FLAT CONDUCTOR CONNECTION ELEMENT

Abstract

A flat-conductor connection element for an electrically conductive structure applied to a pane, includes at least one conductor, containing a flat conductor, having a first connection region at a first end and a second connection region at a second end, the first connection region having a connection surface for electrically connecting to the electrically conductive structure and having a contact surface opposite the connection surface for contact with a soldering tool; an encapsulation layer made of an electrically insulating material, which encapsulation layer surrounds the conductor at least in a conductor portion containing the first connection region, the encapsulation layer having a through-hole, through which the connection surface and the contact surface of the first connection region are accessible, the first connection region of the conductor being within the through-hole in a view perpendicularly through the plane of the encapsulation layer.

Claims

1. A flat conductor connection element for an electrically conductive structure, applied to a pane, with the flat conductor connection element comprising: at least one conductor, containing a flat conductor, having a first connection region at a first end and a second connection region at a second end, wherein the first connection region has a connection surface for the electrical connection to the electrically conductive structure and a contact surface opposite the connection surface for physical contact with a soldering tool, and an encapsulation layer made of an electrically insulating material, which encapsulation layer surrounds the at least one conductor at least in a conductor section containing the first connection region, wherein the encapsulation layer has a through-hole, through which the connection surface and the contact surface of the first connection region are accessible, wherein, in a view perpendicular through a plane of the encapsulation layer, the first connection region of the conductor is situated within the through-hole.

2. The flat conductor connection element according to claim 1, wherein the encapsulation layer has, on a layer side that is intended to face the pane and/or on a layer side that is intended to face away from the pane, an adhesive element surrounding the through-hole.

3. The flat conductor connection element according to claim 1, wherein the connection surface has a soldering compound attached thereto.

4. The flat conductor connection element according to claim 1, wherein the flat conductor is sheathed outside the encapsulation layer by an insulation layer made of an electrically insulating material, wherein the sheathed flat conductor is flexible.

5. The flat conductor connection element according to claim 4, wherein the sheathed flat conductor has a length such that the through-hole of the encapsulation layer is coverable by the insulation layer.

6. The flat conductor connection element according to claim 1, wherein the first connection region is formed by the flat conductor.

7. The flat conductor connection element according to claim 1, wherein the flat conductor is electrically connected to a round conductor, optionally with a connection piece, wherein the first connection region is formed by the round conductor, or optionally the connection piece.

8. A connection assembly, comprising: a pane with an electrically conductive structure applied thereon, a flat conductor connection element according to claim 1, wherein the connection surface is connected to the electrically conductive structure by soldering, and a covering of the through-hole of the encapsulation layer on the layer side facing away from the pane.

9. The connection assembly according to claim 8, wherein the encapsulation layer is attached to the pane by an adhesive element.

10. The connection assembly according to claim 8, wherein the covering is formed by the flat conductor sheathed by an insulation sleeve or a cover piece on the encapsulation layer.

11. The connection assembly according to claim 10, wherein the covering is attached to the encapsulation layer by an adhesive element.

12. A method for producing a connection assembly according to claim 8, comprising: providing a pane having an electrically conductive structure applied thereon, arranging the flat conductor connection element on the pane, soldering the connection surface of the conductor to the electrically conductive structure, wherein a soldering tool is applied on the contact surface, and covering the through-hole of the encapsulation layer with a covering.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the flat conductor sheathed outside the encapsulation layer by an insulation sleeve is routed via the through-hole and is attached on the encapsulation layer.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein a covering part is attached on the encapsulation layer.

15. A method comprising providing a connection assembly according to claim 1 for soldering the connection surface of the conductor of the flat conductor connection element to an electrically conductive structure of a pane in the automotive sector or in the construction sector, in furniture, electrical appliances, or decorative items.

16. The flat conductor connection element according to claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive structure is an electrically conductive layer.

17. The flat conductor connection element according to claim 2, wherein the adhesive element is an adhesive tape.

18. The connection assembly according to claim 8, wherein the electrically conductive structure is an electrically conductive layer.

19. The connection assembly according to claim 9, wherein the adhesive element is an adhesive tape.

20. The connection assembly according to claim 11, wherein adhesive element is an adhesive tape.

Description

[0055] The invention is explained in detail in the following using exemplary embodiments, with reference to the accompanying figures. They depict, in simplified, not-to-scale representation:

[0056] FIG. 1 a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of the connection assembly according to the invention, in plan view,

[0057] FIG. 2 a sectional view of the connection assembly of FIG. 1 in accordance with a first variant,

[0058] FIG. 3 a sectional view of the connection assembly of FIG. 1 in accordance with a second variant,

[0059] FIG. 4A-4B a schematic representation of another exemplary embodiment of the connection assembly according to the invention in plan view and in sectional view,

[0060] FIG. 5 a flow chart of a method according to the invention for producing a connection assembly according to the invention.

