DE102004041207A1 - Electrical printed circuit boards connecting device for electronic control switch, has connecting body formed as base connecting units on isolated plates that are arranged horizontally and vertically, spring holder and resting connector - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has electrical printed circuit boards (1, 2) arranged parallel on top of each other and electrically connected by spring units (11). A connecting body (3) is formed as base connecting units on multiple isolated plates (4, 7, 8) that are arranged horizontally and vertically, a spring holder (5) and a resting connector (6). The body is connected together with the boards by the connector. An independent claim is also included for an application of a device for connecting electrical printed circuit boards in electronic control switches.

Description

The The invention relates to a device for connecting at least two substantially parallel electrical circuit boards, the electrically connected by means of at least one spring element are.

Of the Degree of integration and miniaturization of electronic circuits grows constantly, nevertheless is still a discrete build in many applications electronic circuits on printed circuit boards necessary. There are these circuits often in housing to integrate or to be in the housing located electronic Adjust functional units whose outer dimensions specified or have certain special geometries.

Out that's why electronic circuits often divided into several circuit boards and signals are exchanged between the printed circuit boards, wherein The circuit boards often run parallel, but also every other can take any position to each other. In many applications step over it In addition, high voltage differences between the components of a PCB, between several boards or between the exchanged Signals on. These potential differences and the resulting high test voltages require the standards according to high distances in the air and creepage distances.

In order to arise the following problems. Considering The simplest manufacturing and assembly costs, the electrical Ensure connection between the circuit boards safely. It should the connection is possible there where they are due to structural reasons (assembly, potential differences) seems most appropriate. About that In addition, necessary isolation measures to reduce the distances between adjacent components. Furthermore, the Mechanically hold and fix circuit boards.

Regarding The electrical connections are wired in the simplest case Systems known in which isolated single conductors are used, However, the disadvantageous on the individual circuit boards either soldered directly or over corresponding individual connectors are connected. There is one accurate positioning of the two circuit boards not necessarily is required. However, the disadvantage is the increased manufacturing and installation costs as well as the error rate, with the number the signal connections increase. In another variant is the Use of connectors possible. So can For example, several individual connectors positioned there be where the signals to be connected due to the arrangement of Components on the circuit board arise most favorable or where due the potential differences and in compliance with the air and creepage distances favorable Connection points arise. A decisive disadvantage of this embodiment However, it is that accurate positioning of each Printed circuit boards to each other is required - as for example via screw be realized - with it the contact pairs meet each other precisely, because the connectors only in very close tolerances an offset between plug and Admit socket. These tolerance limits are often already the production-inherent blurring of components during assembly and Soldering exceeded. This can in particular with increasing number spatially separated electrical Connections lead to considerable assembly problems.

therefore Plug connectors are also used, the more electrical Allow connections in a connector strip (row connector). This does solve it However, the mounting problem is in terms of the need for bundling the signals and the associated circuit board design unfavorable. One decisive disadvantage of this variant, it is also that bundling of signals of high different potential differences allowed distances for the Fall below clearances and creepage distances. In many cases, also row connectors not for the relevant potential differences and test voltages are designed or have to do this with larger designs or additional isolation measures be bought. Another significant disadvantage when using conventional Connector results from the fact that the application of these connectors on the circuit board always a through-connection of the circuit board itself means. So are the potentials on the other side of the PCB sanded, which in turn additional insulation can mean.

From the US 5479320 and the US 5,324,205 For example, electrical circuit board connectors are known that have a unitary interconnect carrier that provides an array of equidistant electrical connection points. The interconnect carrier is populated with a series of leaf springs and is laid flat between the circuit boards, thus connecting a generally larger number of connection points. Disadvantageously, this technology can only be used for the back connection of printed circuit boards and thus not suitable for double-sided printed circuit boards.

The use of single spiral spring elements for the electrical connection of printed circuit boards is known from the prior art, US 4961709 describes a special form of such a spiral spring element with the special feature that the spring element with one-sided axial compression also builds up a radial pressure on the inner walls of its support and counteracts in this way a displacement of the spring element in the longitudinal direction in the carrier.

