Printed-circuit board connector for high-current transmission

Abstract

Disclosed is a connector for forming a high-current connection between two printed circuit boards that are arranged at right angles to one another. For this purpose, a slit pin contact is provided.

Claims

1. An arrangement which has at least the following: the first printed circuit board, which possesses at least the first electrical contact region; the second printed circuit board, which possesses at least the second and a third electrical contact region which are connected to one another in an electrically conductive manner via a conductor track of the second printed circuit board; and the printed-circuit board connector as claimed in one of the preceding claims for electrically connecting the first contact region to the second contact region, wherein the second printed circuit board is plugged into the slot of the at least one pin contact by way of its at least one second contact region, in order to produce a mechanical fixing to an electrically conductive connection to the first printed circuit board, and wherein the second printed circuit board is additionally also soldered to the connection region of the at least one pin contact by way of its at least one second contact region.

2. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arrangement further possesses an apparatus housing in which the two printed circuit boards are arranged, wherein the first printed circuit board is oriented perpendicular to the front side of the apparatus housing, wherein the second printed circuit board runs parallel to the front side, wherein the front side possesses a through-opening as well as a plug connector housing which is affixed thereto, wherein a contact carrier with at least one plug contact located therein is attached to the second printed circuit board, wherein the plug contact is fixed to the third contact region of the second printed circuit board in an electrically conductive manner on one side and projects into the plug connector housing at the plug-in side.

3. The arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second printed circuit board is additionally attached via a support element on the first printed circuit board and/or a screw connection on the front side of the apparatus housing, in order to resist the plug forces of the plug contact.

4. The arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second printed circuit board is additionally attached via a support element on the first printed circuit board and/or a screw connection on the front side of the apparatus housing, in order to resist the plug forces of the plug contact.

5. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plug contact is a heavy current contact Which is configured for transmitting currents of more than 10 amperes.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) An exemplary embodiment of the invention is depicted in the drawings and is explained in greater detail hereinafter. In the drawings:

(2) FIGS. 1a-c show the pin contact as a solder contact without and with a flange;

(3) FIGS. 1d-f show the pin contact using press-in technology

(4) FIGS. 2a-f show a first arrangement of a first and a second printed circuit board and a printed-circuit board connector with solder connections;

(5) FIGS. 3a-c show a second arrangement of a first and a second printed circuit board and a printed-circuit board connector using press-in technology;

(6) FIGS. 4a, b show the first arrangement with a support element;

(7) FIG. 4c shows the second printed circuit board with perforations for attaching to a front side of an apparatus housing.

(8) The figures contain partially simplified, schematic depictions. Identical reference numbers are partly used for the same but not necessarily identical elements. Different views of the same elements could be scaled differently.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(9) FIG. 1a shows a pin contact 1 which is implemented as a solder contact. This pin contact 1 possesses a cylindrical basic shape. The pin contact possesses a connection region 12 at a first end, which connection region can be soldered to a first contact region 211 of a first printed circuit board 21.

(10) The pin contact 1 possesses a plug-in region 11 at a second end which is opposite the first end. The pin contact 1 possesses a slot 111 in the plug-in region 11. This slot 111 is suitable for receiving a second contact region 221 of a second printed circuit board 22 in a form-fitting and force-fitting manner, which is shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b.

(11) FIGS. 1b and 1c show a similar pin contact 1′ which only differs from the previous pin contact 1 in that it additionally possesses a circumferential flange 13 which is arranged between its plug-in region 11 and its connection region 12. This flange 13 serves to additionally support and stabilize the soldered pin contact 1′ on the first printed circuit board 21. In this case, the connection region 12 of the pin contact 1 is plugged through a contact bore 210 of the first contact region 211 of the first printed circuit board 21. This is not absolutely necessary for soldering, but it does ensure a higher degree of stability in the present case.

