Covering device for a contacting portion of a printed circuit board, control system for a mechatronic module and method for assembling a control system

Abstract

A cover device for a contact section of a printed circuit board for a mechatronics module is proposed. The printed circuit board includes a contact section which has at least one connection hole, for connecting an electrical connection element to the printed circuit board. The cover device is characterized in that the cover device has a voltage protection element and a sealing element for sealing the at least one connection hole. The sealing element has at least one blind hole thereby, for receiving an end section of the electrical connection element.

Claims

1. A cover device for covering a contact section of a printed circuit board of a mechatronics module, wherein the contact section comprises at least one connection hole for connecting an electrical connection element to the printed circuit board, the cover device comprising: a voltage protection element adjacent a first surface of the printed circuit board and having opposing edge sections each contacting the first surface, the voltage protection element forming a covering space between the opposing edge sections; a first sealing element disposed in the covering space, the first sealing element sealing the at least one connection hole when the cover device is assembled to the printed circuit board, wherein the first sealing element comprises at least one blind hole configured to receive an end section of the at least one electrical connection element; and a connector device adjacent a second surface of the printed circuit board opposite the first surface, the connector device having opposing edge sections each contacting the second surface, wherein each opposing edge section of the connector device is coupled to a respective edge section of the voltage protection element.

2. The cover device according to claim 1, wherein when the cover device is assembled to the printed circuit board, the first sealing element is disposed between the voltage protection element and the first surface of the printed circuit board.

3. The cover device according to claim 1, wherein the first sealing element comprises a sealing mat made of an elastomer material, and wherein the first sealing element is pressed onto the contact section of the printed circuit board when the cover device is assembled to the printed circuit board.

4. The cover device according to claim 1, further comprising: a receiving space formed between the opposing edge sections of the connector device; and a second sealing element disposed in the receiving space and contacting the second surface of the printed circuit board, the second sealing element sealing the at least one connection hole when the cover device is assembled to the printed circuit board, wherein the second sealing element comprises at least one through hole configured to receive the at least one electrical connection element when the cover device is assembled to the printed circuit board.

5. The cover device according to claim 4, wherein when the cover device is assembled to the printed circuit board, the at least one electrical connection element is adjacently disposed on the contact section of the printed circuit board, and the at least one through hole of the second sealing element and the at least one blind hole of the first sealing element are aligned with the at least one connection hole of the contact section to receive the at least one electrical connection element.

6. A control system for a mechatronics module, the control system comprising: a printed circuit board comprising a first surface, a second surface opposing the first surface, and at least one connection hole disposed in a contact section of the printed circuit board and extending between the first surface and the second surface; at least one electrical connection element extending through the at least one connection hole of the printed circuit board; and a cover device attached to the printed circuit board in a sealing manner, the cover device comprising: a voltage protection element having opposing edge sections each contacting the first surface of the printed circuit board; a first sealing element between the voltage protection element and the first surface of the printed circuit board, the first sealing element configured to seal the at least one connection hole, the first sealing element comprising at least one blind hole into which an end section of the at least one electrical connection element is inserted; and a connector device having opposing edge sections each contacting the second surface of the printed circuit board, wherein each opposing edge section of the connector device is coupled to a respective edge section of the voltage protection element.

7. The control system according to claim 6, wherein the voltage protection element forms a covering space between the opposing edge sections of the voltage protection element and the first sealing element is disposed in the covering space.

8. The control system according to claim 6, wherein a covering space is formed between the voltage protection element and the printed circuit board, wherein the covering space at least partially accommodates the first sealing element.

9. The control system according to claim 6, wherein the first sealing element comprises a sealing mat made of an elastomer material, and wherein the first sealing element is pressed onto the contact section of the printed circuit board.

10. The control system according to claim 6, further comprising: a receiving space formed between the opposing edge sections of the connector device; and a second sealing element disposed in the receiving space and contacting the second surface of the printed circuit board, wherein the second sealing element seals the at least one connection hole from the second surface, and wherein the second sealing element comprises at least one through hole into which the electrical connection element is inserted.

11. The control system according to claim 10, wherein the at least one electrical connection element is adjacently disposed on the contact section of the printed circuit board, the second sealing element comprises at least one adjacently disposed through hole into which the at least one electrical connection element is inserted, and the first sealing element comprises at least one adjacently disposed blind hole into which an end section of the at least one electrical connection element is inserted.