The known from the prior art spring elements for transmission electrical signals are arranged in carrier blocks, the fixation of the carrier blocks is about the Pressing the circuit boards to be connected ensures what, in particular is disadvantageous in terms of assembly costs, as an accurate Positioning and contacting is only carried out when installed in the housing. Especially where printed circuit boards in housings, often have to be installed floating, is a simple pre-assembly the printed circuit boards particularly necessary.

Around to be able to minimize the required free isolation distances i.d.R. partial measures seized on the corresponding components, these can from Partial insulation up to coatings, gluing or potting go. The above measures are particularly disadvantageous because of their additional manufacturing costs, as these are always an additional step mean. Furthermore you can some such measures problematic due to their limited repeatability be.

task The present invention is to provide a device which uncomplicated manufactured, an electrical and mechanical connection and positioning of two or more circuit boards.

It should the possibility be offered to integrate PCBs floating in housing or with already in the case Contact existing connection points.

These The object is achieved by a Device for connecting at least two substantially parallel arranged electrical circuit boards solved by means of at least a spring element are electrically connected and characterized is that the device consists of at least one connecting body, the from a number of substantially vertical and / or horizontal arranged insulating, spring holder and latching connectors as basic connection elements is formed. The device is easily pre-assembled and easily finalmounted and takes over the electrical insulation between the circuit boards or the electro nic Components on the circuit boards, the mechanical fixation, positioning And spacing of the circuit boards and the recording and management of Spring elements. It represents a place-oriented connection possibility that floating in housing can be installed. By the spring elements is a safe with respect to the contact positions displacement tolerant contact guaranteed.

from that overall results in a device that produced inexpensively, a mechanical and electrical connection of printed circuit boards takes over.

In other embodiments have the base connecting elements different thicknesses and Geometries and can be adapted so advantageous to the specific tasks. So are the material thicknesses in particular dependent on to be achieved electrical isolation and the mechanical Strength. Insulating boards can, for example have rectangular, triangular or other geometric floor plans, Penholder can dependent on the spring elements used, for example, circular or have angular floor plans.

In a particularly preferred embodiment is the connecting body via snap-in connections connected to the circuit board. It can advantageously different embodiments be used by locking connections. In the simplest case, the outer fasteners, the perpendicular to the outer edge the printed circuit board are positioned, are designed as latching connectors and Have latching lugs which alternately over the edge of the circuit boards to grab. To the overlap to ensure the locking lugs The spring elements are pressed together by the circuit boards. By the decompression force of the spring elements become the printed circuit boards pushed apart, the overarching Locking connectors fix the circuit boards.

In further embodiments the connecting elements are fixed and integral with the connecting body. This can be particularly advantageous when similar in larger series connecting body can be made.

In addition, flexible embodiments or mixing solutions are possible. In this case, the connecting elements are wholly or partially assembled by latching connections to the connecting body. This can advantageously be reacted flexibly to any insulation or contacting requirements. In this embodiment can form the connecting elements also in grid intervals corresponding connection options.

At the Use of latching connectors are advantageous such connection types to choose, the easy and without damage the catch connector released again can be. This can be particularly useful for repair and testing purposes be.

by virtue of the severely restricted space PCBs are often equipped double-sided. Be such double-sided equipped printed circuit boards on top of each other arranged results in the distance to be maintained from the height of the components as well as the air and creepage distances to be complied with. In a embodiment become insulating plates - arbitrary spaced - between the printed circuit boards (PCB inside) substantially parallel installed running. Rich due to a tight population of PCBs, the free air and creepage distances are not Insulating also substantially orthogonal to the circuit boards installed between components of the PCB inside. advantageously, can in this embodiment a close assembly of printed circuit boards and a close spacing of printed circuit boards even if there are increased potential differences between load and control circuits on the same circuit boards confined to the smallest space, as they occur, for example, in the realization in semiconductor contactors.

from time to time It is inevitable that the high potential differences at least occasionally also occur on the PCB outside and there as well must be avoided. In a proposed and preferred embodiment substantially protrude orthogonally arranged insulating plates of the PCB inside through longitudinal slots in the printed circuit boards through them to on the outside of the PCB at least in height of the over there arranged electronic components. In this way can be very beneficial effective insulation between the electrical Components can also be achieved on the PCB outside.

In another variant which protrude substantially orthogonally Insulating boards on the inside of the PCB over the outer edge of the circuit boards the respective outside the circuit board. In this way, isolation between far outside lying electronic components are made or it can insulation measures in already in a housing built-in components performed become.

