Base plate, electronic component, and method

Abstract

A base plate for an electronic component, in particular an electronic relay, has a plate-shaped base body, in particular made of plastic, and at least one electrical contact. The electrical contact fully extends through the base body. At one end the electrical contact forms an electrical terminal of the electronic component, in particular of the relay. At another end the electrical contact has an electrically conductive connection section which can be connected to a circuit board without soldering, in particular by being pressed into the circuit board, to form a permanent electrical connection.

Claims

1. A base plate for an electronic component, comprising: a plate-shaped base body; and an electrical contact, wherein the electrical contact extends through the base body, wherein one end of the electrical contact forms an electrical terminal of the electronic component, wherein another end of the electrical contact has an electrically conductive connection section configured to be connected to a circuit board to form a permanent electrical connection without soldering, and wherein the electrical contact or the base body has a force-receiving section which extends at a right angle to the connection section.

2. The base plate as in claim 1, wherein the plate-shaped base body is made of plastic.

3. The base plate as in claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive connection section is configured to be pressed into the circuit board.

4. The base plate as in claim 1, wherein the connecting section extends, at least in some areas, essentially parallel to a flat side of the base body.

5. The base plate as in claim 1, wherein the force-receiving section extends between the base body and the connecting section.

6. The base plate as in claim 1, wherein the electrical contact is a substantially plate-shaped rod, the force-receiving section being formed by a narrow edge of the rod or as a notch.

7. An electronic component, comprising: the base plate as in claim 1; and a circuit board, the base plate and circuit board being arranged with respect to one another such that a flat side of the base body of the base plate and a flat side of the base body of the circuit board are essentially extending at right angles to one another, wherein the circuit board comprises at least one contact point into which the connecting section of the contact of the base plate is pressed.

8. The electronic component as in claim 7, wherein the electronic component is an electronic relay.

9. The electronic component as in claim 7, wherein the contact point is a bore or a slot.

10. The electronic component as in claim 9, wherein an inside of the bore or the slot is coated with an electrically conductive metal.

11. A method for electrically and mechanically connecting the base plate and the circuit board of the electronic component as in claim 7, comprising: arranging the base bodies of the base plate and the circuit board by a positioning device such that they are aligned at a right angle to one another and such that the connecting section of the contact of the base plate is positioned over the contact point of the circuit board so that the connecting section and contact point are aligned; exerting, by a pressing device, a force on the force-receiving section of the base plate or the contact in the direction of the circuit board; and pressing the connecting section into the contact point to form a solder-free electrical connection between the connecting section and the contact point in a single step and mechanically fix the base plate to the circuit board.

12. The method as in claim 11, wherein the pressing device has a pressing section which is brought into engagement with the force-receiving section during the pressing.

13. A base plate for an electronic component, comprising: a plate-shaped base body made of plastic; and an angled electrical contact, wherein the angled electrical contact extends through the base body, wherein one end of the angled electrical contact forms an electrical terminal of the electronic component, wherein another end of the electrical contact has an electrically conductive connection section configured to be pressed into a circuit board to form a permanent electrical connection without soldering, wherein the connection section and the electrical terminal are arranged perpendicular to each other, wherein the connecting section extends, at least in parts, parallel to a flat side of the base body, and wherein the angled electrical contact includes a force-receiving section which extends between the base body and the connecting section and which is arranged perpendicular to the connecting section.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a base plate according to a first embodiment in a perspective view with released contacts.

(2) FIG. 2 shows the base plate according to FIG. 1 in different side views.

(3) FIG. 3 shows the base plate according to FIG. 1 in a perspective view with fixed contacts.

(4) FIG. 4 shows a base plate according to a second embodiment in a perspective view with released contacts.

(5) FIG. 5 shows the base plate according to FIG. 4 in different side views.

(6) FIG. 6 shows the base plate according to FIG. 4 in a perspective view with fixed contacts.

(7) FIG. 7 shows the base plate according to FIG. 4 in view from below with fixed contacts.

(8) FIG. 8 shows a press-fit system in a perspective exploded view.

(9) FIG. 9 shows the press-fit system according to FIG. 8 in a side pressed view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) With reference to the following figures, it should be noted that the same reference symbols denote the same elements in different embodiments. Furthermore, for the sake of better recognition, not all of the same elements are provided with reference symbols. Rather, the elements provided with reference symbols in the figures have been designated as representative of the other identical elements contained in the figure. This applies in particular to the elements “contact,” “receiving slot,” “connecting section,” “force-receiving section,” “terminal,” and “pin”. However, the same elements are readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

(11) FIG. 1 shows a base plate 1 according to a first embodiment. The base plate 1 has a base body 2 and nine contacts 3.

