PLUG HOUSING FOR A SENSOR DEVICE AND PLUG MODULE

Abstract

A plug module includes a sensor device and a plug housing, the plug housing including a socket, an inner side of which includes a receptacle area for accommodating the sensor device, and a cover that is connected to the socket with the aid of a fastening device, where a plurality of electrically conductive straight contact pins are introduced into the cover in such a way that (a) particular first ends of the contact pins protrude into an internal volume of the plug housing and are situated above the receptacle area of the socket, and (b) particular second ends of the contact pins are situated in the area of a connector of the cover.

Claims

1-12. (canceled)

13. A plug module comprising: a plug housing including: a socket, an inner side of which includes a receptacle area; a sensor device situated in the receptacle area of the socket; and a cover connected to the socket with the aid of a fastening device; wherein: the fastening device is a locking device that includes elastic latching tabs, situated on a circumferential edge formed on a side of the cover facing the socket, and corresponding detents that are situated on the socket and with which the respective elastic latching tabs engage; and a plurality of electrically conductive and elastic straight contact pins are situated at a predetermined lateral distance from each other, are pressed onto and directly contact particular electrical contact surfaces of the sensor device, and are arranged in the cover in such a way that: particular first ends of the contact pins protrude into an internal volume of the plug housing and are situated above the receptacle area of the socket; and particular second ends of the contact pins are situated in an area of a connector of the cover.

14. The plug module of claim 13, wherein the plurality of electrically conductive contact pins are configured to electrically connect, to the sensor device and via their respectively corresponding electrical contact surfaces, a plug that is connectable to the connector.

15. The plug module of claim 13, wherein the sensor device is designed for measuring a pressure and is adhesively bonded to the socket in a pressure-resistant and air-tight manner, and a pressure feed of the sensor device is situated on an underside of the sensor device adjacent to the socket.

16. The plug module of claim 13, wherein a temperature sensor is connected to the sensor device, is formed by a thermistor, is extrusion coated with plastic, is installed in the socket and hot-caulked, includes a plurality of electrically conductive contact bows that contact corresponding ones of the electrical contact surfaces of the sensor device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a plug housing according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the plug housing including an installed sensor device and a connected temperature sensor according to the example embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a temperature sensor module of the plug housing according to the example embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a cover of the plug housing according to the example embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a plug housing according to an example embodiment of the present invention. Plug housing 1 for sensor device 10 includes a socket 12 and a cover 14, which is connected to the socket 12 with the aid of a fastening device 16. Cover 14 also includes a connector 20 for connecting a plug. Fastening device 16 is preferably formed as a locking device. Alternatively, fastening device 16 may also be formed, for example, as a clamping device.

[0034] A plug connectable to connector 20 is electrically connected to sensor device 10 via a plurality of electrically conductive contact pins 18 (not shown in FIG. 1) and their particularly assigned electrical contacts 10a.

[0035] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the plug housing including an installed sensor device and a connected temperature sensor according to an example embodiment of the present invention. Socket 12 has a receptacle area 12b on an inner side 12a for accommodating sensor device 10. Sensor device 10 is preferably adhesively bonded to socket 12 in receptacle area 12b. Alternatively, sensor device 10 may also be attached to socket 12 in another suitable manner.

[0036] Furthermore, a detent 16c of fastening device 16 is shown in the area of one side wall of socket 12. In the present exemplary embodiment, fastening device 16 includes elastic latching tabs 16a (not shown in FIG. 2) situated on cover 14, which engage with assigned detents 16c situated on socket 12. Furthermore, temperature sensor module 25 is inserted into socket 12. Temperature sensor module 25 includes a temperature sensor 22 (not shown in FIG. 2). Sensor device 10 is contacted by temperature sensor 22 via a pair of electrically conductive contact bows 24 which are integrated into temperature sensor module 25.

[0037] Sensor device 10 is designed for measuring a pressure, is adhesively bonded to socket 12 in a pressure-resistant and air-tight manner, and a pressure feed of sensor device 10 is preferably situated on an underside of sensor device 10 adjacent to socket 12.

[0038] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a temperature sensor module of the plug housing according to an example embodiment of the present invention. Temperature sensor module 25 includes temperature sensor 22, which is preferably designed as a thermistor or NTC thermistor.

[0039] Temperature sensor 22 is extrusion coated with plastic. Temperature sensor module 25 also has contact bows 24 for the contacting of sensor device 10. Temperature sensor module 25 may thus be inserted into socket 12 and fastened by hot caulking.

[0040] The medium separation necessary for the passage of temperature sensor 22 through socket 12 preferably takes place via a tight extrusion coating of the contacts of temperature sensor 22 in the temperature sensor module and the adhesive bonding of the temperature sensor module into socket 12. Alternatively, the direct connection of temperature sensor 22 on a rear side of temperature sensor module 25 is possible. In this case, temperature sensor 22 is inserted into socket 12 from above, and subsequent contacting onto the particular contacts of sensor device 10 takes place without previous extrusion coating of the temperature sensor. The contacting of the contacts of sensor device 10 by temperature sensor 22 is preferably carried out by soldering. Alternatively, the contacting may also be carried out by welding or by conductive adhesive.

[0041] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a cover of the plug housing according to an example embodiment of the present invention. According to the present specific example embodiment, cover 14 includes three contact pins 18, which are injected into cover 14, are situated in a predetermined lateral distance in parallel to one another and are elastic. The locking device situated on cover 14 has a plurality of elastic latching tabs 16a, which are situated on a circumferential edge 14c formed on a side of cover 14 facing socket 12.

[0042] Although the present invention was described above based on preferred exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto, but instead may be modified in a variety of ways. In particular, the present invention may be diversely changed or modified without departing from the core of the present invention.

[0043] According to the preferred specific embodiments of the present invention, a digital variant of the sensor device was described in the form of a pressure sensor. Alternatively, an analog variant of sensor device 10 may also be provided. For implementing the analog pressure sensor variant the analog NTC signal is, for example, routed directly outwards onto the plug. This electrical connection of the NTC signal may be implemented either via a pad designed for this purpose on a contacting side of sensor device 10, which makes contact with the plug pin or contact pin possible, or a direct connection of the NTC contact on the plug pin by, for example, welding, soldering, an insulation displacement connection or conductive adhesive.