When Spring elements are in the proposed embodiment advantageously cylindrical coil springs used, in addition to the cylindrical coil springs and others Geometries are conceivable. The coil springs point at the respective outer ends a contact element to the contact surfaces of the circuit boards optimally to contact.

there can in certain embodiments the contact elements in one piece be formed from the spring element, in the simplest embodiment is the spring wire of the spring element with a flat expiring Slope itself to the contact element.

In Other preferred variants, the contact element is separate and Can be connected by fits with the spring element. Especially in the plug-in version contact elements can be easily used For example, at the contact surface a smooth, conical or may have concave geometry. That way you can the electrical contact on the special Kontaktierungsfall easy to adjust and demanded low-resistance and low-induction, area Achieve contacts. Sometimes it can be over the contact element as well a transverse offset between a contact point on the circuit board and the spring holder are balanced. To the electrolytic Prevent corrosion and thus a durable high-quality contact to ensure, the spring elements are coated with the same material, from which the contact surfaces insist on the circuit boards. Because of the use of tin on Circuit boards is also to provide a surface protection of tin, but at least the direct contact surfaces of the contact elements with to provide the same material.

A further increase the insulation resistance of the spring element results when this with coated an insulating layer become. In this case, the spring element may be coated in its shell, in other variants the spring wire itself can be isolated by coating.

The advantages achieved by the invention are in particular that with the claimed device a possibility is given to connect the circuit boards in a small space, in particular taking into account the insulation distances to be maintained at high potential differences between the circuit boards. Important applications of the invention are, for example, electronically switching contactors. In these applications, rated voltages of up to 100V and rated currents in the load circuit of up to 100A with their associated test voltages result. But also in applications with higher rated voltages and currents, the device according to the invention can be used. Mixed applications for control and load current On a circuit board are also typical for such applications. In general, the widths for contactors are normalized from the use of electromechanical methods, an increase in the design of electronic contactors is therefore prohibited in most cases. Using the claimed invention, clearance areas can be relatively easily reduced.

One An essential advantage of the invention is that with the use the claimed device minimizes the manufacturing and assembly costs can be. By the possibility all circuit boards outside of the housing mechanically and electrically by joining together to connect you then afterwards floating in a housing use, where appropriate, further contacts with already in the casing used or cast electrical components on the same way done by means of spring elements, the installation costs lowered dramatically. All usual solder joints at the final assembly can omitted, the error rate is reduced.

following Be exemplary embodiments of Invention explained in more detail with reference to drawings. Show:

1 in a spatial section two printed circuit boards which are connected to a conductor connector consisting of spring holder, latching connector and insulating plates,

2 in a schematic cross section two printed circuit boards, which are connected to a conductor connector,

3 in a schematic cross section in the side view of a spring holder and an insulating plate, which are connected to each other detent,

4 in a schematic section the top view of in 3 represented components,

5 in a schematic section, the top view of another way to connect a spring holder and an insulating plate detent with each other,

6 in a schematic cross section a latching connector and an insulating plate,

7 in a schematic cross section spring elements with contact elements.

8th in a schematic cross section, a separate contact element

each other corresponding parts are in all figures with the same reference numerals Mistake.