(12) The bottom plate 1 is shown with released contacts 3 which are inserted at different depths into receiving slots 4 formed in the bottom plate 1. The base body 1 has a separate slot 4 for each contact 3. The base body 1 has a substantially rectangular circumference with rounded corners. It is formed from an electrically insulating material in the form of plastic and also serves to relieve strain on the contacts 3.

(13) The contacts 3 are designed as angled metal plates. They are preferably made of copper-plated and tin-plated steel.

(14) Each contact 3 is designed at one end as an electrical terminal 5, 6, 7 for a relay according to the invention. The terminals 5 are designed as 2.8 mm connections. The terminal 6 is designed as a 6.3 mm connector. The terminal 7 is designed as a 9.5 mm connection.

(15) At the other end, each contact 3 has a connecting section 8. The connecting sections 8 extend at a right angle to the respective terminal 5, 6, 7 of the contact 3.

(16) At least one force-receiving section 9 is formed between the end 5, 6, 7 of the contact 3, designed as a terminal, and the connecting section 8. When the method is carried out as intended, at least one press punch is brought into engagement with at least one force-receiving section 9. The press punch then transmits a force perpendicular to the respective force-receiving section 9 and in the direction in which the pins 10 extend.

(17) Each of the connecting sections 8 has at least one pin 10 for connection to a contact point on the circuit board. The number of pins is determined by the current-carrying capacity that the contacts should provide. As illustrated, five of the contacts 3 have two pins 10 and four of the contacts 3 have one pin 10. In addition to the pins 10, the connecting sections 8 have a web 11 and/or at least one contact edge 12 for the electrical connection to the printed circuit board. The webs 11 and contact edges 12 also serve to fix the contact 3 on the base body 2.

(18) FIG. 2 shows the base plate 1 in two different side views. The contacts 3 are shown here in the fixed state. In this fixed state, the contacts 3 are pressed into the circuit board. For this purpose, the press punches are brought into engagement with the force-receiving sections 9 and a pressing force is transmitted in the pressing direction A perpendicular to the force-receiving section sections 9.

(19) Furthermore, FIG. 2 shows the terminals 5 (2.8 mm), terminals 6 (6.3 mm) and terminals 7 (9.5 mm) formed with different dimensions. Overall, the base plate 1 has two 9.5 mm connection plugs, three 6.3 mm connection plugs and four 2.3 mm connection plugs.

(20) FIG. 3 shows the base plate 1 in a perspective view. In the illustration of the base plate shown, the contacts 3 are in the fixed state on the base body.

(21) As shown, the force-receiving sections 9 extend between the base body 2 and the respective connecting section 8 in this state.

(22) The force-receiving sections 9 each extend at right angles to the respective connecting section 8. The force-receiving sections 9 are each formed by the narrow edges of the plate-shaped contacts 3.

(23) FIGS. 4 to 7 show a base plate 1 according to a second embodiment. The base plate 1 has a base body 2 and nine contacts 3. The embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 3 on the one hand and FIGS. 4 to 6 on the other hand differ only in the design of the terminals 5, 6, 7 of the respective contacts 3, their arrangement and the associated features. The basic structure, however, is the same. The features of the various embodiments can therefore be easily transferred to one another and/or combined with one another.

(24) FIG. 4 shows the base plate 1 with released contacts 3 which are illustrated inserted at different depths into receiving slots 4 formed in the base body 2. Each contact 3 is designed at one end as an electrical terminal 5, 6 for a relay according to the invention. The terminals 5 are designed as 2.8 mm connections. The terminal 6 is designed as a 6.3 mm connector. In contrast to the embodiment according to FIG. 1, no terminal 7 with a 9.5 mm connection is provided.

(25) FIG. 5 shows the base plate 1 according to FIG. 4 in two different side views. The contacts 3 are shown here in the fixed state. In this fixed state, the contacts 3 are pressed into the circuit board. For this purpose, the press punches are brought into engagement with the force-receiving sections 9 and a pressing force is transmitted in the pressing direction A perpendicular to the force-receiving section sections 9.

(26) Furthermore, the terminals 5 (2.8 mm) and terminals 6 (6.3 mm) formed with different dimensions can be seen in FIG. 5.

(27) In FIG. 6, the contacts 3 are also shown in the fixed state, in which the contacts 3 are immovably connected to the base body 2. The base body 2 has a separate slot 4 for each contact 3. The base body 2 has a substantially rectangular circumference with rounded corners. It is made of an electrically insulating material in the form of plastic.

(28) Each of the connecting sections 8 has at least one pin 10 for the respective connection to a contact point on the circuit board.

(29) FIG. 7 shows the base plate 1 in a view from below with a view of the ends of the contacts 3 designed as terminals 5, 6. In total, the base plate has five 6.3 mm terminals and four 2.3 mm terminals.

(30) In FIGS. 8 and 9, a press-fit system according to the invention for carrying out the press-fit method according to the invention is shown. FIG. 8 shows the components of the system in an exploded view. FIG. 9 shows the system in the pressed-in state.

