Method for contacting a contact surface on a flexible circuit with a metal contact, crimping part, connection of flexible circuit and metal contact and control device

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a method for contacting a contact surface on a flexible circuit board with a metal contact outside the flexible circuit board, with the aid of a press-fit pin. An attachment piece having a sleeve for receiving the press-fit pin is a mechanically and electrically coupled to the flexible circuit board.

Claims

1. A control device for a motor vehicle, the control device comprising: a flexible circuit board; a stamped plate having a metal contact; and a press-fit pin, the press-fit pin providing a connection between the flexible circuit board and the metal contact; and an attachment piece comprising a sleeve in which at least part of the press-fit pin is inserted, the attachment piece being mechanically connected to the flexible circuit board, the press-fit pin being electrically connected to the stamped plate.

2. The control device of claim 1, wherein the sleeve comprises a metal composition, the sleeve providing an electrical connection between the press-fit pin and the flexible circuit board.

3. The control device of claim 1, wherein the attachment piece is electrically connected to the stamped plate via the press-fit pin, wherein the connection between the attachment piece and the flexible circuit board comprises a solder connection or a laminate connection.

4. The control device of claim 1, wherein the attachment piece is electrically connected to the stamped plate via the press-fit pin, wherein the attachment piece comprises a crimping part having a first region with one or more crimping plates which extends through one or more through-holes of the flexible circuit board, and a second region having the sleeve through which the press-fit pin is disposed, a distal end of each crimping plate extending through the flexible circuit board and being bent so as to form the mechanical connection with the flexible circuit board.

5. The control device of claim 4, wherein the crimping part provides an electrical connection between the press-fit pin and a contact surface of the flexible circuit board.

6. The control device of claim 1, wherein the attachment piece is electrically connected to the stamped plate via the press-fit pin, the attachment piece comprising a rigid circuit board having a degree of rigidity that is greater than a degree of rigidity of the flexible circuit board.

7. The control device of claim 6, wherein the sleeve comprises a through-hole clad with metal, the press-fit pin being disposed in the through-hole of the rigid circuit board and provides a press-fit connection between the press-fit pin and the rigid circuit board.

8. The control device of claim 7, wherein the metal which clads the through-hole extends along a first surface of the rigid circuit board other than a surface of the through-hole thereof, the mechanical connection between the flexible circuit board and the rigid circuit board comprising a solder connection between the metal along the first surface of the rigid circuit board and the flexible circuit board.

9. The control device of claim 2, wherein the mechanical connection between the attachment piece and the flexible circuit board comprises a solder connection between the sleeve and the flexible circuit board, the press-fit pin extends through the stamped plate and through the flexible circuit board and has a press-fit connection with the sleeve.

10. The control device of claim 1, wherein the attachment piece is electrically connected to the stamped plate via the press-fit pin, wherein the mechanical connection between the attachment piece and the flexible circuit board comprises a laminate connection.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a section through an exemplary connection of a type where a copper sleeve is soldered to the flexible circuit board.

(2) FIG. 2 shows the section II from FIG. 1 in an enlargement, illustrating the construction of the flexible circuit board.

(3) FIG. 3 shows a section through an exemplary connection, where a rigid circuit board is soldered locally to the flexible circuit board in a locally delimited region.

(4) FIG. 4 shows a section through an exemplary connection where a support, such as is used in the case of a flexible circuit board, is laminated thereto locally (thus in a locally delimited region).

(5) FIG. 5 shows a section through an exemplary connection, where a crimping strip having a sleeve for receiving a press-fit pin, is crimped to the flexible circuit board.

(6) FIG. 6a shows a perspective view of an exemplary crimping strip.

(7) FIG. 6b shows a perspective view of the exemplary crimping strip from FIG. 6a after being crimped to the flexible circuit board.

