Contacting device for the resilient contacting of a printed circuit board with a contact element for a solenoid or a sensor for a vehicle system, vehicle system with a contacting device and method for producing a contacting device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11715894-B2
Application number	US-201917279804-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 17, 2019
Priority date	Sep 28, 2018
Publication date	Aug 1, 2023
Grant date	Aug 1, 2023

Abstract

A contacting device for resiliently contacting a printed circuit board with a contact element for a solenoid or a sensor for a vehicle system, including a contacting apparatus, including: a helical spring element, which is formed such that it can be clamped in between the printed circuit board and the contact element; and a printed-circuit-board fastening element with a fastening surface and a centering surface opposite the fastening surface, wherein the fastening surface is formed such that it is fastened or can be fastened on the printed circuit board and, in an operating state of the contacting device, at least one portion of the centering surface is arranged so as to protrude into an interior-space portion of an interior space of the spring element in order to guide and/or to center the spring element. Also described are a related vehicle system, a method, a device, and a storage medium.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A contacting device for resiliently contacting a printed circuit board with a contact element for a solenoid or a sensor for a vehicle system, comprising:
a contacting apparatus, including:
a helical spring element, which is clampable between the printed circuit board and the contact element;
a printed-circuit-board fastening element with a fastening surface and a centering surface opposite the fastening surface, wherein the fastening surface is fastened or fastenable on the printed circuit board and, in an operating state of the contacting device, at least one portion of the centering surface is arranged to protrude into an interior-space portion of an interior space of the spring element to guide and/or to center the spring element; and
a pin element with a first end and an opposite second end, wherein the first end is fastened or fastenable on the contact element and the second end is arranged, in the operating state of the contacting device, to protrude into a further interior-space portion of the interior space of the spring element that is opposite the interior-space portion;
wherein the centering surface has an elevation or a convexity, which in the operating state protrudes into the interior-space portion, and
wherein the elevation or convexity of the printed-circuit-board fastening element extends in length over a length portion of a main length of the interior space, wherein the length portion is a fraction of a length of the main length within a range of tolerance of one to 20 percent in terms of a deviation, wherein the main length corresponds to a distance between the printed circuit board and the contact element, and wherein a center axis or longitudinal axis of the spring element extends perpendicularly to a main surface of the printed circuit board and a main surface of the contact element.

2. The contacting device of claim 1 , wherein the centering surface has an elevation or a convexity, which in the operating state protrudes into the interior-space portion.

3. The contacting device of claim 1 , wherein the printed-circuit-board fastening element takes the form of a hat or cap.

4. The contacting device of claim 1 , wherein the printed-circuit-board fastening element at least partially includes a metallic material.

5. The contacting device of claim 1 , wherein a first spring portion of the spring element has a first radius and a second spring portion of the spring element has a second radius, wherein the first radius is greater than the second radius.

6. The contacting device of claim 5 , wherein the second spring portion is arranged or is arrangeable to face the contact element, and the first spring portion is arranged or is arrangeable to face the printed circuit board.

7. The contacting device of claim 1 , wherein in the operating state of the contacting device, the printed-circuit-board fastening element includes a stop for a spring end of the spring element.

8. The contacting device of claim 1 , wherein the contact element includes a sensor and/or an actuator.

9. The contacting device of claim 1 , wherein the printed-circuit-board fastening element is fastened in a material-bonding manner on the printed circuit board and/or the spring element is fastened on the contact element.

10. A vehicle system, comprising:
a contacting device for resiliently contacting a printed circuit board with a contact element for a solenoid or a sensor, including a contacting apparatus, including:
a helical spring element, which is clampable between the printed circuit board and the contact element;
a printed-circuit-board fastening element with a fastening surface and a centering surface opposite the fastening surface, wherein the fastening surface is fastened or fastenable on the printed circuit board and, in an operating state of the contacting device, at least one portion of the centering surface is arranged to protrude into an interior-space portion of an interior space of the spring element to guide and/or to center the spring element; and
a pin element with a first end and an opposite second end, wherein the first end is fastened or fastenable on the contact element and the second end is arranged, in the operating state of the contacting device, to protrude into a further interior-space portion of the interior space of the spring element that is opposite the interior-space portion;
wherein the centering surface has an elevation or a convexity, which in the operating state protrudes into the interior-space portion, and
wherein the elevation or convexity of the printed-circuit-board fastening element extends in length over a length portion of a main length of the interior space, wherein the length portion is a fraction of a length of the main length within a range of tolerance of one to 20 percent in terms of a deviation, wherein the main length corresponds to a distance between the printed circuit board and the contact element, and wherein a center axis or longitudinal axis of the spring element extends perpendicularly to a main surface of the printed circuit board and a main surface of the contact element.

11. A method for producing a contacting device, the method comprising:
providing a helical spring element, which is clampable between a printed circuit board and a contact element, and a printed-circuit-board fastening element with a fastening surface and a centering surface opposite the fastening surface, wherein the fastening surface is fastened or fastenable on the printed circuit board;
arranging the spring element between the printed circuit board and the contact element, wherein at least one portion of the centering surface is arranged that, in an operating state of the contacting device, to protrude into an interior-space portion of an interior space of the spring element to guide and/or to center the spring element; and
a pin element with a first end and an opposite second end, wherein the first end is fastened or fastenable on the contact element and the second end is arranged, in the operating state of the contacting device, to protrude into a further interior-space portion of the interior space of the spring element that is opposite the interior-space portion;
wherein the contacting device is for resiliently contacting the printed circuit board with the contact element for the solenoid or the sensor, including a contacting apparatus, including the helical spring element and the printed-circuit-board fastening element, and wherein in an operating state of the contacting device, at least one portion of the centering surface is arranged to protrude into the interior-space portion of the interior space of the spring element to guide and/or to center the spring element;
wherein the centering surface has an elevation or a convexity, which in the operating state protrudes into the interior-space portion, and
wherein the elevation or convexity of the printed-circuit-board fastening element extends in length over a length portion of a main length of the interior space, wherein the length portion is a fraction of a length of the main length within a range of tolerance of one to 20 percent in terms of a deviation, wherein the main length corresponds to a distance between the printed circuit board and the contact element, and wherein a center axis or longitudinal axis of the spring element extends perpendicularly to a main surface of the printed circuit board and a main surface of the contact element.

12. A device for producing a contacting device, comprising:
a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having a computer program, which is executable by a processor, including a program code arrangement having program code for pro

Assignees

• Knorr Bremse Systeme Fuer Nutzfahrzeuge Gmbh

Inventors

• Herges Michael

Classifications

• H01R12/57 Primary

  surface mounting terminals · CPC title

• H01R12/7076

  for connection between PCB and component, e.g. display · CPC title

• H01R13/2421

  using coil springs · CPC title

• H05K5/0069

  having connector relating features for connecting the connector pins with the PCB or for mounting the connector body with the housing · CPC title

• H01R2201/26

  for vehicles · CPC title