and the housing cover 1 1 and the non-positive attachment to the adapter plate 50, which is shown in Fig. 4, two first connection assemblies 40 are present.

As is further apparent from FIGS. 1 to 4, the housing 10 has a respective mounting flange 14 on the center of two side walls 12 with a mounting opening 15 in which a mounting bushing 42 is anchored. The mounting sockets 42 pass through mounting openings 26 formed in the printed circuit board 20, wherein also in the

Housing bottom 30 corresponding mounting bushes 42 are anchored in corresponding mounting holes 34, as shown in FIG. 3 can be seen. Perpendicular to the mounting flanges 14, the housing 10 has indentations 13, which permit tool access to the fastening screws 44 inserted into the mounting bushes 42.

As can be seen in particular from FIG. 2, first fastening openings 56 for fastening the housing 10 to the adapter plate 50 and second fastening openings 53 for fastening the adapter plate 50 to the vehicle are introduced into the adapter plate 50. Here, the first and second attachment openings 56, 53 are arranged so that a mounting geometry of the housing 10 is adapted with at most two attachment points to a Fahrzeugbefestigungsgeometrie with at least three attachment points. In the illustrated embodiment, two attachment points of the housing 10 are adapted to three attachment points of the vehicle attachment geometry. As is further apparent from FIG. 2, first attachment openings 56 are in one

Base body 52 of the adapter plate 50 introduced. The second attachment openings 53 are introduced into fastening tabs 54 which are each connected to the base body 52 via a compensating bevel 55. In order to facilitate the positioning of the housing 10 on the adapter plate 50, a circumferential expression 58 is formed on the base body 52. To screw in the

Fixing screws 44 are introduced into the first mounting holes 56 corresponding thread. In the illustrated embodiment, the adapter plate 50 is made as a sheet metal stamping, with the forming of the expression 58 and the compensating bevels 55 corresponding forming operations are performed.

The at least one printed circuit board 20 is a substrate with electrical connections are applied to the electrical and electronic components not shown, wherein the electrical connections connect these electronic and e- lektrischen components together. It is possible that on the at least one printed circuit board, an accident sensor, such as an acceleration sensor or structure-borne noise sensor of an evaluation circuit such as a microcontroller and a drive circuit for generating the drive signals are provided. Further components required for the operation of the control unit 1 can be fastened to this printed circuit board. The attachment is usually done by soldering or gluing or press-fitting. Also a clamp connection is possible. Thus, both fluid and non-positive connections of the electrical components on the circuit board 20 are possible. The printed circuit board 20 can be made of a plastic, a ceramic or other suitable insulating materials, wherein metallizations usually serve as electrical connections between the components. However, other substances are possible that allow electrical connections. On the circuit board 20, a pin header 22 and a connector receptacle 16 are arranged to electrically connect the control unit 1 with other vehicle systems. For the plug receptacle 16, a corresponding recess is provided in a side wall 12 which is formed by a cover formed on the housing cover 11. stand 19.1 and a formed on the side wall 12 Uberstand 19.2 is protected. The projections 19.1, 19.2 also fulfill a guiding or positioning function when a plug, not shown, is inserted into the plug receptacle 16.

5 shows a schematic perspective exploded view of a second embodiment of a control device 1 ', which can likewise be fastened to the adapter plate 50. In contrast to the first control unit 1, the illustrated second control unit 1 'a in the housing cover 1 1' arranged connector receptacle 16 'on.

As can be seen from FIG. 5, the control device 1 'comprises at least one printed circuit board 20' with electronic components analogously to the first embodiment, a plastic cover 1 1 'with integrally formed sidewalls 12' and a plastic bottom 30 'which encloses a housing 10' of the control device 1 'form and between which the at least one circuit board 20' is arranged. Four snap-in connections 46 ', of which only two are visible in FIG. 1, each comprise a latching nose 32' formed on the housing bottom 30 'and a latching clip 18' integrally formed on a side wall 12 'and effecting prefixing of the plastic cover 11', the plastic base 30 'and the at least one circuit board 20' together. For non-positive connection of the at least one circuit board 20 'with the housing bottom 30' and the housing cover 1 1 'and the non-positive attachment to the adapter plate 50, two first connection assemblies 40' are present.