(31) The base body 2 and the contacts 3, which together form the base plate 1, can be seen.

(32) A printed circuit board 13 is also shown. The printed circuit board 13 has a plurality of contact points in the form of holes 14. The holes 14 can at least partially be designed as bores. The pins 10 are pressed into the holes 14. Each hole 14 receives a pin 10 in the pressed-in state. The holes 14 are positioned in the printed circuit board 13 in a manner corresponding to the arrangement of the pins 10 in the fixed state.

(33) The holes 14 have a conductive material such as copper, nickel, silver, gold or the like on the inside. The holes 14 may in particular be coated on the inside with copper. This serves, on the one hand, for the electrical connection of circuit board 13 and base plate 1. Furthermore, while the pins 10 are pressed in, part of the copper coating is removed by the pressing force acting on the contacts 3, whereby a mechanical clamping connection, in particular a force-fit connection, between hole 14 and pin 10 is created.

(34) A first pressing device 15 can also be seen. The first pressing device 15 has a device 16 for receiving the printed circuit board 13. The device 16 is formed from two holders 17 arranged parallel to one another. Each holder 17 has a fastening web 18 on both ends. The fastening webs 18 of a holder 17 have an arc-shaped contour on their mutually facing side 19. The contour is convex.

(35) Corresponding to the convex contour of the sides 19, a total of four circular arc-shaped concave recesses 21 are formed in the circumferential edge 20 of the circuit board 13. The printed circuit board 13 can be inserted into the device 16 in such a way that a respective fastening web 18 engages with its convex side 19 in a concave recess 21.

(36) In addition, a second pressing device 22 is shown. The pressing device 22 is brought into engagement with the base plate 1 in order to press the contacts 3 into the circuit board 13. For this purpose, the pressing device 22 has a continuous pressing section 23. The topography of the pressing section 23 is matched to the number, arrangement, and shape of the contacts 3. The pressing section 23 thereby has sub-sections 24 which are brought into engagement with the force-receiving sections 9 during the pressing-in, in order to transmit a pressing force from the pressing device 22 to the base plate 1. Each subsection 56 forms a press punch in this embodiment.

(37) In addition, it can be provided that pressing force is transmitted directly to the base body 2 by means of a further sub-section of the pressing section 23. For this purpose, the subsection is brought into engagement in sections with one of the two edges 25, 26 of the base body 2, which edges are arranged one above the other in a stepped manner.

(38) The pressing device 22 may be designed as a one-piece molded part. It can in principle be made of plastic and/or metal. It may be made of metal. The pressing device 22 ensures that the pressing force is distributed particularly evenly to the base plate 1 and in particular to the contacts 3. Damage to the base plate 1, the contacts 3 and the circuit board 13 is therefore prevented.

(39) The pressing device 22 also has two guide elements 27, 28 on the holder side. The guide elements 27, 28 are designed as rectangular projections in the pressing device 22. As intended, they serve as a centering aid and/or as an end stop during press fitting. For this purpose, they interact with one of the holders 17 in such a way that a guide element 27, 28 is guided along a fastening web 18. In the pressed-in state, the guide elements 27, 28 are in direct contact with a plate section 29 running at right angles to the fastening webs 18. In this state, they act as spacers and mark the end point of the pressing path. The guide elements 27, 28 thus ensure that the circuit board 13 is not damaged.

(40) In addition, the plate section 29 can be designed in such a way that corresponding bores are formed below the position of the pins 10 in the pressed-in state, so that the pins 10 can penetrate there during and after the press-in process or have space and the force around the bore is absorbed can and thus the circuit board 13 is not damaged.

(41) At the end of the press-in process, the base plate 1 and the circuit board 13 are connected to one another in such a way that their mutually facing surfaces extend at an angle of 90° to one another.

(42) The two embodiments serve only to illustrate the invention. This expressly does not exclude other embodiments. In particular, the invention is not restricted to the use of standard dimensions for connector plugs. Rather, instead of the standardized designs with cross-sectional lengths of 2.8 mm, 6.3 mm or 9.5 mm, it is also possible to provide dimensions that differ from this, such as 2 mm, 6 mm or 10 mm. In the context of the invention, terminals with cross-sectional lengths between 1 mm and 12 mm are therefore possible in principle.

(43) While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the disclosed or illustrated embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover numerous other modifications, substitutions, variations and broad equivalent arrangements that are included within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

(44) The words “example” and “exemplary” as used herein mean serving as an instance or illustration. Any embodiment or design described herein as “example” or “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs. Rather, use of the word example or exemplary is intended to present concepts in a concrete fashion. As used in this application, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or”. That is, unless specified otherwise or clear from context, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any of the foregoing instances. In addition, the articles “a” and “an” as used in this application and the appended claims should generally be construed to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form.