ANCILLARY UNIT

Abstract

An ancillary unit of a motor vehicle, which may particularly be a massage device for a vehicle seat, includes an electrically conductive housing and a planar printed circuit board. A narrow side of the printed circuit board has an electrically conductive section, which is brought into electrical contact with the housing.

Claims

1. An ancillary unit of a motor vehicle, in particular a massage device of a vehicle seat, comprising an electrically conductive housing and comprising a flat printed circuit board arranged in the housing, wherein a narrow side of the printed circuit board has an electrically conductive section which is electrically contact-connected to the housing.

2. The ancillary unit of claim 1, wherein the housing has a hollow-cylindrical configuration and the printed circuit board is arranged perpendicularly in relation to the cylinder an axis of the hollow-cylindrical configuration.

3. The ancillary unit of claim 1 further comprising a cover arranged parallel in relation to the printed circuit board, wherein the cover at least partially engages and supports a front side of the printed circuit board.

4. The ancillary unit of claim 1, wherein the housing has an inwardly directed notch that engages and supports the printed circuit board.

5. The ancillary unit of claim 4, wherein the notch circumferentially encircles and engages the electrically conductive section.

6. The ancillary unit of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive section encircles an edge of the printed circuit board.

7. The ancillary unit of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive section is a coating.

8. The ancillary unit of claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board has an electrically conductive layer which is electrically contact-connected to the electrically conductive section.

9. The ancillary unit of claim 1, wherein printed circuit board has an electrical component which is electrically contact-connected to the electrically conductive section.

10. The ancillary unit of claim 1 further comprising an electric motor disposed within the housing, wherein the electric motor is electrically contact-connected to the printed circuit board.

11. (canceled)

12. The ancillary unit of claim 1, wherein the housing is a stamped-and-bent part.

13. The ancillary unit of claim 5, wherein a force-fitting connection is created between the electrically conductive section and the notch.

14. A massaging device for a vehicle seat comprising: an electrically conductive housing defining a cavity and an internal surface, wherein the housing is secured to the vehicle seat; and a printed circuit board disposed within the cavity, the printed circuit board having an electrically conductive outer peripheral surface that contacts and establishes and an electrical connection with the internal surface of the housing.

15. The massaging device of claim 14, wherein the housing is cylindrical in shape and extends along an axis, and wherein a front side of the printed circuit board is perpendicular to the axis.

16. The massaging device of claim 15 further comprising a cover that is at least partially disposed within the cavity, wherein the cover supports and engages the front side of the printed circuit board.

17. The massaging device of claim 16, wherein a press-fitting connection is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the printed circuit board and the internal surface of the housing.

18. The massaging device of claim 16 further comprising an electric motor disposed within the cavity, wherein the electric motor contacts and establishes an electrical connection with the printed circuit board.

19. The massaging device of claim 18, wherein the printed circuit board is disposed between the electric motor and the cover.

20. The massaging device of claim 14, wherein the housing has an inwardly directed notch that engages and supports the outer peripheral surface of the printed circuit board.

21. A vehicle seat having a massaging device, the massaging device having an electrically conductive housing and a printed circuit board disposed within the housing, the printed circuit board having an electrically conductive outer surface that contacts and establishes and an electrical connection with an internal surface of the housing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] An exemplary embodiment of the disclosure will be explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing, in which:

[0028] FIG. 1 shows, in a schematically simplified form, a vehicle seat comprising a massage device,

[0029] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the massage device, and

[0030] FIGS. 3 and 4 each show a perspective view of an exploded illustration of the massage device.

[0031] Parts which correspond to one another are provided with the same reference symbols throughout the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] As required, detailed embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary and that the embodiments described herein may take on other various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present disclosure.