As can also be seen from FIG. 5, the housing 10 has a mounting flange 14 'on each of the two side walls 12' with a mounting opening 15 'in which a mounting bushing 42' is anchored. The mounting sockets 42 'project through mounting openings 26' formed in the printed circuit board 20 ', corresponding mounting sockets 42' being anchored in corresponding mounting openings 34 'in the housing bottom 30' as well. Perpendicular to the mounting flanges 14 ', the housing 10' indentations 13 ', which allow tool access to the fastening screws 44' inserted into the mounting bushes 42 '. The at least one printed circuit board 20 'is a substrate with electrical connections on the electrically and also electronic components not shown are applied, wherein the electrical connections connect these electronic and electrical components together. On the circuit board 20 ', a pin header 22' with a plurality of contact pins 24 'are arranged, which can be contacted via a not shown in the plug receptacle 16' inserted plug to electrically connect the controller 1 'with other vehicle systems. For the plug receptacle 16 'is in the housing cover 1 1' a corresponding recess 17 'is provided.

Embodiments of the invention advantageously enable the installation of a simple and inexpensive control device in the vehicle, which can be adapted to the installation conditions specified there, independently of the installation location, whereby the mounting geometry in the vehicle, i. the arrangement of the attachment points is predetermined. Depending on the installation conditions, the adapter plate may comprise three, four or more second attachment openings for three, four or more attachment points. By using a maximum of only two first connection arrangements for attachment of the control unit to the adapter plate, which correspond to the first mounting holes of the adapter plate, the cost of the control unit can be reduced.

Claims

claims

1 . Adapter plate for fastening a housing, in particular for a control device (1, 1 ') of personal protection devices, in a vehicle, characterized by first attachment openings (56) for fastening the housing (10, 10') to the adapter plate (50) and second attachment openings ( 53) for securing the adapter plate (50) to the vehicle, wherein the first and second attachment openings (56, 53) are arranged to match a mounting geometry of the housing (10, 10 ') with at most two attachment points to a vehicle attachment geometry with at least three attachment points is.

2. Adapter plate according to claim 1, characterized in that the first attachment openings (56) in a base body (52) of the adapter plate (50) are introduced.

3. Adapter plate according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in the first attachment openings (56) each have a thread for screwing a fastening screw (44, 44 ') is introduced.

4. Adapter plate according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the second fastening openings (53) in fastening straps (54) are introduced, which are integrally formed on the base body (52).

5. Adapter plate according to claim 4, characterized in that the fastening tabs (54) are each connected via a compensating bevel (55) with the base body (52).

6. Adapter plate according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that an expression (58) for positioning the housing (10, 10 ') on the base body (52) is formed.

7. Adapter plate according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the adapter plate (50) is made as a stamped sheet metal part.

Control device, in particular for personal protective equipment of a vehicle, with at least one printed circuit board (20, 20 ') with electronic components, a plastic cover (1 1, 1 1') with integrally formed side walls (12, 12 ') and a plastic bottom (30, 30') which form a housing (10, 10 ') of the control device (1, 1') and between which the at least one printed circuit board (20, 20 ') is arranged, wherein a plurality of connecting arrangements (40, 40', 46 ', 46') the plastic cover (1 1, 1 1 '), the plastic bottom (30, 30') and the at least one circuit board (20, 20 ') interconnect, characterized in that two first connection assemblies (40, 40') in addition for a frictional Connection with an adapter plate (50), which is designed according to one of claims 1 to 7, are provided.

Control unit according to claim 8, characterized in that the two first connection arrangements (40, 40 ') each have at least one bushing (42, 42'), which in the plastic cover (1 1, 1 1 ') and / or in the plastic bottom (30, 30 '), a connecting means (44, 44') and one of the first fastening openings (56) in the adapter plate (50), wherein the connecting means (44, 44 ') through the at least one bushing (42, 42') in the attachment opening (56) is guided.

10. Control device according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the housing (10, 10 ') for subsequent attachment by at least one force and / or positive second connection arrangement (46, 46') is prefixed.