Connecting element

• US 8,604,363 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2008
• Issued: 12/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Sodan, Lars, Munz, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron E
• Assistant Examiner(s): KERAMET-AMIRCOLA, MOHAMMED E
• Application Number:
  US12/734,271
• Publication Number:
  US 20100300769A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,903 Days
• Field of Search: 738/623.91
• US Class Current: 177/136
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means

Abstract

A connecting element having a measuring device for a force measurement for a vehicle seat is provided. The connecting element has signal output means in a first housing part, and a measuring device in a second housing part. The measuring device itself has a holder including circuit traces for a sensor system. The sensor system and the at least two electrical components are integrally mounted on the circuit traces. The signal output means are electrically connected to the circuit traces in a force-decoupled manner.

Claims

1. A connecting element having a measuring device for a force measurement for a vehicle seat, comprising:

a first housing part and a second housing part separate from the first housing part;

a signal output device in the first housing part;

a measuring device in the second housing part, the measuring device including a holder having circuit traces that form electrical connections to a sensor system of the measuring device,

wherein the sensor system and at least two electrical components are integrally mounted on the circuit traces, and

wherein the signal output device outputs a signal from the measuring device, is electrically connected to the measuring device via the circuit traces, and is connected to the holder via a contact arrangement that prevents mechanical forces acting on the signal output device from influencing measurements performed by the measuring device.

2. The connecting element according to claim 1, wherein the electrical components include two capacitors connected parallel to connections of the sensor system.

3. The connecting element according to claim 1, wherein the sensor system and the at least two electrical components are mounted on the circuit traces by adhesive bonding, soldering or welding.

4. The connecting element according to claim 1, wherein the signal output device includes at least two plug pins integrally connected to individual contact springs, the contact springs form the contact arrangement, and one of the contact springs exerts pressure on the circuit traces to form an electrical connection between the signal output device and the circuit traces.

5. The connecting element according to claim 4, wherein the at least two plug pins are shot into the first housing part.

6. The connecting element according to claim 4, wherein the holder has a first section, on which the sensor system and the at least two components are mounted, and a second section on which the contact springs exert pressure, the holder being implemented in one piece, the first and second sections being implemented by bending.

7. The connecting element according to claim 4, wherein each of the contact springs includes a plurality of ninety degree bends.

8. The connecting element according to claim 4, wherein each contact spring is welded to a respective one of the plug pins.

9. The connecting element according to claim 3, wherein the sensor system is mounted with a different material than that used to mount the at least two electrical components.

10. The connecting element according to claim 9, wherein the sensor system is mounted with solder and the at least two electrical components are mounted with adhesive.

11. The connecting element according to claim 9, further comprising:

a mechanical barrier between a first portion of the circuit traces to which the at least two electrical components are mounted and a second portion of the circuit traces to which the sensor system is mounted.

12. The connecting element according to claim 11, wherein the barrier is plastic.

13. The connecting element according to claim 1, wherein the sensor system is a Hall sensor.

14. The connecting element according to claim 1, wherein the holder is a lead frame.