[0033] FIG. 1 shows, in a schematically simplified form, a vehicle seat 2 of a motor vehicle, which vehicle seat comprises a sitting surface 4 and a backrest 6. An ancillary unit 8 in the form of a massage device is attached to the backrest 6 of the vehicle seat 2. The ancillary unit 8 is connected to a control unit 12 by a first signal line 10, which control unit is, in turn, connected to a switch 16 by a second signal line 14. When the switch 16 is operated by the user of the motor vehicle 2, the control unit 12 is activated and the massage device 8 is actuated by the control unit 12. In this process, the backrest 6 is moved in the region of the massage device 8, wherein, for example, the surface of the backrest 6 is periodically pushed out.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the ancillary unit 8. The ancillary unit 8 has a housing 18 which is of substantially hollow-cylindrical configuration and extends along a cylinder axis 20. The housing 18 is stamped out of an aluminum as a stamped-and-bent part, and for this reason the housing 18 is electrically conductive. The stamped piece is bent to form the hollow-cylindrical shape, wherein the cross section of the housing 18 is square perpendicular in relation to the cylinder axis 20. The corners of the square are rounded. The sides 22 of the stamped piece which are joined to one another during manufacture of the housing 18 have projections and corresponding recesses, so that the two sides 22 which are joined to one another interengage in an interlocking manner, this leading to a comparatively high stability of the housing 18.

[0035] The housing 18 further has an inwardly directed notch 24 which is arranged perpendicularly in relation to the cylinder axis 20 and is configured so as to encircle the housing 18. The notch 24 has a V-shaped cross section in a section parallel in relation to the cylinder axis 20. The inner and outer circumference of the housing 18 are reduced by the notch 24.

[0036] A cover 28 which is composed of a plastic and is created using an injection-molding process is pushed into one of the end sides 26 of the housing 18. In the process, the cover 28 is pushed into the housing 18 to a certain extent and closes the housing 18 on this side. In this region, the housing 18 has a number of slots 30 which run parallel in relation to the cylinder axis 20 and which extend as far as the position of the cover 28. The further end side 32 of the housing is covered by a second cover 34 which is created from the same material as the housing 18 by stamping. The second cover 34 has the same cross section as the housing 18 and completely closes the further end side 32. The second end side 32 has lugs 36 which project in the axial direction, which is parallel in relation to the cylinder axis 20, and project beyond the second cover 34. The second cover 34 has corresponding cutouts in these regions. The second cover 34 is fastened to the housing 18 by bending over the lugs 36. Here, each of the sides of the housing 18 comprises one of the total of four lugs 36 in each case.

[0037] FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 each show an exploded illustration of the ancillary unit 8, wherein the second cover 34 is fitted to the housing 18 in each case. An electric motor 38 is arranged between the cover 28 and the second cover 34 in the housing 18, a weight 42 being fastened in a rotationally fixed manner to the drive shaft 40 of said electric motor. The weight 42 is located on that side of the electric motor 38 which faces the second cover 34. The weight 42 is configured in the shape of a half-moon and therefore has an unbalance. Rotation of the weight 42 by the drive shaft 40 causes a shaking movement of the housing 18, this leading to a massage functionality of the ancillary unit 8 since the backrest 6 is rhythmically moved. In the assembled state, a play-fit or a press-fit is created between the electric motor 38 and the housing 18.

[0038] A printed circuit board 44 is positioned on that side of the electric motor 38 which is situated opposite the weight 42. The printed circuit board 44 is of flat configuration, wherein the plane of extent of the flat printed circuit board 44 is arranged perpendicularly in relation to the cylinder axis 20. In other words, the printed circuit board 44 is arranged perpendicularly in relation to the cylinder axis 20. Current is supplied to the electric motor 38 by the printed circuit board 44, and the electric motor 38 is electrically contact-connected to the printed circuit board 44, for example by a motor carrier which is not shown here. The printed circuit board 44 has a number of electrical and/or electronic components 46 which are fastened to a carrier 48 of the printed circuit board 44. The carrier 48 comprises an epoxy resin which is reinforced with glass fibers and to which conductor tracks 50 which are composed of copper are attached. The conductor tracks 50 are created from individual copper layers. Furthermore, a substantially intact layer 52 is embedded within the carrier 48, said layer being created substantially from a copper and extending substantially over the entire extent of the printed circuit board 44 perpendicularly in relation to the cylinder axis 20. The layer 52 is electrically contact-connected to an electrically conductive section 54 which is formed in a circumferentially encircling manner around the carrier 48 and therefore forms substantially all of the narrow sides 56 of the printed circuit board 44. The section 54 is created by coating the carrier 48 on the narrow side 56 of said carrier. At least one of the electrical and/or electronic components 46 is electrically contact-connected to the section 54 by one of the conductor tracks 50.

