Electrical connectors – Metallic connector or contact having movable or resilient... – Spring actuated or resilient securing part
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-22
2003-03-25
Field, Lynn (Department: 2839)
Electrical connectors
Metallic connector or contact having movable or resilient...
Spring actuated or resilient securing part
C439S862000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06537111
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a contact plug that enables the electrical connection of a plug-in terminal and an electronic component. More particularly, the present invention relates to an electric contact plug for connecting a type of tip jack input device to an external electronic circuit.
This type of electric contact plug is frequently used in application environments that are exposed to relatively high vibration levels, as, for example, in a motor vehicle. Since the connection principle for this type of electric contact plug is based on a clamping effect between the electric contact plug and the input device, relative movement may occur between the electric contact plug and the input device, depending on the force of the vibrations. As a result, this relative movement can cause undesirable wear and/or corrosion of both the contact plug and the input device.
Therefore, it is desirable for an electric contact plug used in a motor vehicle to avoid the problems of friction wear and corrosion, and yet be simple and economical to manufacture. Furthermore, it is desirable to configure such an electric contact plug in a single unit, and it should also be compatible with thick-wire bonding techniques, which are becoming ever more popular in automotive technology.
A process and apparatus for a prior art type of connection device is disclosed in European patent documents EP 0 794 847 B1 and EP 0 649 701 A1, which are incorporated herein by reference. A miniature tip jack that is free of frictional corrosion is disclosed in EP 0 794 847 B1. This tip jack, however, is expensive to produce, because of its relatively complicated configuration, and its high cost. Moreover, this prior art tip jack cannot be used for thick-wire bonding.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to configure an electric contact plug that avoids the aforementioned friction and corrosion problems, that is compatible with thick-wire bonding applications, and that can be produced easily and economically.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This object is attained through an inventive embodiment of an electric contact plug, which receives a tip jack input at a first end, and routes this electrical connection to an electronic component, such as a printed circuit board, at a second end. The inventive electric contact plug comprises:
a) a plug-in zone at the first end, located within an L-shaped area of the electric contact plug, and having receiving tongues for receiving the tip jack,
b) a connection zone at the second end, having a bonding pad for connecting to the electronic component,
c) an intermediate zone, connected between the plug-in zone and the connection zone, wherein the intermediate zone comprises at least one form-changing area, having less resistance to form change than other areas of the intermediate zone, which enables the plug-in zone to move in a plug-in direction, as the intermediate zone is deformed.
Thus, when vibrations occur, as in a motor vehicle, the tip jack is held securely within the tongues of the plug-in zone, while the intermediate zone form-changing area(s) allow for movement to compensate for any vibrational stresses. As a result, deterioration of the plug-in zone is avoided by eliminating friction between the tip jack and the receiving tongues of the plug-in zone.
The expression “resistance to form changes” shall hereinafter designate a material characteristic that is essentially inversely proportional to the elasticity of the material.
The purpose of the essentially L-shaped form of the electric contact plug, as well as the location of the plug-in zone in this L-shaped area, is to achieve an especially compact structure. The expression “L-shaped” shall include in this context, not only an exact right angle between the legs of the L-shaped area, but also minor deviations from a right angle.
The inventive electric contact plug can be used to special advantage for the connection of electrical/mechanical components, such as pressure sensors and solenoid valves, to an electronic control system. In a preferred application of the invention, such electrical/mechanical components are installed in an electronic control apparatus, together with the electronic control system. Due to the deformability of the inventive electric contact plug, tolerances can be compensated for during the manufacture and assembly of the electronic control apparatus.
In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the entire plug-in zone is located in one leg of an L-shaped area, while the other leg functions as a bending beam, as is known in the mechanical technology art.
The problems of frictional wear and frictional corrosion are avoided in the inventive electric contact plug, as a result of the deformability of the intermediate zone. This deformability allows a limited movement of the plug-in zone, relative to the connection zone, so that smaller movements of the PLUG IN connection, as might be caused by vibrations, are eliminated through the compensating action of the intermediate zone. To this end, at least one form-changing area, with a lower resistance to form change than other areas of the intermediate zone, is included within the intermediate zone. As a result, the deformation of the intermediate zone takes place at a defined location, in the manner of an articulation.
In an advantageous further development of the invention, a second form-changing area, with reduced resistance to form change, is also included within the intermediate zone. This is done so that the preferred form changes of both the first and second form-changing areas take place along parallel axes. The advantage over a single form-changing area is that pivoting of the plug-in zone, when subject to vibrations, can be more easily avoided. In addition, relative movement between the plug-in zone and the electric contact plug, at a right angle to the plug-in direction, can also be more easily avoided. Furthermore, frictional forces between the plug-in zone and the sides of a receiving device holding the electric contact plug can be avoided, or at least reduced.
In another advantageous development, the inventive electric contact plug may include multiple angles in the area of the connection zone, and/or the intermediate zone, preferably in the form of an S, or a meandering form. This type of configuration can result in an especially small and compact electric contact plug, which enables it to be used in electronic devices where space is at a premium.
In another advantageous development of the invention, the connection zone also serves as a mechanical attachment point for the electric contact plug, obviating the need for another special area of the electric contact plug to be used for this purpose. This feature enhances both the economic production and the compact configuration of the electric contact plug.
The first and/or second form-changing areas have, as previously described, a lower resistance to form change than the other areas of the intermediate zone. This increased elasticity can be achieved, e.g., by subjecting the form-changing areas to heating, while the cross-section of the material remains essentially unchanged. In accordance with another advantageous embodiment of the invention, a lower resistance to form change can also be achieved by reducing the cross-section of the material in the intermediate zone.
For this embodiment, it is especially advantageous to reduce the thickness of the material, because this results in a significant reduction of the geometrical moment of inertia for a comparatively minor reduction of the cross-section of the material. As such, the electrical resistance of the intermediate zone is increased minimally in the form-changing areas.
In another advantageous development of the invention, the plug-in zone has at least two receiving tongues to receive a tip jack, or similar input device. The exterior contour of the receiving tongues tapers in the direction away from the intermediate zone, when the input device is not plugged in. In comparison with prior art contact plugs, wh
Brammer Christian
Dreyer Werner
Gröger Jens
Gründker Oliver
Homann Peter
Field Lynn
Hyeon Hae Moon
Proskauer Rose LLP
Wabco GmbH and Co. OHG
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