RESISTOR ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SAME

Abstract

A resistor assembly including at least two connector elements and at least one strip-like or plate-like resistor element arranged between the connector elements. The resistor element has an upper side, a lower side and two longitudinal sides parallel to each other. The at least one resistor element is of a material of which the electrical conductivity is lower than the electrical conductivity of the material of the connector elements. The resistor element has, on at least its upper side or at least its lower side, at least one shaped element as a positioning aid.

Claims

1. A resistor assembly comprising at least two connector elements and at least one strip-like or plate-like resistor element arranged between the connector elements, the resistor element having an upper side, a lower side and two longitudinal sides running parallel to each other, and the at least one resistor element consisting of a material of which the electrical conductivity is lower than the electrical conductivity of the material of the connector elements, wherein the resistor element has, on at least its upper side or at least its lower side, at least one shaped element as a positioning aid.

2. The resistor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one shaped element is a recess in the material of the resistor element for receiving an end of an electrical conductor.

3. The resistor assembly according to claim 2, wherein the recess is a groove extending parallel to the longitudinal sides of the resistor element.

4. The resistor assembly according to claim 3, wherein the groove has a V-like cross-section.

5. The resistor assembly according to claim 2, wherein the recess is at least partially filled with solder.

6. The resistor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one shaped element has a region which is raised above the upper side or above the lower side of the resistor element, and in that the shaped element is at least partially coated with solder in this region.

7. The resistor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one shaped element is arranged centrally between the longitudinal sides of the resistor element.

8. A method for producing a resistor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises the following steps: a) providing a first strip made of a first material, the strip having an upper side and a lower side and two longitudinal sides, b) setting the width of the first strip, c) inserting at least one shaped element into at least the upper side or at least the lower side of the first strip, d) longitudinal seam welding the first strip on each of its two longitudinal sides with a further strip made of a material of which the electrical conductivity is greater than the electrical conductivity of the first material, thus forming a strip-like material composite, e) cutting the strip-like material composite to produce a resistor assembly, a resistor element of the resistor assembly being formed from the material of the first strip.

9. The method for producing a resistor assembly according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises the following steps: a) providing a first strip made of a first material, the strip having an upper side and a lower side as well as two longitudinal sides, and the first strip having, at least on its upper side or at least on its lower side, at least one shaped element, b) setting the width of the first strip, c) longitudinal seam welding the first strip on each of its two longitudinal sides with a further strip made of a material of which the electrical conductivity is greater than the electrical conductivity of the first material, thus forming a strip-like material composite, d) cutting the strip-like material composite to produce a resistor assembly, a resistor element of the resistor assembly being formed from the material of the first strip.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] In the drawings:

[0049] FIG. 1 shows an oblique view of a resistor assembly with a shaped element;

[0050] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the resistor assembly according to FIG. 1;

[0051] FIG. 3 shows an oblique view of a resistor assembly with an alternative shaped element;

[0052] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the resistor assembly according to FIG. 3;

[0053] FIG. 5 shows an oblique view of a resistor assembly with a groove;

[0054] FIG. 6 shows a side view of the resistor assembly according to FIG. 5;

[0055] FIG. 7 shows a side view of a resistor assembly with two shaped elements;

[0056] FIG. 8 shows a side view of a resistor assembly with three shaped elements; and

[0057] FIG. 9 shows a side view of a resistor assembly with a solder-filled groove.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0058] Corresponding parts are provided with the same reference signs in all figures.

[0059] FIG. 1 shows an oblique view of a resistor assembly 1 with a shaped element 4. FIG. 2 shows a side view of the resistor assembly according to FIG. 1. The resistor assembly 1 comprises two connector elements 21, 22. A resistor element 3 is arranged between the connector elements 21, 22 and has a main body in the form of a strip or plate. The resistor element 3 has a substantially flat upper side 31 and a substantially flat lower side 32 opposite the upper side. It has a thickness D, a length L and a width B. These dimensions are defined as shown in the figures. The resistor element 3 is electrically conductively connected to connector elements 21, 22, one on each of its two longitudinal sides 33, 34. This defines in the resistor element 3 a current flow direction which is oriented perpendicular to the two longitudinal sides 33, 34, i.e., along the width direction. The connector elements 21, 22 can have connection means for incorporating the resistor assembly 1 into an external circuit. These connection means are not shown for reasons of clarity.

[0060] On its upper side 31, the resistor element 3 has a centrally arranged shaped element 4, which is formed as a local cylindrical elevation 43. Alternatively, the elevation 43 can also be formed as a cone or truncated cone. The elevation 43 is limited both in the current flow direction and transversely to the current flow direction. The size of the shaped element 4 is not shown to scale within the resistor assembly 1. By means of the shaped element 4, 43, a position is defined on the upper side 31 of the resistor element 3, at which position the end of an electrical conductor, not shown, can be attached. Preferably, the height of the elevation 43 is selected such that the elevation 43 has a region that protrudes beyond the two connector elements 21, 22. This facilitates, for example, the contacting of a conductor track of a printed circuit board. The surface of the shaped element 4, 43 facing away from the resistor element 3 can be coated with solder. This simplifies the subsequent soldering of a conductor track.