[0039] In the assembled state, an edge region of the front side 58 of the printed circuit board 44 bears against the cover 28 which is arranged substantially parallel in relation to the printed circuit board 44. There is a cutout 60 in a central region of the cover 28, so that the cover 28 is at a distance from the electrical and/or electronic components 46 which form the front side 58 in this region. The cover 28 itself has a plug connection (plug receptacle) 62 which is directed away from the printed circuit board 44. In the assembled state, the signal line 10 is fastened to the plug connection 62. Furthermore, the plug connection 62 comprises electrical contacts, not illustrated in any detail, which are electrically contact-connected to the printed circuit board 44, so that current is supplied to the printed circuit board 44 by the signal line 10. The printed circuit board 44 serves for interference suppression, for which reason interfering noise which is introduced into a possible electric current, so-called ripple which is produced, for example, on account of the operation of the electric motor 38, is not conducted to the control unit 12.

[0040] For assembly purposes, the printed circuit board 44 is pushed into the housing 18, wherein a play-fit is created between the housing 18 and the printed circuit board 44 in the region of the end side 26. In the assembled state, the printed circuit board 44 is pushed further into the housing 18 as far as the notch 24, so that the printed circuit board 44 bears mechanically directly against the inwardly directed notch 24. Here, a force-fitting connection is created between the encircling notch 24 and the section 54 which is configured in an encircling manner, this securely holding the printed circuit board 44. During assembly, the printed circuit board 44 is stabilized by the cover 28, so that damage to the printed circuit board 44 is precluded. On account of the section 54 bearing directly against the housing 18, said section and housing are electrically contact-connected to one another. Consequently, the housing 18 has the same electrical potential as the section 54 which is electrically contact-connected to the plug connection 62 of the cover 28 by a conductor track 50, not shown in any detail, of the printed circuit board 44. In the assembled state, this portion of the plug connection 62 is electrically contact-connected to ground of the motor vehicle, so that both the section 54, the layer 52, the housing 18 and the second cover 34 each have ground as the electrical potential. Consequently, the electric motor 38 and also the electrical and/or electronic components 46 which face the electric motor 38 are shielded, this increasing the electromagnetic compatibility (EMC).

[0041] In summary, the electromagnetic compatibility is increased in the ancillary unit 8, wherein the printed circuit board 44 and the housing 18 are electrically contact-connected without an additional connection technique, such as soldering for example. An electrical connection to the housing 18 is created by the electrically conductive section 54, which substantially constitutes the edge of the printed circuit board 44, by the notch 24. Therefore, the layer 52 and the housing 18 and also the second cover 34 form a completely closed shield.

[0042] The disclosure is not restricted to the exemplary embodiment described above. Rather, other embodiments may be derived by a person skilled in the art from said exemplary embodiment, without departing from the subject matter of the disclosure. In particular, all of the individual features described in connection with the exemplary embodiment may be further be combined with one another in a different way, without departing from the subject matter of the disclosure.

[0043] While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the disclosure. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0044] 2 Vehicle seat

[0045] 4 Sitting surface

[0046] 6 Backrest

[0047] 8 Ancillary unit

[0048] 10 First signal line

[0049] 12 Control unit

[0050] 14 Second signal line

[0051] 16 Switch

[0052] 18 Housing

[0053] 20 Cylinder axis

[0054] 22 Sides which are joined to one another

[0055] 24 Notch

[0056] 26 End side

[0057] 28 Cover

[0058] 30 Slot

[0059] 32 Further end side

[0060] 34 Second cover

[0061] 36 Lug

[0062] 38 Electric motor

[0063] 40 Drive shaft

[0064] 42 Weight

[0065] 44 Printed circuit board

[0066] 46 Electrical or electronic component

[0067] 48 Carrier

[0068] 50 Conductor track

[0069] 52 Layer

[0070] 54 Section

[0071] 56 Narrow side

[0072] 58 Front side

[0073] 60 Cutout

[0074] 62 Plug connection