In the 1 spatially and in 2 schematically illustrated device for connecting the superposed parallel printed circuit boards 1 and 2 comprises a connecting body 3 that is made up of the fasteners insulating plate 4 . 7 . 8th , the spring holders 5 and the catch connectors 6 composed. Here are in the arrangement according to 1 and 2 the connecting elements formed integrally with the connecting body. The circuit boards 1 and 2 are equipped on both sides with electronic components, whereby the electronic components 9 each located on the PCB side, which face each other (PCB inside) and the components 10 on the opposite side of the PCB (PCB face side) of the PCB 1 and 2 are located. The insulating panels 4 . 7 and 8th , the pen holder 5 and the latching connectors 6 are molded from an electrically non-conductive plastic and have the same or different thicknesses of material, wherein the material thicknesses depending on the achievable stability and insulating properties substantially in the range of 0.5 to 2mm move. The insulating plate 4 runs in the same direction as the printed circuit boards 1 . 2 on the inside of the PCB between the PCBs 1 and 2 , The insulating plate 7 is orthogonal to the insulating plate 4 directed and connected to this either on the top or bottom. The free end of the insulating plate 7 is in the direction of the circuit board 1 or circuit board 2 directed. The insulating plate 7 is appropriate where isolation of two electronic components 9 is necessary on each respective PCB inside pages. The height of the insulating plate 7 depends on the height of the locking connector 6 and may not exceed this when connected. The insulating plate 8th is like the insulating plate 7 essentially orthogonal to the insulating plate 4 directed and connected to this on the top or bottom. The free end of the insulating plate 8th pierces the circuit board 1 or 2 , These are corresponding slots in the circuit boards 1 or 2 provided. In addition, the insulating plate 8th however, also be arranged so that their free end on the outer edge of the circuit board 1 or 2 passes. The insulating plate 8th is thus able to isolate electronic components or possibly contacts or pairs of contacts on the PCB outside also. The total height of the insulating plate 8th depends on the particular Isolierbedarf on the PCB outside, so it can also be used for the isolation of subsequent or already built into the housing components. In particular, if it has insulation tasks of adjoining components or components already installed in the housing, it can project beyond the electronic components located on the outside of the printed circuit board.

On the outer sides of the insulating plate 4 are the locking connectors 6 attached, these are orthogonal to the insulating plate 4 and fix in the locked state, the insulating plate 4 between the circuit boards 1 and 2 , Several detent connectors are about the circumference of the insulating plate 4 appropriate. It has been found that for smaller arrangements, a mutual arrangement of the latching connector 6 is sufficient. In the mutual arrangement is a snap-in connector 6 in the direction of the printed circuit board arranged above 1 , the following locking connector on the circumference 6 in the direction of the printed circuit board arranged below 2 directed. The exact number of snap-in connectors 6 depends on the size of the printed circuit boards to be connected 1 . 2 or according to the size of the insulating plate 4 ,

In the places where the circuit boards 1 and 2 are to be electrically connected to each other, are the pen 5 with the insulating plate 4 connected, with the insulating plate 4 usually halfway up the pen 5 attacks. The penholder 5 have appropriate geometry to the spring element to be used 11 to be able to record, but ideally the shape of a hollow cylinder and are advantageously made of electrically non-conductive plastic. The wall thickness of the spring holder 5 is described by the parameters necessary stability and necessary insulating property. The height of the over the insulating plate 4 outstanding spring holder 5 is lower than the latch connector 6 , In the hollow cylinder of the spring holder 6 runs free or guided the spring element 11 , At the ends of the spring element 11 are the contact elements 12 In the simplest case, these can be made in one piece with the spring element 11 be connected, or be separately at the ends of the spring element 11 used.

3 shows schematically in side view a cylindrical spring holder 5 that with the insulating board 4 can be connected by means of latching connections and released again. It should be the in 3 shown connection only one possible connection variant for the sake of clarity show. Other variants are the state of the art removable and will not be further elaborated here. The penholder 5 consists of a hollow cylinder 14 , In the middle of the tubular side wall of the hollow cylinder 14 sets a projection in the form of a triangle column 13 at. In 3 is the delta 13 with its side surface with the hollow cylinder 14 connected, wherein the width of the side surface of the triangular column 13 about the outer diameter of the hollow cylinder 14 corresponds and the, the side surface opposite edge of the triangular column is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the hollow cylinder. In the, the side surface opposite edge is a, to the longitudinal axis of the hollow cylinder 14 orthogonal directional, slot 15 let in, the slot height is slightly higher than the material thickness of the male insulating 4 is to be measured and the slot depth up to the tubular side wall of the hollow cylinder 14 enough. In the slot 15 there are surveys 16 that with depressions 17 the insulating plate 4 correspond and make a snap connection. In the simplest case, the wells can 17 the insulating plate 4 also be breakthroughs.

To a lateral rotation of the insulating plate 4 in the pen holder 5 counteract, are advantageously, as in 4 shown, with punctiform detent connections several surveys 16 and corresponding depressions 17 to provide per pen holder.

5 shows a penholder 5 with elevations 16 and an insulating plate 4 with to the surveys 16 corresponding depressions 17 which extend longitudinally in slot extension. In this case, the above-described twisting can already be counteracted by the use of a latching element.