(12) FIGS. 1d-f show a further pin contact 1″ in a second embodiment, namely as a press-in contact. The basic shape of this further pin contact 1″ is substantially cuboidal. Its connection region is tapered toward the first end and possesses a through-opening 120. It is thus implemented using press-in technology and can electrically contact the first printed circuit board 21 by way of the contact bore 210, without a soldering process being necessary for this purpose. The connection region 1 of the further pin contact 1″ also possesses said slot 111 for receiving the second contact region 221 of the second printed circuit board 22 and differs from that of the aforementioned pin contacts 1,1′ only by said cuboidal basic shape. The pin contacts shown are made in one piece and consist of metal.

(13) As already indicated, FIGS. 2a and 2b show a plan view and an oblique view of the first printed circuit board. In this case, no conductor tracks are shown, although these can of course exist. However, the first contact regions 211 as well as the associated contact bores 210 are clearly visible.

(14) FIG. 2c shows a slightly oblique view of the second printed circuit board 22, wherein it is already inserted into the slot 111 of the plug-in regions 11 of the plug contacts 1 by way of its second contact regions 221. These contact regions can additionally optionally be soldered to the plug-in regions.

(15) FIGS. 2d-f show an arrangement having the first printed circuit board 21, the second printed circuit board 22 and pin contacts 1 in the plugged-together and soldered state. It is readily apparent that the pin contacts 1 are guided through the contact bores 210 of the first printed circuit board 21 on the connection side. In addition, the connection regions 12 of the pin contacts 1 are soldered to the first contact regions 211 of the first printed circuit board 21. The second printed circuit board 22 is plugged into the slot 111 of the plug-in regions 11 of the pin contacts 1 by way of its second contact regions 221. Said second printed circuit board can therefore be exchanged for a different second, possibly slightly differently assembled, printed circuit board at any time, with little effort. However, this specific assembly is not essential for understanding the present invention and is therefore not shown.

(16) Furthermore, it is easily recognizable that the two printed circuit boards 21, 22 are perpendicular to one another as a result of the pin contacts 1.

(17) Moreover, the second printed circuit board 22 possesses plug contact bores 220 which are connected to at least some of the second contact regions 221 by way of third contact regions, which are not depicted in the drawing, via conductor tracks, which are not shown. These plug contact bores 220 serve to introduce and contact plug contacts which are not shown.

(18) FIGS. 3a-3c show a similar arrangement with the pin contacts 1′ which are implemented using press-in technology. In the present case, they are therefore not soldered to the first printed circuit board 21 but rather produce the electrical contact with the first contact regions by simply plugging their connection regions into the contact bores 210.

(19) FIGS. 4a-4c show structures which serve to relieve the respective pin contact 1, 1′, 1″ of the mechanical plug forces which act on the second printed circuit board 22.

(20) FIGS. 4a and 4b show two support elements which attach the second printed circuit board to the first printed circuit board on both sides.

(21) Alternatively or additionally, the second printed circuit board 22 can also have attachment bores 224, as shown in FIG. 4c. Using these attachment bores 224, said second printed circuit board can be screwed to the front side of the apparatus housing, which is not shown, using screw bolts or long screws, for example, and can therefore be fixed thereto in a stable manner. As a result, the pin contacts 1, 1′, 1″ are relieved of plug forces which act on the second printed circuit board 22.

(22) Even if different aspects or features of the invention are each shown in combination in the figures, it is clear to a person skilled in the art—unless otherwise specified—that the combinations depicted and discussed are not the only possible combinations. In particular, mutually corresponding units or feature complexes from different exemplary embodiments can be exchanged with one another.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

(23) 1, 1′, 1″ Pin contact

(24) 11 Plug-in region

(25) 111 Slot

(26) 12, 12′ Connection region

(27) 120 Through-opening

(28) 13 Flange

(29) 21 First printed circuit board

(30) 210 Contact bore

(31) 211 First contact region

(32) 22 Second printed circuit board

(33) 220 Plug contact bores

(34) 221 Second contact region

(35) 23 Support element