Electrical connectors – Preformed panel circuit arrangement – e.g. – pcb – icm – dip,... – Within distinct housing spaced from panel circuit arrangement
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-16
2001-10-16
Sircus, Brian (Department: 2831)
Electrical connectors
Preformed panel circuit arrangement, e.g., pcb, icm, dip,...
Within distinct housing spaced from panel circuit arrangement
C439S188000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302707
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an electric circuit provided with a housing. An externally accessible plug-in connector element is fitted to the electric circuit. More specifically, the invention relates to a control device for motor vehicles, in particular a control device for an occupant protection system of a motor vehicle.
Published Non-Prosecuted German Patent Application DE 44 36 547 A1 discloses a circuit with a housing. A plug-in connector element is provided on a housing side wall. The plug-in connector has a plug-in chamber in which there is a plurality of contact pins disposed in different vertical positions. At their rear side, these contact pins are connected to corresponding connections on the internal printed circuit board.
German Utility Model DE 91 09 488 U1 describes an electric plug-in connector in whose housing there are two parallel rows of contact chambers located next to one another. Provided in one row of contact chambers are contact elements, while short-circuit interrupter elements are provided in the other row of contact chambers.
With the prior art devices, if the number of contact pins is increased, the overall size of the device must be increased, which disadvantageously requires additional mounting space.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an electric circuit configuration which overcomes the abovementioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known configurations of this general type which has a housing, a large number of contact elements and short-circuit interrupters and which has a low overall height and which can be easily mounted.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, an electric circuit configuration, including:
a housing;
an electric circuit, preferably a motor vehicle control device, including a printed circuit board provided in the housing;
the printed circuit board carrying circuit elements and defining a printed circuit board plane;
a plug-in connector element provided at the housing and having a plurality of contact elements disposed in at least one first row;
the plug-in connector element having a wall bounding a plug-in chamber open to an exterior, the wall including a rear wall, and the wall extending downward, below the printed circuit board plane;
the plug-in connector element having short-circuit interrupters disposed at respective interrupter positions at the rear wall;
the short-circuit interrupters being configured as electrically non-conductive pins integrally formed with the rear wall, or alternatively, the short-circuit interrupters being configured as at least one continuous web formed from material of the wall, the at least one continuous web covering at least two of the respective interrupter positions at the rear wall;
the short-circuit interrupters being disposed in a second row, none of the contact elements being disposed in the second row; and
the second row being disposed beneath the at least one first row and being closer to the printed circuit board plane than the at least one first row.
In the circuit according to the invention, the plug-in connector element has been enlarged, and thus also makes use of that installation space which is available at the side underneath the level of the printed circuit board. This provides an enlarged plug-in chamber, which can accommodate an increased number of contact elements and/or short-circuit interrupters, without the total overall height of the housing, and hence of the circuit (for example the control device), being enlarged. It is therefore possible for the external dimensions of the circuit to be maintained in spite of the increase in the contact options, so that no enlarged mounting space has to be provided.
In the plug-in connector element, that row which is located closest to the printed circuit board (on, above or beneath the printed circuit board plane) is fully occupied by short-circuit interrupters, so that no contact elements are provided in this row. This simplifies the wiring to the printed circuit board, since the contact elements to be wired are located considerably above the printed circuit board plane and can be connected to the printed circuit board by curved connecting wires. By contrast, the short-circuit interrupters do not need any kind of wiring, so that their close physical proximity to the printed circuit board plane does not cause any wiring problems. In spite of the provision of an additional row of pins (short-circuit interrupters) in the plug, the wiring problems are consequently not increased, in particular with regard to routing the connecting wires in different vertical positions.
There are preferably three parallel rows in the plug, all the short-circuit interrupters being provided in the lowest row, located closest to the printed circuit board, and the two other parallel rows being fully occupied by contact elements (contact pins or contact sockets), so that a wiring with a high density and a large number of contacts in a small space results.
The contact elements can be connected to the printed circuit board connections by flexible conductors, but are preferably connected to the printed circuit board by stiff connecting wires, in particular bent wires. By soldering the connecting wires to the printed circuit board, the plug-in connector element is not only connected electrically but at the same time also supported mechanically.
The short-circuit interrupters are formed by electrically non-conductive pins or webs formed of plug-in connection wall material. If a number or all of the short-circuit interrupters are formed by a web, which can be inserted into a corresponding receiving opening in the mating plug, it is possible there for a plurality of short-circuit links to be opened at the same time. In the case of this embodiment, the short-circuit interrupters are distinguished by high mechanical strength and are thus well protected against damage, undesired deformation or the like.
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in an electric circuit provided with a plug-in connector, in particular a control device for motor vehicles, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4115665 (1978-09-01), Giacoppo et al.
patent: 4993956 (1991-02-01), Pickles et al.
patent: 5040994 (1991-08-01), Nakamoto et al.
patent: 5283712 (1994-02-01), Michihira et al.
patent: 5286920 (1994-02-01), Fassel et al.
patent: 5353185 (1994-10-01), Bodkin
patent: 5890917 (1999-04-01), Ishida et al.
patent: 5934913 (1999-10-01), Kodama
patent: 6002563 (1999-12-01), Esakoff et al.
patent: 6086411 (2000-07-01), Shinozaki
patent: 39 02 230 A1 (1990-08-01), None
patent: 39 09 912 A1 (1990-09-01), None
patent: 91 09 488.7 (1991-10-01), None
patent: 41 13 710 C1 (1992-08-01), None
patent: 91 12 178.7 (1992-08-01), None
patent: 41 40 692 A1 (1993-06-01), None
patent: 44 36 547 A1 (1996-04-01), None
Dirmeyer Josef
Kolar Robert
Lehnst Thomas
Probst Heinrich
Duverne J. F.
Greenberg Laurence A.
Lerner Herbert L.
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Sircus Brian
LandOfFree
Electric circuit provided with a plug-in connector, in... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Electric circuit provided with a plug-in connector, in..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Electric circuit provided with a plug-in connector, in... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2563078