In one embodiment, not shown, a cylindrical spring holder with corresponding locking devices at any other location in the insulating 4 be embedded or fixed at this.

6 shows in a schematic section by way of example the geometry of a latching connector 6 , its connection with the insulating plate 4 and the location of the circuit board 1 , Here, only one possible embodiment will be discussed, modified embodiments which fulfill the same purpose are conceivable. The locking connector 6 consists essentially of a middle section 18 at the lower end, like the penholder 5 in 4 described above, a slotted triangular column 19 has, on its side surface with the middle part 18 is connected and in the slot the same, in 4 or 5 descriptive, surveys 16 has, in which the corresponding recesses 17 the insulating plate 4 engage. At the opposite end of the middle section 18 there is a bridge part 20 , which in turn is a right-angled triangular column 21 followed. The height of the bridge part 20 results from the material thickness of the circuit board 1 , The web part 20 is flatter than the middle part 18 and placed flush on the outside, so that at the end of the middle part 18 a support surface for the circuit board 1 results. The delta column 21 includes with its lower side surface the outside of the circuit board 1 , In the in 1 and 2 described variant of the integrally formed connecting body 3 are the locking connectors 6 directly with her middle part 18 with the insulating plate 4 connected, in this case eliminates the slotted triangular column 21 ,

In an embodiment not shown can also use the insulating panels 7 . 8th have corresponding locking lugs, with which easily to the insulating 4 build orthogonal connections. Such solutions are known from other applications and can be seen there from the prior art.

7 illustrates a separate contact element 12 which is in the spring element 11 is used, 8th shows a separate concave contact element 12 , The spring element 11 consists of a cylindrical spiral spring, which is free in the spring holder 5 running. The contact element 12 is to be described as a tripartite body for illustrative purposes, at the lower end has the contact element 12 a cylindrical seat 22 with an outer diameter such that the seat 22 can be fitted by means of interference fit in the coil spring. At the top of the seat 22 closes a likewise cylindrical middle part 23 at. The outside diameter of this part corresponds to the outside diameter of the coil spring and should be the inside diameter of the hollow cylinder 14 of the spring holder 5 do not exceed. At the upper end of the middle section 23 closes the contact part 24 at. The contact part 24 can have different geometries. In 7 is a frustoconical, in 8th a concave-type contact part 24 shown. Other adapted to the task contact parts are also conceivable.

Claims (12)

Device for connecting at least two substantially parallel electrical circuit boards ( 1 . 2 ), which are electrically connected by means of at least one spring element, characterized in that the device consists of at least one connecting body ( 3 ) consisting of a number of substantially vertically and / or horizontally arranged insulating panels ( 4 . 7 . 8th ), Penholder ( 5 ) and latching connectors ( 6 ) is formed as basic connection elements. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the base connecting elements insulating plate ( 4 . 7 . 8th ), Penholder ( 5 ) and / or latching connectors ( 6 ) have different geometries and material thicknesses. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connecting body ( 3 ) with the printed circuit boards ( 1 . 2 ) via snap-in connectors ( 6 ) is connected to each other. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a number of basic connecting elements ( 4 - 8th ) integrally molded to a connecting body ( 3 ) are formed. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a number of basic connecting elements ( 4 - 8th ) formed in several pieces and with each other by means of latching connections to a connecting body ( 3 ) are formed. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that the latching connections are releasable. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the insulating plates ( 4 . 7 . 8th ) of the connecting body ( 3 ) spaced arbitrarily between the printed circuit boards ( 1 . 2 ) are arranged, wherein an isolation of electronic components ( 9 ) and / or printed circuit boards ( 1 . 2 ) is achieved. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that angled, arranged substantially orthogonal to the circuit boards insulating ( 8th ) of the connecting body ( 3 ) are so pronounced that they protrude through PCB breakthroughs. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that angled, arranged substantially orthogonal to the circuit boards insulating ( 8th ) of the connecting body ( 3 ) are so pronounced that their free end over the outer edge of the printed circuit boards ( 1 . 2 ) protrude. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the spring elements ( 11 ) consist of coil springs which at their respective outer ends a contact element ( 12 ) exhibit, Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the contact element ( 12 ) mehrstückig and detachable with the spring element ( 11 ) connected is. Use of the device according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 11 in electronically switching contactors.