Method for connecting an electrical component to a component support, and device

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for connecting an electric component to an electrical component support and an electrical component for an electrical component support, in particular for a motor vehicle. According to the invention, an electric component is connected to an electrical component support which comprises a base part and an electrical conductor paths arranged therein. At least one electric contact connected to the electrical component is moved in the base part such that the electric contact is electrically connected to the conductor path. The invention also relates to two electric contacts which are connected to the electric components and which are connected, according to the claims, to two different conductor paths in the base part. Said electric components can comprise more than two electric contacts, which according to the claimed method, are connected to the conductor paths of the base part.

Claims

1. A method comprising: positioning an electrical component that defines a first opening and a first electrical contact in a component recess defined in a housing, wherein the housing comprises an insulating material and a first electrical conductor and the housing defines a first contact recess that extends between the component recess and the first electrical conductor, wherein the housing includes a first layer of insulating material between the first electrical conductor and the first contact recess; aligning the first opening with the first contact recess; inserting a first contact pin through the first opening and the first contact recess and penetrating the first layer of insulating material and the first electrical conductor thereby forming a first hole in the first electrical conductor and completing an electric circuit between the first electrical contact and the first electrical conductor.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the component recess is adapted to receive and hold the electrical component.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: aligning a second opening defined in the electrical component with a second contact recess defined in the housing, wherein the second contact recess extends between the component recess and a second layer of insulating material positioned between a second electrical conductor and the second contact recess.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first and second electrical conductors are spaced apart from each other.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first contact recess is not aligned with the second electrical conductor.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second contact recess is not aligned with the first electrical conductor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first contact pin has a widened head.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first contact pin is adapted to perform like a screw.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first electrical conductor includes a widened portion and a narrowed portion, wherein the widened portion is aligned with the first contact recess.

10. A system comprising: a housing comprising an insulating material and a first electrical conductor, wherein said housing defines a component recess and a first contact recess that extends between the component recess and said first electrical conductor, wherein said housing further comprises a first layer of insulating material between said first electrical conductor and the first contact recess; an electrical component comprising a first electrical contact, wherein said electrical component defines a first opening and wherein the component recess is adapted to receive and hold said electrical component; and a first contact pin adapted to be inserted through the first opening and the first contact recess and adapted to penetrate said first layer of insulating material and said first electrical conductor to form a hole in said first electrical conductor and to complete an electric circuit between said first electrical contact and said first electrical conductor.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said housing further comprises a second electrical conductor, wherein said housing also defines a second contact recess that extends between the component recess and said second electrical conductor, wherein said housing further comprises a second layer of insulating material between the second contact recess and said second electrical conductor, wherein said electrical component further comprises a second electrical contact and wherein said electrical component also defines a second opening, the system further comprising a second contact pin adapted to be inserted through the second opening and second first contact recess and adapted to penetrate said second layer of insulating material and said second electrical conductor to form a hole in said second electrical conductor and to complete an electric circuit between said second electrical contact and said second electrical conductor.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein said first contact pin is adapted to perform like a screw.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein said first electrical conductor includes a widened portion and a narrowed portion, wherein said widened portion is aligned with the first contact recess.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein said first contact pin has a widened head.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows an electrical component support with contacted microswitch;

(2) FIG. 2 shows a section through an electrical component support;

(3) FIG. 3 shows a top view onto conductor paths of the electrical component support;

(4) FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of a contact pin.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(5) FIG. 1 shows a sketched electrical component support. A base part or housing part 1 with two conductor paths 2 is shown in section. The conductor paths 2 are located completely in the base part 1, that is, the material, in particular an insulated plastic, completely surrounds the conductor paths 2. A completely surrounded conductor path 2 with receptacles or recesses for electrical components forms an electrical component support. The electrical component support can form a housing part of a lock at the same time. Not all areas of the base part 1 are shown in order to make the conductor paths 2 manufactured from a stamping part visible. A contact pin 3 (see FIG. 2) with a widened head 10 is inserted through a corresponding bore opening 6 of an electrical contact 4 of a microswitch 5, is subsequently inserted into a recess 7 in the base part that is shown in section in FIG. 2 and finally is struck into or screwed into a conductor path 2 through the material layer 8 of the base part 1 shown in section in FIG. 2. Then, only the material layer 8 lies closely and tightly on the contact pin 3. The electrical contact 4 of the microswitch 5 is therefore advantageously connected without soldering to the conductor path 2 located underneath it.

(6) Furthermore, a recess is provided in the base part 1 which recess is capable of receiving and holding the microswitch 5, as is shown.

(7) FIG. 2 illustrates that the end 9 of the contact pin 3 that was struck into the conductor path 2 tapers to a point.

(8) The section shown in FIG. 3 illustrates that the conductor paths 2 in the area of 11 of the contacting are widened in a rectangular manner in order to facilitate a contacting.

(9) Unused recesses 7 in the base part that have in particular the shape of a bore advantageously remain closed toward the associated conductor path 2. Therefore, a plurality of recesses or bores 7 can be readily made available in an advantageous manner, even if only a partial amount of the bores 7 are always used for different applications. This simplifies the manufacture and therefore reduces the manufacturing expense.

(10) FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of a contact pin that is typically a contact pin of an electromotor. The area with the tapered, pointed end 9 is moved into a base part in order to finally be connected to a conductor path in the base part. This lower area is separated by a flange 12 from an upper area 13. The circumference of the flange 12 runs in a polygonal manner in an advantageous embodiment, therefore, for example, with six corners. This cornered shape can be inserted into a corresponding cornered recess of a housing of an electrical component such as, for example, of an electromotor and therefore be held by a positive locking. The upper area 13 is preferably designed flat with a rectangular cross section in order to be held in a planar and clamping manner by electrical clamping contacts inside the electrical component. The planar connection ensures a good electrical contacting and a good hold. The polygonal flanges then ensures that the section with the rectangular cross section is appropriately aligned for a mounting. This also keeps the manufacturing cost low.

(11) The flange 12 can serve as a stop and/or seal in order to suitably limit the moving in of the lower range with the pointed end 9 into the base part. The flange 12 can be integrated in an electrical component so that the lower area with the pointed end 9 is run through a housing of the electrical component. The electrical contact pin 3 shown in FIG. 4 is then firmly connected to the electrical component or the electrical structural part.

(12) The hexagonal flange 12 can furthermore serve for the mounting if, for example, the contact pin 3 is designed as a screw or has a threading at least in areas. It is especially readily possible to introduce a torque into the contact pin via the flange 12. The lower area with the pointed end 9 preferably has a circular or quadratic or conical cross section.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(13) 1. Base part 2. Conductor path 3. Contact pin 4. Electrical contact of a microswitch 5. Microswitch 6. Bore in the electrical contact of the microswitch 7. Recess in the base part and running to the conductor path 8. Material layer at the end of the base part recess 9. Pointed end of a contact pin 10. Widened head of a contact pin 11. Widened conductor path area for a contacting 12. Flange 13. Upper area of a contact pin