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 method for contacting a contact surface on a flexible circuit board with a metal contact outside the flexible circuit board, the method comprising: mechanically coupling the flexible circuit board to an attachment piece, the attachment piece having a sleeve; receiving a press-fit pin at the sleeve, an internal surface of the sleeve having a conductive material or is formed by such a conductive material; electrically connecting the conductive material to the contact surface; and guiding a press-fit pin through the sleeve and a conduit in or on the metal contact.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: soldering the attachment piece in a region of a passage in the flexible circuit board to the latter; and guiding the press-fit pin through the attachment piece and the passage.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the attachment piece includes a metal sleeve.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the attachment piece includes a copper sleeve.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the attachment piece comprises a support for a rigid circuit board in which a through hole for forming the sleeve.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: laminating the attachment piece, by way of a sleeve, to the flexible circuit board in a region of a passage in the flexible circuit board; applying a metal coating to the attachment piece after the laminating.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the attachment piece includes a material.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the material comprises at least one high-temperature thermoplastic material, being at least one of, partially aromatic polyamide, polyphenylene sulfide, polyester sulfone.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the material comprises a thermosetting material, being at least one of a phenoplastic material or an epoxy.

10. A crimping part comprising: a first region comprising a tongue, the tongue including at least one crimping plate; and a second region defining a passage for receiving a press-fit pin.

11. A connection, first, of flexible circuit board with, second, a metal contact, established with the aid of a press-fit pin as part of the connection.

12. The connection of claim 11, wherein the metal contact is a metal contact of a stamped plate.

13. A control device for a motor vehicle, the control device comprising: first, of flexible circuit board; second, a metal contact of a stamped plate; a press-fit pin; and a connection first, of the flexible circuit board with, second, the metal contact, established by way of the press-fit pin.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a section through an exemplary connection of a type where a copper sleeve is soldered to the flexible circuit board.

[0023] FIG. 2 shows the section II from FIG. 1 in an enlargement, illustrating the construction of the flexible circuit board.

[0024] 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.

[0025] 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).

[0026] 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.

[0027] FIG. 6a shows a perspective view of an exemplary crimping strip.

[0028] FIG. 6b shows a perspective view of the exemplary crimping strip from FIG. 6a after being crimped to the flexible circuit board.

[0029] Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] 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.

[0031] 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.

[0032] 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.

[0033] The through hole 44 establishes the connection between the soft solder 22 and the head 32 of the press-fit pin 30.

[0034] 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.

[0035] 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.

[0036] 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.

[0037] 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.

[0038] 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.

[0039] 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.

[0040] 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.

[0041] 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.