(8) Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) Referring to FIG. 1, a connection includes an electric circuit board which in its entirety is identified by the reference sign 10 and which is electrically and mechanically connected with/to a metal contact of a stamped plate which in its entirety is identified by the reference sign 20. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the flexible circuit board 10 includes a base film 12 from plastics such as PEEK (polyether ether ketone), polyester, polyimide, fluoropolymers, or the like, to which at least one copper conductor track 14 is applied. The copper conductor track 14 in turn being covered by a cover film 16 of, for example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET). In order for the mechanical and electrical connection between the flexible circuit board 10 and the stamped plate 20 to be established, the cover film 16 is partially removed by a soldering procedure, exposing a copper contact surface 18 to which soldering tin or another soft solder 22 is applied to. A copper sleeve 24 is soldered to the flexible circuit board by way of the soft solder 22. The copper sleeve 24 locally may be reinforcing the flexible circuit board and ensuring an overall thickness which is sufficient in order for a press-fit pin 30 to be incorporated. The press-fit pin 30 may have a head 32 in which a cavity 33 is configured, where the head 32 has roughly the shape of a hexagon which is adjoined by a neck 34 which is delimited by a foot 36. In order for the connection to be established, the press-fit pin 30 is guided through a passage 38 in the stamped plate 20 and guided through a suitably stamped passage 40 in the flexible circuit board which clears the way for the head 32 of the press-fit pin 30 into the interior of the sleeve 24.

(10) The press-fit pin 30, per se, establishes the electrical connection between the stamped plate 20 and the sleeve 24, and thus also with the contact surface 18.

(11) FIG. 3 shows a second exemplary connection in which, instead of a copper sleeve 24, a rigid circuit board 42 having a through hole 44, thus a through contact, from copper, is soldered to or onto the flexible circuit board 10, all other elements remaining identical. The rigid circuit board 42 is restricted to a small region of the flexible circuit boards, for example to the periphery, such that the advantage of the flexibility of the flexible circuit board is maintained.

(12) The through hole 44 establishes the connection between the soft solder 22 and the head 32 of the press-fit pin 30.

(13) Referring to FIG. 4, in some implementations, the typical carrier material for a rigid circuit board is laminated onto the latter in a locally delimited region, or laminated to the flexible circuit board 10, respectively, (see position 46 in FIG. 4), so that a sleeve may be formed in the region of a corresponding passage 37 of the flexible circuit board 10. The laminating may be performed with the aid of a high-temperature method or by cold laminating while using film adhesives.

(14) The passage 37, after the laminating, is provided with the coating 48 of copper, for example by way of a galvanic or chemical deposition method. In chemical/galvanic terms, tin instead of copper may be suitable for the press-fit in the sleeve.

(15) The connection between an electrical contact surface 18 on the flexible circuit board 10 with a stamped plate, which is not shown in FIG. 4 but is provided in a manner analogous to that of FIG. 1, by way of the press-fit pin 30 is thus established.

(16) FIG. 5 shows a crimping strip 50 which is connected to the flexible circuit board by crimping in a first region 52, where a sleeve 56 for receiving the head 32 of the press-fit pin 30 is configured in a second region 54.

(17) Crimping strips by the Sumida-Flexcon company, for example, are known; refer to the following link available on Dec. 8, 2016: http://sumida-flexcon.com/hp458/PANTA-FIX-CRIMP.htm.

(18) However, instead of the male or female plug contact, as is usual in the case of such a crimping strip, the sleeve 56 is presently provided (see. FIG. 6a). In the other region, crimping plates 58, 60 which are pressed into the flexible circuit board and thereafter are bent back according to FIG. 6a in order for the crimp-fit to be accomplished are provided. The crimping is performed under the effect of force, according to the arrows 62. The crimping strip is composed of a material which includes sheet metal and may be produced from a piece of sheet-metal.

(19) The connections described here are provided above all for the use in the construction of a control device for a vehicle transmission but can generally also always be established while using the method according to the invention whenever a flexible circuit board is to be electrically contacted with a metal contact outside said flexible circuit board.

(20) A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.