[0061] Considered first are FIG. 1 to 3, wherein exemplary embodiments of the connection assembly according to the invention are illustrated schematically.

[0062] The connection assembly, designated overall by the reference number 100, comprises a flat conductor connection element 1 that is mounted on a pane 2. Here, the pane 2 is implemented, for example, in the form of a composite pane as a windshield of a motor vehicle. The composite pane comprises two individual panes that are fixedly joined to one another via a thermoplastic intermediate layer. A precise description of the structure of the composite pane is not necessary for understanding the invention such that its description is superfluous. The pane 2 could equally be only a single pane and be implemented, for example, as a so-called “single pane safety glass” (ESG). Here, the pane 2 is made, for example, of soda lime glass.

[0063] An electrically conductive layer 3, which is electrically contacted by the flat conductor connection element 1, is applied on one surface of the pane 2. The flat conductor connection element 1 is arranged near an engine-side pane edge of the pane, adjacent a bonding region 8 (“PU line”), where the pane 2 is glued into a vehicle body.

[0064] The flat conductor connection element 1 includes a conductor 4, which is composed here, for example, of a flat conductor 5 and a round conductor 6 connected thereto (see FIGS. 2 and 3). Also, a connection piece 7 is electrically connected to the round conductor 6.

[0065] The conductor 4 has a first connection region 9 at a first end 11 and a second connection region 10 at a second end 12. The first connection region 9 has, on its side facing the pane 2, a connection surface 13 for the electrical connection to the electrically conductive layer 3 and a contact surface 14 opposite the connection surface 13 for contact with a soldering tool (not shown) for soldering the connection surface 13 to the electrically conductive layer 3. The connection surface 13 and the contact surface 14 are parallel to the plane of the pane. The second connection region 10 is used for the connection to an electrical control device, voltage source, or the like, which is not shown in detail in the figures.

[0066] Alternatively, it would be equally possible for the conductor 4 to consist of only the flat conductor 5, with the first connection region 9 then being formed by the flat conductor 5. In particular, the connection surface 13 and the contact surface 14 are thus also formed by the flat conductor 5.

[0067] The flat conductor 5 includes or consists of a strip-shaped or ribbon-shaped metal foil, for example, a copper foil, an aluminum foil, a stainless-steel foil, a tin foil, a gold foil, or a silver foil. The flat conductor 5 has, for example, a thickness of 10 μm to 300 μm, preferably of 30 μm to 250 μm, and in particular of 50 μm to 150 μm. The flat conductor 5 has, for example, a width of 0.5 mm to 100 mm, preferably of 1 mm to 50 mm, and in particular of 10 mm to 30 mm. The flat conductor 5 has, for example, a length of 5 cm to 150 cm, preferably von 10 cm to 100 cm, and in particular of 50 cm to 90 cm. It goes without saying that the length, width, and thickness of the flat conductor 5 can be adapted to the requirements of the respective individual case.

[0068] The flat conductor connection element 1 has a planar encapsulation layer 15 made of an electrically insulating material, which surrounds or encapsulates the conductor 4 in a conductor section containing the first connection region 9. The encapsulation layer 15 has a first layer side 16, which faces the pane 2 in the mounted state, and an opposite second layer side 17, which faces away from the pane 2 in the mounted state. The two layer sides 16, 17 are parallel to the plane of the pane. The first layer side 16 can, for example, also be called the “bottom”, and the second layer side 17 can be called the “top” of the encapsulation layer 15. The encapsulation layer 15 does not extend all the way to the second connection region 10 of the conductor 4. For example, the encapsulation layer 15 is made of polyimide or polyester.

[0069] The flat conductor 5 is electrically connected to the round conductor 6 in the region of the encapsulation layer 15. Outside the encapsulation layer 15, there is only the flat conductor 5, which is sheathed outside the encapsulation layer 15 by a planar insulation layer 18 (insulation sleeve) made of an electrically insulating material, here, for example, polymide [sic]. The flat conductor 5 sheathed by the insulation layer 18 outside the encapsulation layer 15 is flexible. The flat conductor 5 is fixedly connected to the encapsulation layer 15.

[0070] As is clearly discernible in FIG. 1 through 3, the encapsulation layer 15 has a through-hole 19, here, for example, rectangular, through which the connection surface 13 and the contact surface 14 of the first connection region 9 on both layer sides 16, 17 are accessible. FIG. 1 depicts the contact surface 14 from above.

