HOUSING FOR ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS

Abstract

A system includes a housing of a printed circuit board arranged in the housing and at least one functional element, wherein the housing has at least one exchangeable side surface, wherein openings which correlate to electrical connections of the printed circuit board are provided in the at least one exchangeable side surface, and wherein the functional elements each pass through an opening in the side surface to the electrical connections of the printed circuit board assigned to them and are connected to said connections.

Claims

1. A system comprises a housing, a printed circuit board arranged in the housing and at least one functional element, wherein the housing has at least one changeable side, in that openings, which correlate to electrical connections of the printed circuit board, are provided in the at least one changeable side, in that the functional elements each extend through an opening in the side, to the electrical connections of the printed circuit board which are associated with them and are connected to said connections.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing has two to four changeable sides and at least two fixed sides.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein, at least two changeable sides have a different number of openings.

4. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fixed sides are arranged opposite each other.

5. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one changeable side of the housing has a fastening means fastener on the outside, with which the housing can be fastened to a top hat rail.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a respective groove, into which the printed circuit board can be slid or inserted, is incorporated in two opposite sides.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the functional elements have, on the connection side, a respective axial slot which extends over the electrical connection of the printed circuit board which is associated with said slot.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing and/or the at least one changeable side is made of aluminum.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing has a cuboidal form.

10. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board has a rectangular basic form, wherein the electrical connections for the functional elements are arranged at the edges of the printed circuit board.

11. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical connections each comprise a plurality of contact plates, which are each connected to at least one trace of the printed circuit board in an electrically conductive manner.

12. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the fixed sides are arranged opposite each other.

13. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein a respective groove, into which the printed circuit board can be slid or inserted, is incorporated in two opposite sides.

14. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the functional elements have, on the connection side, a respective axial slot which extends over the electrical connection of the printed circuit board which is associated with said slot.

15. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the housing and/or the at least one changeable side is made of aluminum.

16. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the housing has a cuboidal form.

17. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the printed circuit board has a rectangular basic form, wherein the electrical connections for the functional elements are arranged at the edges of the printed circuit board.

18. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the electrical connections each comprise a plurality of contact plates, which are each connected to at least one trace of the printed circuit board in an electrically conductive manner.

Description

EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

[0023] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and will be explained in more detail below. In the drawings:

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a perspective exploded drawing of an inventive system and

[0025] FIG. 2 shows a schematic plan view of a printed circuit board of the system.

[0026] The figures contain partially simplified, schematic illustrations. Identical reference signs are sometimes used for elements which are similar, but possibly not identical. Various views of similar elements may be drawn to different scales.

[0027] FIG. 1 shows an exploded drawing of an inventive system 1. The system 1 shown here consists of a housing 2, which has two fixed sides and four changeable sides 3, wherein three of these changeable sides 3, 3′, 3″ are shown spaced from the housing 2 for illustrative purposes.

[0028] A printed circuit board 4 is arranged in the housing 2. The printed circuit board 4 is slid into the housing 2 in the grooves 5 incorporated in two opposing side walls and held thereby. The changeable side walls 3, 3′ each contain a different number of openings 6. The openings 6 correlate to the electrical connections 7 associated therewith, which are provided circumferentially around the edges of the printed circuit board 4.

[0029] Functional elements 8 are connected to the electrical connections 7. The functional elements 8 comprise contact elements, which are not shown in the figures for illustrative reasons. The functional elements 8 each have a slot 9 on the connection side. The respective connection regions of the contact elements are positioned in this slot 9. As a result of sliding the printed circuit board 4 into the slot 9 of the functional element 8, the connection regions of the contact elements are brought into electrically conductive contact with the contact plates 11 of the respective electrical connections 7. Particularly simple assembly of the system 1 can thus be achieved. The functional elements 8 have circumferential seals, which protect the openings or the system against the penetration of media (water, dust, etc.).

[0030] A changeable side 3″ is equipped with a fastening means for a top hat rail 10 on the outside. The system, together with further components, can thus be lined up on a top hat rail 10. This is particularly advantageous in the case of large industrial plants or control cabinets.

[0031] A printed circuit board 4, which can be used for the inventive system 1, is shown in FIG. 2. The printed circuit board 4 has a rectangular—in this case even square—basic form. The printed circuit board 4 is divided substantially into three functional units 4a, 4b and 4c. The first functional unit 4a represents a communications interface. A data exchange of the system, for example with a superordinate system, is realized hereby. The second functional unit 4b of the printed circuit board 4 contains the essential elements of the system 1. This refers to a sensor circuit, for example. The printed circuit board 4 or the entire system 1 is supplied with the required energy (electric current) via the third functional unit 4c.

[0032] Electrical connections 7 for functional elements 8 are arranged at three edges of the printed circuit board 4. The electrical connections 7 each consist of a plurality of contact plates 11. These are each connected to at least one trace of the printed circuit board 4 (not shown for illustrative reasons) in an electrically conductive manner.

Housing For Electronic Components

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0033] 1 System

[0034] 2 Housing

[0035] 3 Changeable side

[0036] 4 Printed circuit board

[0037] 5 Groove

[0038] 6 Opening

[0039] 7 Electrical connection

[0040] 8 Functional element

[0041] 9 Slot

[0042] 10 Top hat rail

[0043] 11 Contact plate