12. The control system according to claim 6, wherein the voltage protection element is connected in a liquid-tight manner to the printed circuit board.

Description

(1) The invention shall be explained in greater detail, in an exemplary manner, based on the attached drawings. Shown are:

(2) FIG. 1 a control system with a cover device according to one embodiment example of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 a part of a control system with a cover device according to one embodiment example of the present invention;

(4) FIG. 3 a flow chart for a method according to one embodiment example of the present invention; and

(5) FIGS. 4A-4D different views of a part of a control system with a cover device according to one embodiment example of the present invention.

(6) In the following description of preferred embodiment examples of the present invention, the same or similar reference symbols shall be used for the elements depicted and having similar functions in the different figures, wherein the description of these elements shall not be repeated.

(7) FIG. 1 shows a schematic depiction of a control system 100 according to one embodiment example of the present invention. The control system 100 has a printed circuit board 105 and a peripheral module 110. The printed circuit board 105 has a contact section 111. Two connection holes 112 are disposed in the contact section 111. The peripheral module 110 is electrically connected to the printed circuit board 105 by means of two electrical conductors. The electrical conductors can be wires, cables or suchlike. End sections of the electrical conductors are designed as electrical connection elements 125, or connected to electrical connection elements 125, e.g. a connector. Two electrical connection elements 125 are shown, each of which is inserted through one of the connection holes 112. The printed circuit board has a cover device 130 for covering the contact section 111. In differing from the depiction in FIG. 1, the control system 100 can have a different number of connection holes 112, peripheral modules 110, electrical connection elements 125 and/or cover devices 130. The control system 100 can be a part of a mechatronics module for a transmission control or a steering control in a vehicle. The printed circuit board 105 can be a part of a control device for the control system 100.

(8) The peripheral module 110 is connected to the connection holes 112 of the printed circuit board 105 by means of the electrical connection elements 125. In particular, the peripheral module 110 is electrically and mechanically connected to the connection holes 112 of the printed circuit board 105 by means of the electrical connection elements 125. A first of the electrical connection elements 125 is connected thereby to a first of the connection holes 112. A second of the electrical connection elements 125 is connected to a second of the connection holes 112.

(9) The cover device 130 is connected to the printed circuit board 105. The cover device 130 is designed thereby to seal and cover the connection holes 112, or end sections of the electrical connection elements 125, respectively, disposed in the contact section 111. The cover device 130 shall be explained in greater detail below with reference to FIG. 2.

(10) FIG. 2 shows a part of a control system having a cover device according to one embodiment example of the present invention. The control device and the cover device can be the control device and the cover device from FIG. 1. A printed circuit board 105 is shown, having, by way of example, three connection holes 112, two connection elements 125 as components of a connector device 225, and one cover device. The cover device has a voltage protection element 231 with a covering space 232, a sealing element 233, or an elastomer sealing mat, respectively, with three blind holes 234, by way of example, and a further sealing element 235, or a further elastomer sealing mat, respectively, with three through holes 236, by way of example. Moreover, two attachment means 240 and two attachment projections 245 are shown, by means of which the connector device 225 and the voltage protection element 231 are connected to one another and to the printed circuit board 105.

(11) The connection holes 112 in the printed circuit board 105 are formed as through holes from a first main surface of the printed circuit board 105, the lower main surface depicted in FIG. 2, to a second main surface of the printed circuit board 105, the upper main surface depicted in FIG. 2. The connection holes 112 are designed to enable, for example, a solder or insertion connection with the electrical connection elements 125.

(12) The electrical connection elements 125 can be or have, for example, connection pins, contact pins, parts of a lead frame, or wires. The electrical connection elements 125 are received in the connector device 225. The connector device can be, e.g. a plastic retaining element, a plastic housing, or suchlike, for the electrical connection elements 125. The connector device 225 is attached to the second main surface of the printed circuit board 105, the upper main surface depicted in FIG. 2. A partially enclosed receiving space, opening toward the second main surface of the printed circuit board 105, is disposed in the connector device 225. The further sealing element 235 for the cover device is disposed in the receiving space of the connector device 225. The further sealing element 235 is thus disposed between the connector device 225 and the second main surface of the printed circuit board 105. The further sealing element 235 is disposed in a sealing manner on a contact region on the second main surface of the printed circuit board 105. Only the edge sections of the connector device 225 rest on the second main surface of the printed circuit board. The through holes 236 of the further sealing element 235 are aligned with the connection holes 112 of the printed circuit board 105. The two electrical connection elements 125 extend through the connector device 224, through two of the three depicted through holes 236 of the further sealing element 235, and through the connection holes 112 of the printed circuited board 105.