[0071] When viewed perpendicular through the plane of the encapsulation layer 15 or through the plane of the pane 2, the first connection region 9 is situated within the through-hole 19. A wall 20 surrounding or delimiting the through-hole 19 surrounds the first connection region 9 completely (in a perpendicular view through the plane of the encapsulation layer 15). In the region of the first connection region 9, there is thus no material of the encapsulation layer 15 within the through-hole 19.

[0072] Both on the first layer side 16 and on the second layer side 17 of the encapsulation layer 15, there is a double-sided adhesive tape 21, 21′, which is cut out in each case at the through-hole 19 and completely surrounds the through-hole 19 in each case. The encapsulation layer 15 is adhesively bonded to the pane 2 by the adhesive tape 21 arranged on the pane side.

[0073] As depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3, the flat conductor 5 is electrically connected, within the encapsulation layer 15, to the round conductor 6 by a contact element 23, for example, a clamping element. The connection piece 7 is soldered to the electrically conductive layer 3 at the connection surface 13 by a soldering compound 22. The connection piece 7 protrudes somewhat out of the through-hole 19 perpendicular to the pane 2. The soldering compound 22 is already attached to the connection piece 7 before soldering to the electrically conductive layer 3.

[0074] As depicted in FIG. 2, the flexible flat conductor 5, which is surrounded by the insulation layer 18, is guided over the first layer side 16 of the encapsulation layer 15 and completely covers the through-hole 19. The flat conductor 5 is attached to the encapsulation layer 15 by means of the adhesive tape 21. As a result, tightness of the through-hole 9 on the second layer side 17 can be achieved. On the opposite side, by means of the adhesive tape 21′, with which the encapsulation layer 15 is attached to the pane 2, tightness of the through-hole 9 is achieved on the first layer side 16. The first connection region 9 is thus well protected against water ingress. In the course of its further extension, the flat conductor 5 is attached to the pane 2 by another adhesive tape 21″.

[0075] FIG. 3 illustrates a variant in which the through-hole on the first layer side 16 is completely covered by a planar cover piece 24 made of an electrically insulating material such as polyimide. The cover piece 24 is adhered by the adhesive tape 21′.

[0076] During manufacture of the connection assembly 100, the connection surface 13 can be soldered to the electrically conductive layer 3 in a simple manner, wherein a soldering tool, such as a soldering iron, can be applied on the contact surface 14. After the conductor 4 is soldered to the electrically conductive layer 3, the through-hole 19 can be sealingly covered using the sheathed flat conductor 5 or a separate cover piece 24. Due to the good visibility, the soldering can be carried out with high quality, with the ability to even use soldering tools such as soldering irons, enabling, in particular, manual soldering.

[0077] FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment, in which the flat conductor connection element 1 has two conductors 4, 4′, with the flat conductor connection element 1 otherwise having an analogous structure. Reference is made to the statements above. Only the two through-holes 19 are each covered by a cover flap 25, 25′.

[0078] FIG. 5 depicts a flow chart of a method according to the invention for producing the connection assembly 1 according to the invention.

[0079] The method comprises at least the following steps:

[0080] a) Providing a pane (2) having an electrically conductive structure (3) applied thereon, in particular an electrically conductive layer,

[0081] b) Arranging the flat conductor connection element (1) on the pane (29 [sic (2)],

[0082] c) Soldering the connection surface (13) of the conductor (4) to the electrically conductive structure (3), wherein a soldering tool, in particular a soldering iron, is applied on the contact surface,

[0083] d) Covering the through-hole (19) of the encapsulation layer (15).

[0084] It is clear from the above statements that the invention makes available a flat conductor connection element and an associated connection assembly, by means of which, due to the through-hole of the encapsulation layer, simple and reliable soldering of the conductor is enabled. The through-hole can be sealingly covered in a simple manner.

REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0085] 1 flat conductor connection element [0086] 2 pane [0087] 3 electrically conductive layer [0088] 4,4′ conductor [0089] 5 flat conductor [0090] 6 round conductor [0091] 7 connection piece [0092] 8 gluing region [0093] 9 first connection region [0094] 10 second connection region [0095] 11 first end [0096] 12 second end [0097] 13 connection surface [0098] 14 contact surface [0099] 15 encapsulation layer [0100] 16 first layer side [0101] 17 second layer side [0102] 18 insulation layer [0103] 19 through-hole [0104] 20 wall [0105] 21, 21′, 21′″ adhesive tape [0106] 22 soldering compound [0107] 23 contact element [0108] 24 cover piece [0109] 25,25′ cover flap [0110] 100 connection assembly