Sensor holder and method for the production thereof

• US 20070057665A1
• Filed: 08/24/2006
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rolf Prettl
• Original Assignee: Rolf Prettl
• Inventors: Borst, Peter, Barth, Dietmar
• Granted Patent: US 7,301,329 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/207.200
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/245 Housings for sensors

Abstract

The invention relates to a sensor holder for mounting a sensor component. In one aspect, the sensor holder comprises an elongate holding device, at the first axial end of which the sensor component is mounted and at the second axial end of which a junction cable can be led up, the conductors of which can be connected to terminals of the sensor component. In this case, the holding device has a plastic carrier, on which the sensor component is mounted, and the metallic outer carrier, in particular a metal sleeve, surrounding the plastic carrier.

Claims

1. A sensor holder, comprising an elongate holding device and first and second axial ends, the holder configured to receive at the first axial end a sensor comprising one or more terminals and to receive at the second axial end a junction cable comprising one or more conductors, the holder being configured to electrically connect the one or more conductors of the junction cable to the one or more terminals of the sensor, wherein the holding device comprises:

a plastic carrier configured to receive the sensor; and

a metallic outer carrier partially surrounding the plastic carrier.

2. The sensor holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first end of the metallic outer carrier, near the first axial end, is closed.

3. The sensor holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the metallic outer carrier comprises a flanging, whereby the plastic carrier is secured to the metallic outer carrier.

4. The sensor holder as claimed in claim 2, wherein a second end of the metallic outer carrier is configured to receive the junction cable.

5. The sensor holder as claimed in claim 4, wherein a sealing ring substantially surrounds the junction cable in a region near the second end of the metallic outer carrier.

6. The sensor holder as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an injection-molded surround near the second end of the metallic outer carrier.

7. The sensor holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plastic carrier comprises a lower part and a cover, the lower part and the cover being separated by an approximately axially running parting plane.

8. The sensor holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plastic carrier comprises a first radial web for tensile relief.

9. The sensor holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor is mounted immovably on the plastic carrier.

10. The sensor holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor is mounted floatingly in the axial direction on the plastic carrier.

11. The sensor holder as claimed in claim 10, wherein a cushion is configured to prestress the sensor in the axial direction toward the first axial end.

12. The sensor holder as claimed in claim 11, wherein the cushion is supported in the axial direction on a radial web.

13. The sensor holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plastic carrier comprises an orifice near the first axial end, and a sensor face of the sensor projects axially into the orifice.

14. The sensor holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a plurality of terminal pins and a pin holder formed by plastic injection-molding configured to separate the terminal pins.

15. The sensor holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the junction cable is connected to a plug connector, and wherein the plastic carrier has a plug connector receptacle for the introduction of the plug connector.

16. The sensor holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plastic carrier has an extension which protrudes out of the metallic outer carrier near the second axial end.

17. The sensor holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor is a surface mount device (SMD) component.

18. The sensor holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein a flexible flat connection device electrically connects the sensor and a measuring circuit.

19. The sensor holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein a circuit board comprising a measuring circuit is mounted on the plastic carrier.

20. A sensor holder, comprising an elongate holding device and first and second axial ends, the holder configured to receive at the first axial end a sensor comprising one or more terminals and to receive at the second axial end a junction cable comprising one or more conductors, the holder being configured to electrically connect the one or more conductors of the junction cable to the one or more terminals of the sensor, wherein the sensor is mounted floatingly in the axial direction on the plastic carrier.

21. The sensor holder as claimed in claim 20, wherein a cushion is configured to prestress the sensor in the axial direction toward the first axial end.

22. The sensor holder as claimed in claim 21, wherein the cushion comprises silicone.

23. The sensor holder as claimed in claim 21, wherein the cushion is supported in the axial direction on a radial web.

24. A sensor holder, comprising an elongate holding device and first and second axial ends, the holder configured to receive at the first axial end a sensor comprising one or more terminals and to receive at the second axial end a junction cable comprising one or more conductors, the holder being configured to electrically connect the one or more conductors of the junction cable to the one or more terminals of the sensor, wherein the plastic carrier comprises an orifice near the first axial end, and a sensor face of the sensor projects axially into the orifice.

25. A sensor holder, comprising an elongate holding device and first and second axial ends, the holder configured to receive at the first axial end a sensor comprising one or more terminals and to receive at the second axial end a junction cable comprising one or more conductors, the holder being configured to electrically connect the one or more conductors of the junction cable to the one or more terminals of the sensor, wherein the sensor includes a plurality of terminal pins and a pin holder formed by plastic injection-molding configured to separate the terminal pins.

26. The sensor holder as claimed in claim 25, wherein the pin holder comprises at least one recess and at least one terminal pin is exposed within the at least one recess.

27. The sensor holder as claimed in claim 26, wherein an electrical component is located at least partially within the recess and contacts the terminal pin.

28. The sensor holder as claimed in claim 25, wherein an end of the terminal pin projects from the pin holder and is electrically connected to a conductor of the junction cable.

29. The sensor holder as claimed in claim 25, wherein the pin holder includes a depression, and a radial web of a plastic carrier engages into the depression so as to provide tensile relief.

30. The sensor holder as claimed in claim 25, wherein the holder includes another radial web with orifices through which an end of the terminal pin protrudes, the end of the terminal pin projecting from the pin holder.

31. A method of manufacturing a sensor holder, the method comprising:

providing a sensor having terminals;

connecting one or more terminals of the sensor to conductors of a junction cable;

inserting the sensor into a plastic carrier; and

enclosing the plastic carrier with a metallic outer carrier.

32. The method as claimed in claim 31, further comprising injection-molding around one or more terminal pins of the terminals so as to form a pin holder comprising plastic.

33. The method as claimed in claim 32, further comprising inserting an electrical component into a recess in the pin holder, wherein the pin holder comprises an exposed terminal pin, and the electrical component is electrically connected to the terminal pin.

34. The method as claimed in claim 31, further comprising connecting the sensor to a measuring circuit inside the plastic carrier with a flat flexible connection device.

35. A sensor holder, comprising an elongate holding device and first and second axial ends, the holder configured to receive at the first axial end a sensor comprising one or more terminals and to receive at the second axial end a junction cable comprising one or more conductors, the holder being configured to electrically connect the one or more conductors of the junction cable to the one or more terminals of the sensor, wherein the holding device comprises:

a plastic carrier configured to receive the sensor; and

a metallic outer carrier partially surrounding the plastic carrier,

wherein the metallic outer carrier is closed near the first axial end, the sensor is mounted floatingly in the axial direction on the plastic carrier, and a cushion is configured to prestress the sensor in the axial direction toward the first axial end.

36. The sensor holder as claimed in claim 35, wherein the plastic carrier has at the first axial end an orifice, and the sensor projects axially toward the closed portion of the metallic outer carrier.