(13) The voltage protection element 231, or the voltage protection cover, or base, respectively, can be made of aluminum or plastic, for example. The voltage protection element 231 is attached to the first main surface of the printed circuit board 105, the lower main surface shown in FIG. 2. The voltage protection element 231 has a U-shaped cross-section profile. The partially enclosed covering space, opening toward the first main surface of the printed circuit board 105 is disposed in the voltage protection element 231. The sealing element 233 for the cover device is disposed in the covering space 232 of the voltage protection element 231. The sealing element 233 is thus disposed between the voltage protection element 231 and the first main surface of the printed circuit board 105. The sealing element 233 is disposed in a sealing manner in a contact region on the first main surface of the printed circuit board 105. Only the edge sections of the voltage protection element 231 rest on the first main surface of the printed circuit board. The blind holes 234 of the sealing element 233 are aligned with the connection holes 112 of the printed circuit board 105. The two electrical connection elements 125 extend through the connection holes 112 of the printed circuit board 105. End sections of the electrical connection elements 125 extend over the first main surface of the printed circuit board 105, into the blind holes 234 of the sealing element 233.

(14) The attachment means 240 and attachment projections 245 are designed to enable a mechanical connection of the voltage protection element 231 and the connector device 224 to one another and to the printed circuit board 105, e.g. by means of adhesive, screws, rivets, laser welds, hot glue, etc. The attachment means 240 connect the edge sections of the voltage protection element 231 resting on the printed circuit board, and the connector device 225 to one another, and to the printed circuit board 105. The attachment means 240 are designed having multiple parts, by way of example. The attachment means 240 have, in particular, attachment projections 245 on the connector device 225, attachment elements on the voltage protection element 231 and/or attachment means 240 provided separately, such as, e.g. screws, rivets or suchlike.

(15) FIG. 3 shows a flow chart for a method 300 for assembling a control system for a mechatronics module, in accordance with one embodiment example of the present invention. In a step 310, a printed circuit board is provided, having at least one connection hole disposed in a contact section of the printed circuit board. In a step 320, a cover device is provided for a contact section of a printed circuit board for a mechatronics module. The cover device has a voltage protection element and a sealing element thereby, for sealing the at least one connection hole. The sealing element has at least one blind hole for receiving an end section of at least one electrical connection element. In a step 330, an end section of an electrical connection element is inserted through the at least one connection hole in the printed circuit board. The method 300 also has a step 340, for the installation of the cover device on the printed circuit board, wherein the end section of the electrical connection element is received in the at least one blind hole in the sealing element. By executing the method 300, a control system can be assembled, such as that shown and described in FIGS. 1 and 2, or FIGS. 4A-4D.

(16) FIG. 4A shows a part of a control system having a cover device according to one embodiment example of the present invention. More precisely, FIG. 4A shows a perspective view of a part of a control system having a cover device in an assembled state. The control device and the cover device can be the control device and the cover device in FIG. 2, with the exception that in FIG. 4A, by way of example, six electrical connection elements 125, designed as electrical cables, are provided. Even when it is not explicitly depicted in FIG. 4A, the electrical connection elements 125 are received in the connector device 225, bent at a right angle. Moreover, six connection holes can be disposed in the printed circuit board 105, six blind holes can be disposed in the sealing element, and six through holes can be disposed in the further sealing element, wherein, due to the perspective view, in the assembled state, the connection holes, the sealing element, the further sealing element, as well as the end sections of the electrical connection elements 125 are covered, or not visible.

