Fusible Link, Circuit Arrangement and Motor Vehicle Comprising Said Circuit Arrangement

Abstract

Melting fuse with a melting wire arranged between a first and a second terminal, characterized in that a connecting pin is arranged on each of the first and second terminals, a printed circuit board is placed on the connection pin, and at least one integrated circuit is arranged on the printed circuit board on the side facing away from the melting wire.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. Melting fuse comprising: a melting wire arranged between a first and a second terminal; a connection pin arranged on each of the first and second terminals; a printed circuit board placed on the connection pins; and at least one integrated circuit arranged on the printed circuit board on the side facing away from the melting wire, wherein the at least one integrated circuit comprises at least one microcontroller, and the at least one integrated circuit is electrically powered via the connection pins, wherein the integrated circuit is operated by a voltage drop across the melting wire.

15. Melting fuse according to claim 14, wherein the printed circuit board is placed on the connection pins with vias.

16. Melting fuse according to claim 14, wherein an insulation layer is arranged between the melting wire and the printed circuit board.

17. Melting fuse according to claim 14, wherein the connection pins and the melting wire are arranged in a U-shape with respect to each other.

18. Melting fuse according to claim 14, wherein the first and second terminals extend along a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axes of the terminals are substantially parallel to each other, the melting wire is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the terminals, and the connection pins are substantially parallel to the respective longitudinal axes of the respective terminals.

19. Melting fuse according to claim 14, wherein the terminals are formed as flat tabs and the connection pins are formed in the shape of wires.

20. Melting fuse according to claim 14, wherein the respective terminals and connection pins are formed in one piece.

21. Melting fuse according to claim 14, wherein the terminals and the melting wire are arranged on a substrate, the connection pins protrude from the substrate, and the printed circuit board is separated from the substrate.

22. Melting fuse according to claim 14, wherein the terminals and the melting wire are arranged in a common housing, in particular encapsulated, and the connection pins are guided out of the housing.

23. Melting fuse according to claim 14, wherein a voltage and/or a current via the melting wire and/or a temperature at the melting wire can be tapped on the printed circuit board via the connection pins.

24. Circuit arrangement including a melting fuse according to claim 14, a battery and at least one load, the battery being electrically connected to the melting fuse via the first terminal, and the load being connected to the melting fuse via the second terminal.

25. Motor vehicle comprising a circuit arrangement according to claim 24.

Description

[0023] The subject matter is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing showing embodiments. In the drawing show:

[0024] FIG. 1 a circuit arrangement of a melting fuse;

[0025] FIG. 2 a cross-sectional view of a melting fuse assembly;

[0026] FIG. 3 the installation of a melting fuse in a fuse holder.

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a melting fuse 2 in an on-board power supply system 4 of a motor vehicle.

[0028] The melting fuse 2 is arranged between a battery 6 and a load 8. The battery 6 can be either a battery for conventional loads or a traction battery. The loads 8 may be safety-critical loads, such as steering power assistance, braking power assistance, ESP, airbag control, and the like. Also, the load 8 may be a powertrain. The circuit arrangement 2 is arranged between the battery 6 and the load 8.

[0029] A melting fuse 2 is described in more detail in FIG. 2. The melting fuse 2 has two terminals 12, which are preferably formed as flat plugs and which lie in a plane with respect to one another. The terminals 12 are electrically connected to each other via a melting wire 14. The conductivity of the melting wire 14 is reduced compared to the conductivity of the terminals 12. This can be achieved by a suitable choice of material and/or a suitable reduction in cross-section. Due to the reduction in conductivity, the melting wire 14 melts in the event of an overcurrent, which is in itself sufficiently well known.

[0030] Starting from the terminals 12, a respective connection pin 16 extends parallel to the respective longitudinal axis 12a of the terminals 12. The connection pins 16 may be arranged integrally on the terminals 12 or attached thereto, in particular welded or soldered.

[0031] The connection pins 16 are spaced apart from one another. At a same spacing, a printed circuit board 18 has through-holes, so-called vias 20. The printed circuit board 18 can be plugged onto the connection pins 16 with the vias 20. On the printed circuit board 18 are conductor tracks (not shown) arranged in a conventional manner, via which discrete components 22, microcontrollers 24, A/D converters 26 as well as measuring sensors 28a, b can be interconnected.

[0032] For example, a temperature sensor 28a may be arranged on a side of the printed circuit board 18 facing the melting wire 14. A voltage and/or current sensor 28b may be arranged on the opposite side. In operation, the printed circuit board 18 with its components 22-28 is electrically contacted with the terminals 12 via the connection pins 16. A voltage as well as a current across the melting wire 14 can be measured with corresponding current/voltage sensors 28b. A temperature across the melting wire 14 can be measured using the sensor 28a.

[0033] Measured values can be in analog form, which can be converted by the A/D converter 26 and then processed further by the microcontroller 24.

[0034] The melting fuse 2 is preferably constructed in such a way that parts of the terminals 12, the melting wire 14 and preferably also parts of the connection pins 16 are applied to a substrate 30. The substrate 30 can, for example, be a non-conductive layer, for example a so-called prepreg.

[0035] The melting fuse 2 has a housing 32 which encloses parts of the terminals 12, parts of the connection pins 16, the melting wire 14 and the substrate 30. The housing 32 has a housing lid 32a and a housing base 32b. The housing may be sealed, and the lid 32a and base 32b may be integral parts of the housing 32 and not removable from the housing 32. In particular, the housing 32 cannot be opened.

[0036] On the side of the bottom 32 of the housing, the terminals 12 protrude from the housing 32. On the opposite side, at the housing lid 32a the connection pins 16 protrude from the housing 32.

[0037] In particular, the melting fuse 2 is formed as a blade fuse so that it can be used in a conventional application as shown in FIG. 3.

[0038] FIG. 3 shows an exploded view, in which a fuse box 34 is shown. A melting fuse 2 can be electrically plugged into the fuse box 34 with its connection pins 12. On the side of the housing lid 32a, the connection pins 16 protrude from the housing 32. The printed circuit board 18 can be plugged onto the connection pins 16 and electrically contacted with the connection pins 16. The circuit board 18 may have a form factor such that its footprint is substantially congruent with the footprint of the housing lid 32a. Thus, the circuit board 18 will not interfere when the melting fuse 32 is inserted into a conventional fuse box 34.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0039] 2 Melting Fuse

[0040] 4 On-board Power Supply

[0041] 6 Battery

[0042] 8 Load

[0043] 12 Terminal

[0044] 12a Longitudinal Axis

[0045] 14 Melting wire

[0046] 16 Connection Pin

[0047] 18 Printed Circuit Board

[0048] 20 Vias

[0049] 22 Discrete Components

[0050] 24 Microcontroller

[0051] 26 A/D converter

[0052] 28 Measuring Sensors

[0053] 28a Temperature Sensor

[0054] 28b Current/Voltage Sensor

[0055] 30 Substrate

[0056] 32 Housing

[0057] 32a Housing Lid

[0058] 32b Housing Base

[0059] 34 Fuse Box