IP Library Granted Patent US 9,634,416
Granted Patent B2
US 9,634,416 · App. 15/028,995 · Granted Apr 25, 2017

Electrical connection arrangement

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,634,416
App. No.
15/028,995
Granted
Apr 25, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A connection arrangement ( 10 ) for electrically connecting at least one sensor ( 12 ) or actuator to at least one conductor track ( 22 ) on a circuit board ( 24 ) has at least one compression spring ( 18 ) for electrically conductive connection. The compression spring ( 18 ) is arranged between the at least one sensor ( 12 ) or actuator and the circuit board ( 24 ) so as to be under a mechanical preload. The compression spring has a contact end section ( 36 ) of the at least one compression spring ( 18 ) configured to rest against a contact plate ( 20, 70, 80, 90 ) that is electrically conductively connected to the conductor track ( 22 ). As a result, the connection arrangement ( 10 ) achieves a high level of electrical contact reliability and corrosion-resistance.

Claims (22)

1. A connection arrangement ( 10 ) for electrically connecting at least one sensor ( 12 ) or actuator to at least one conductor track ( 22 ) on a circuit board ( 24 ), the connection arrangement comprising:

the circuit board with the conductor track,

at least one compression spring ( 18 ) for electrically conductive connection, the at least one compression spring ( 18 ) being configured to be under a mechanical preload when the connection arrangement is in a connected state, wherein the at least one compression spring ( 18 ) has a contact end section ( 36 ) facing the circuit board ( 24 ), and

a contact plate ( 20 , 70 , 80 , 90 ) electrically conductively connected to the conductor track ( 22 ),

wherein the contact end section ( 36 ) of the at least one compression spring ( 18 ) rests against the contact plate ( 20 , 70 , 80 , 90 ).

2. The connection arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the contact plate ( 20 , 70 , 80 , 90 ) has a thickness that is at least twice as great as a thickness ( 46 ) of the conductor track ( 22 ) to which the contact plate ( 20 , 70 , 80 , 90 ) is configured to be electrically conductively connected.

3. The connection arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the contact plate ( 20 , 70 , 80 , 90 ) is formed with a copper-tin alloy.

4. The connection arrangement as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the contact plate ( 20 , 70 , 80 , 90 ) is formed from a CuSn6 alloy.

5. The connection arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the compression spring ( 18 ) is provided with a passivated silver coating ( 60 ), at least on the contact end section ( 36 ).

6. The connection arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the contact plate has an upper side ( 38 ) facing the contact end section ( 36 ) of the compression spring ( 18 ) and having a passivated silver coating ( 62 ).

7. The connection arrangement as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the silver coating ( 60 ) of the compression spring ( 18 ) has a first coating thickness and the contact plate ( 20 , 70 , 80 , 90 ) has a silver coating with a second coating thickness, wherein the first coating thickness and the second coating thickness are the same.

8. The connection arrangement as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the first coating thickness and the second coating thickness are within a range of 2 μm to 5 μm.

9. The connection arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein an underside ( 26 ) of the contact plate ( 20 , 70 , 80 , 90 ) is tin-coated, the underside facing the at least one conductor track ( 22 ).

10. The connection arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the contact plate ( 20 , 70 , 80 , 90 ) has an underside ( 26 ) soldered to the at least one conductor track ( 22 ) of the circuit board ( 24 ).

11. The connection arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the contact plate ( 20 , 70 , 80 , 90 ) has a surface that extends beyond the contact end section ( 36 ) of the compression spring ( 18 ) on all sides.

12. The connection arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, around the contact plate ( 20 , 70 , 80 , 90 ), the at least one conductor track ( 22 ) of the circuit board ( 24 ) has a surface that extends beyond the contact plate on all sides.

13. The connection arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the contact plate ( 20 , 70 , 80 , 90 ) has an upper side ( 38 ) with a depression ( 48 ) that at least partially accommodates the contact end section ( 36 ) of the at least one compression spring ( 18 ).

14. The connection arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the compression spring ( 18 ) is a cylindrical helical compression spring ( 16 ).

15. The connection arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the contact plate ( 20 , 70 , 80 , 90 ) has a peripheral geometry selected from:

an at least quadrilateral peripheral geometry with or without rounded corners, a circular peripheral geometry, an elliptical peripheral geometry, or an oval peripheral geometry.

16. The connection arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, a speed sensor, a displacement sensor, an acceleration sensor or a magnetic sensor forming the at least one sensor, or comprising at least one of a solenoid valve, a servomotor, an electromagnet, or a piezo stack forming the at least one actuator.

17. The connection arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , further including at least one solenoid valve forming the at least one actuator.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 29, 2022
From: ZF CV SYSTEMS HANNOVER GMBH
To: ZF CV SYSTEMS EUROPE BV
Reel/Frame 059540/0990 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 29, 2022
From: WABCO GMBH
To: ZF CV SYSTEMS HANNOVER GMBH
Reel/Frame 059819/0146 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 13, 2016
From: HEIN, JOACHIM; HERZBERG, NICO
To: WABCO GMBH
Reel/Frame 038265/0361 →