(17) FIG. 4B shows a part of the control system with the cover device from FIG. 4A. The depiction in FIG. 4b corresponds thereby to the depiction in FIG. 4A, aside from the fact that the control system and the cover device in FIG. 4B are shown from a different perspective than that shown in FIG. 4A, and that the voltage protection element 231 is depicted in a partial cutaway, such that the end sections of the electrical connection elements 125 received in the voltage protection element 231 can be seen. Moreover, the sealing element is removed from the voltage protection element 231, and thus not shown.

(18) FIG. 4C shows a part of the control system with the cover device from FIG. 4A, or FIG. 4B, respectively. The depiction in FIG. 4C corresponds thereby to the depiction in FIG. 4A or FIG. 4B, with the exception that the connector device 225 is shown in a state, in which it is not attached to the printed circuit board 105, aligned with the six, by way of example, contact holes 112, visible in FIG. 4C, in the printed circuit board 105, and at a spacing to the printed circuit board 105. The voltage protection element 231 is also depicted at a spacing to the printed circuit board 105. Thus, FIG. 4C shows the part of the control system with the cover device from FIG. 4A, or FIG. 4B, respectively, in a partially exploded depiction, wherein the sealing element and the further sealing element are not shown.

(19) FIG. 4D shows the part of the control system with the cover device from FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, or FIG. 4C, respectively. Similarly to FIG. 4C, FIG. 4D shows the part of the control system with the cover device in a partially exploded depiction, but from a different perspective than that in FIG. 4C.

(20) Various embodiment examples of the present invention shall be explained in summary below, with reference to FIGS. 1-3. Details such as “above,” “below,” etc. relate thereby to the configuration of the elements as they are shown in FIG. 2.

(21) The cover device 130 can be a device for covering and sealing a connection point on a printed circuit board, or a connector or module of a control system 100. Electrical connection elements 125, e.g. lead frame, wire, pin or cable ends of peripheral modules 110, e.g. sensor, actuator, or connector modules, are inserted in the connection holes 112 of the printed circuit board 105, and soldered or designed as press-fit modules, and inserted into the connection holes 112 of the printed circuit board 105, or connected to the printed circuit board 105 in another manner, such that they can be released, or cannot be released, respectively.

(22) In order to protect these electrical solder or insertion connections from media, e.g. transmission fluid, in accordance with one embodiment example, a sealing element 233, 235, designed as an elastomer component or rubber component, is used on both sides of the printed circuit board 105. This elastomer component or rubber component can be designed as a mat. The elastomer component on the lower side, i.e. the sealing element 233, has blind holes 234, which encompass the insertion or solder points in the region of the connection holes 112 in the printed circuit board 105. The elastomer component on the upper surface, i.e. the further sealing element 235, has, by way of example, either round or rectangular recesses, or through holes 236, respectively, or simple slits in the elastomer component, which encompass the individual connection elements 125. The further sealing element 235 can, e.g. be already integrated in a connector, or a connector device 225 that has one of the electrical connection elements 125.

(23) Both sealing elements 233, 235 can be pressed onto the printed circuit board 105 by means of a suitable auxiliary part, e.g. made of plastic or metal. It is also possible to insert the element using the connector device 225, or a connector housing, and/or the voltage protection element 231, or the voltage protection cover, respectively. The two housing components, i.e. the voltage protection element 231 and the connector device 225, are pressed firmly onto the printed circuit board, such that the sealing elements 233, 235 securely enclose, in a sealing manner, the electrical connection elements 125, or all of the connections, pins, or lead frames, as well as all intermediate spaces on the printed circuit board 105. In order to achieve a voltage protection, or protection against short circuits between the individual electrical connection elements 125, or contacts, respectively, the voltage protection element 231 is attached to the lower side of the printed circuit board 105, opposite the connector device 225.

(24) The embodiment examples described herein and shown in the figures are only selected by way of example. Different embodiment examples can be combined with one another, in their entirety, or with respect to individual features. It is also possible for one embodiment example to be supplemented with features from another embodiment example.

REFERENCE SYMBOLS

(25) 100 control system for a mechatronics module 105 printed circuit board 111 contact section 112 connection hole 110 peripheral module 125 electrical connection element 130 cover device 225 connector device 231 voltage protection element 232 covering space 233 sealing element 234 blind hole 235 further sealing element 236 through hole 240 attachment means 245 attachment projection 300 method for assembly 310 first providing step 320 second providing step 330 insertion step 340 installation step