[0061] FIG. 3 shows an oblique view of a resistor assembly 1 with an alternative shaped element 4. FIG. 4 shows a side view of the resistor assembly according to FIG. 3. The resistor element 3 is electrically conductively connected to connector elements 21, 22, one on each of its two longitudinal sides 33, 34. This defines in the resistor element 3 a current flow direction which is oriented perpendicular to the two longitudinal sides 33, 34, i.e., along the width direction. The connector elements 21, 22 can have connection means for incorporating the resistor assembly 1 into an external circuit. These connection means are not shown for reasons of clarity.

[0062] On its upper side 31, the resistor element 3 has a shaped element 4, which is formed as an elevation 43. The elevation 43 extends in the form of a triangular profile or a ridge parallel to the two longitudinal sides 33, 34 over the entire length L of the resistor element 3. The elevation 43 is thus spatially limited in the current flow direction, but not transversely to the current flow direction. By way of its spatial limitation in the current flow direction, the shaped element 4, 43 defines a region which serves as a positioning aid for the end of an electrical conductor. Preferably, the height of the elevation 43 is selected such that the elevation 43 has a region that protrudes beyond the two connector elements 21, 22.

[0063] FIG. 5 shows an oblique view of a resistor assembly 1 with a further alternative shaped element 4. FIG. 6 shows a side view of the resistor assembly according to FIG. 5. The resistor element 3 is electrically conductively connected to connector elements 21, 22, one on each of its two longitudinal sides 33, 34. This defines in the resistor element 3 a current flow direction which is oriented perpendicular to the two longitudinal sides 33, 34, i.e., along the width direction. The connector elements 21, 22 can have connection means for incorporating the resistor assembly 1 into an external circuit. These connection means are not shown for reasons of clarity.

[0064] On its upper side 31, the resistor element 3 has a shaped element 4, which is formed as a recess 41 in the material of the resistor element 3. The recess 41 is embodied as a V-shaped groove 42 and is arranged centrally between the two longitudinal sides 33, 34 of the resistor element 3. The groove 42 extends parallel to the two longitudinal sides 33, 34 over the entire length L of the resistor element 3. The groove 42 is thus spatially limited in the current flow direction, but not transverse to the current flow direction. Due to its spatial limitation in the current flow direction, the groove 42 defines a region that serves as a positioning aid for the end of an electrical conductor. The V-shaped cross-section allows the end of the electrical conductor to be centered. Thus, a very precise positioning of the measuring tap can be achieved.

[0065] FIG. 7 shows a side view of a preferred embodiment of a resistor assembly 1. The resistor element 3 is electrically conductively connected to connector elements 21, 22, one on each of its two longitudinal sides 33, 34. This defines in the resistor element 3 a current flow direction which is oriented perpendicular to the two longitudinal sides 33, 34, i.e., along the width direction. The resistor element 3 has, on its surface 31, two shaped elements 4 embodied as an elevation 43, each of which is arranged close to one of the two longitudinal sides 33, 34 of the resistor element 3. The height of each of the elevations 43 is selected such that the elevations 43 each have a region which projects beyond the two connector elements 21, 22. The shaped elements 4 are each formed as a narrow rectangular profile and extend parallel to the two longitudinal sides 33, 34 over the entire length of the resistor element 3. The elevations 43 are thus spatially limited in the current flow direction, but not transverse to the current flow direction. Due to their spatial limitation in the current flow direction, the shaped elements 4, 43 each define a region that serves as a positioning aid for the end of an electrical conductor. Thus, the voltage dropping exclusively across the resistor element 3 can be detected, without this voltage signal being influenced by additional partial voltages caused by the resistance of the connector elements 21, 22. Since the electrical resistance of the resistor element 3, unlike the resistance of the connector elements 21, 22, does not vary with temperature, the resistor assembly shown in FIG. 7 makes it possible to very precisely determine the current intensity from the measured voltage, even with changing temperature. The surface of the shaped elements 4, 43 facing away from the resistor element 3 can be at least partially coated with solder.

[0066] FIG. 8 shows a side view of a particularly preferred embodiment of a resistor assembly 1. The resistor element 3 has three recesses 41 in the form of V-shaped grooves 42 on its surface 31. The grooves 42 each extend parallel to the two longitudinal sides 33, 34 over the entire length of the resistor element 3. Two of the grooves 42 are arranged close to one each of the two longitudinal sides 33, 34 of the resistor element 3. The third groove 42 is arranged centrally between the two longitudinal sides 33, 34. The grooves 42 serve as a positioning aid for measuring taps. By means of such measuring taps, both the voltage dropping across the entire resistor element 3 and the two partial voltages dropping across one half each of the resistor element 3 can be detected in the illustrated resistor assembly 1. By comparing the current intensity determined from the various voltages, the reliability of the measurements can be assessed.

[0067] FIG. 9 shows a side view of a resistor assembly 1 with a groove 42 that is partially filled with solder 6. This is a further development of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. The solder 6 present in the groove 42 allows the end of an electrical conductor to be connected to the resistor element 3 without additional effort.

[0068] The features described in each of the embodiments shown can be combined with each other and modified. For example, both raised shaped elements and shaped elements embodied as recesses, in particular as grooves, can be provided next to each other on a resistor element.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0069] 1 Resistor assembly [0070] 21 Connector element [0071] 22 Connector element [0072] 3 Resistor element [0073] 31 Upper side [0074] 32 Lower side [0075] 33 Longitudinal side [0076] 34 Longitudinal side [0077] 4 Shaped element [0078] 41 Recess [0079] 42 Groove [0080] 43 Elevation [0081] 6 Solder [0082] D Thickness [0083] L Length [0084] B Width