IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,590,476
Granted Patent B2
US 12,590,476 · App. 17/121,255 · Granted Mar 31, 2026

Bending printed circuit boards

Inventors: Winfried Scheibe (Lippstadt, DE); Sandra Ritterswuerden (Lippstadt, DE); Stefan Werner (Bocholt, DE)
Assignee: Hella GmbH & Co. KGaA
E05B81/77E05B85/10H01Q1/3241H01Q1/38H05K1/028E05Y2400/66E05Y2400/86E05Y2600/41E05Y2900/531H05K2201/10098
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,590,476
App. No.
17/121,255
Granted
Mar 31, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A printed circuit board having essentially a first region, a second region, and a third region. The first region and the third region can be used for the placement of electrical and/or electronic components. The second region located in the middle of the three regions is a bend region. A side edge of the printed circuit board is offset inward in this region in order to narrow the contour of the printed circuit board in the bend region. This region likewise has one or more through holes. Both the narrowing and the through holes facilitate a bending of the printed circuit board, namely a bending of the first region relative to the third region or vice versa.

Claims (25)

1 . A printed circuit board comprising:

a bend region that has a narrowing and at least one through hole; and

a side edge set back inward for the narrowing of the printed circuit board in the bend region.

2 . The printed circuit board according to claim 1 , wherein the printed circuit board is an FR4 printed circuit board.

3 . The printed circuit board according to claim 1 , wherein the printed circuit board has at least three regions including the bend region, wherein the bend region is a middle region of the at least three regions.

4 . The printed circuit board according to claim 1 , wherein an antenna or parts of the antenna are arranged in the bend region of the printed circuit board.

5 . The printed circuit board according to claim 4 , wherein the antenna includes supply lines that are arranged in the bend region of the printed circuit board.

6 . The printed circuit board according to claim 4 , wherein the antenna is an NFC antenna.

7 . The printed circuit board according to claim 1 , wherein the side edge of the printed circuit board is provided with two of the narrowing, and wherein the at least one through hole is elongated to extend between the two of the narrowing at the side edge.

8 . A sensor group for a keyless entry system, comprising:

a carrier;

electrical and/or electronic components;

an interface for connection to a vehicle electronic system; and

a printed circuit board comprising a bend region that has a narrowing and at least one through hole, and a side edge set back inward for the narrowing of the printed circuit board in the bend region.

9 . The sensor group according to claim 8 , wherein the carrier has first fastening elements in a first region to retain a first region of the printed circuit board and the carrier has second fastening elements in a second region to retain a second region of the printed circuit board, wherein the printed circuit board is bent in the bend region when the printed circuit board is retained by the first and second fastening elements, the bend region provided between the first and second regions of the printed circuit board.

10 . The sensor group according to claim 9 , wherein a bend radius for the printed circuit board is defined by the first and second fastening elements of the carrier.

11 . A door handle for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a housing; and

a sensor group for a keyless entry system, comprising:

a carrier;

electrical and/or electronic components;

an interface for connection to a vehicle electronic system; and

a printed circuit board comprising a bend region that has a narrowing and at least one through hole, and a side edge set back inward for the narrowing of the printed circuit board in the bend region.

12 . The door handle according to claim 11 , wherein the sensor group has a shape in which an antenna, that is provided on the printed circuit board, is positioned a short distance from an outer surface of the door handle.

13 . The door handle according to claim 12 , wherein the antenna is positioned approximately parallel to the outer surface of the door handle.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 12, 2021
From: SCHEIBE, WINFRIED; RITTERSWUERDEN, SANDRA; WERNER, STEFAN
To: HELLA GMBH & CO. KGAA
Reel/Frame 055577/0188 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2018 113 946.2 · Jun 12, 2018 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTEP2019064179 · May 31, 2019
Related Publication 20210102415A1 · Apr 8, 2021
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