Abstract:
A contacting module for a transmission controller comprises a module housing and a punched grill. The punched grill is composed of metal, accommodated in the module housing, and has several conducting tracks with free ends. Contact surfaces are formed at the free ends. Free spaces are formed in the module housing and extend through the housing in a substantially vertical direction. At least some of the free ends are arranged at least partially in the free spaces, where the contact surfaces of at least some of the free ends extend substantially in the vertical direction, and where at least some of the free ends are elastically yielding at least in the area of the contact surfaces.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to embodiments of a contacting module for a transmission controller, a transmission control module and manufacturing methods therefor. The contacting module is configured to interface with an electronic control unit, solenoid valves, and sensors. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Contacting modules of the general type under consideration serve as parts of transmission controllers for performing various complex contacting operations. In this context, the electronic control unit is placed in contact with the respective solenoid valves that are to be actuated, and in general with sensors, for example acceleration sensors, rotational speed sensors, and pressure sensors. 
     The contacting modules are embodied in general with a plastic housing and a line carrier, which is in turn embodied as a flex film or punched grill. Flex films are generally soldered or welded. Contact is conventionally made with punched grills by means of plug-type contacts. 
     However, contacting devices of this type are generally not without their problems. Soldered connections are inclined to slip under or fail in the case of mechanical loading, in particular mechanical micro-movements. Plug-type connections are subject to wear in the case of mechanical micro-movements, with the result that an oxide layer can form and the ohmic resistance of the contacting device rises. Under certain circumstances, sensor signals can be influenced and falsified, and undesired contact interruptions can occur. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Generally speaking, it is an object of the present invention to provide a contacting module, and a transmission control module having such a contacting module, which can be produced at relatively low cost and that permits contact to be made securely even in the case of relatively high or relatively complex mechanical loading. 
     According to an embodiment of the present invention, free spaces that run in the vertical direction, and in which at least some free ends of a punched grill are accommodated, are formed in a module housing. The free ends can project outwardly from the module housing, in particular, in the vertical direction, i.e. upwardly or downwardly, and can make contact with corresponding contact tongues of the relevant components, i.e. the solenoid valves and, if appropriate, sensors. In this context, the contacting module can, for example, be fitted onto the control housing with the pre-mounted components. As a result, the contact tongues of the components pass through the vertical free spaces and remain spaced apart somewhat in the lateral direction with respect to contact surfaces of the free ends of the punched grill. Also, contact tongues of the components and the free ends of the punched grill can subsequently be compressed, for example by a resistance welding device, and placed in contact with one another. 
     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the free ends are elastically resilient to such an extent that they can be easily placed in contact with the contact tongues. Furthermore, in the case of the movements that occur, in particular the micro-movements, they are elastically resilient and therefore absorb the movements, with the result that the contacting devices, for example the welded connections, are not loaded. In this context, in particular, the free ends can be contoured with a bent and/or curved profile of corresponding conductor tracks. 
     The module housing can advantageously be embodied as two shells with an upper shell and a lower shell latched to one another. For example, the shells can be clipped to one another, or welded, caulked, stamped or riveted, as appropriate. In this context, the two shells are also held together by the attachment of the module housing to the control housing and the components by means of corresponding screws or the like. With a two-shell construction of this type, the punched grill can firstly be placed in one of the shells, for example the upper shell, and secured, for example, by means of stamping, and subsequently the other shell can be fitted on, wherein the free ends are accommodated in the free spaces and advantageously project upwardly. The contacting module, which is formed cost-effectively and quickly, subsequently permits secure contact to be made in a way that withstands the mechanical loading that occurs, such as micro-movements. For this purpose, a welding device can successively move the contact-forming parties in or above the free spaces and make contact therebetween. 
     Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification. 
     The present invention accordingly embodies features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, and comprises the several manufacturing steps and the relation of one or more of such steps with respect to each of the others, all as exemplified in the detailed disclosure hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be explained in greater detail below with reference to the appended drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a contacting module attached to a control housing according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the contacting module according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 3 and 4  are inner views of a module housing of the contacting module depicting free ends of a punched grill of the contacting module and free spaces of the module housing according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the module housing in the region of a free end of the punched grill according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6  shows a transmission control module in the region in which contact is made with a free end of the punched grill according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of a contacting module  1  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The contacting module is attachable to a control housing  2 , as depicted in  FIG. 1 . The contacting module  1  has, as shown in  FIG. 2 , a lower shell  3 , a punched grill  4  and an upper shell  5 . Shells  3 ,  5  can each be embodied as plastic parts, for example injection molded parts, and can be latched or clipped to one another, with the result that they securely accommodate the metallic punched grill  4  therebetween. 
     The punched grill  4  is produced in a known manner by punching out a piece of sheet metal, for example made of bronze, and has conductor tracks  4   a  and free ends  4   b , which serve to make contact and are connected to one another by means of the conductor tracks  4   a . The entire contacting module  1  serves to alternately make contact with the connected components, in particular sensors  7 , for example pressure sensors or travel sensors, and solenoid valves  6  as well as a control unit (not shown). The attachment of the fitted-together contacting module  1  to the controller housing  2  is shown in  FIG. 1 , wherein the contacting module  1  is connected both to the solenoid valves  6  and, if appropriate, sensors  7  as well as to the control housing  2  by means of, for example, screws  8 . Furthermore, contact is made intermediately by means of the free ends of the punched grill with corresponding contact tongues of the components  6 ,  7 , as described below. 
     According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, free spaces  10  are formed in the two shells  3 ,  5 . The free spaces  10  are aligned with one another and therefore form continuous free spaces  10  in the vertical direction V, which corresponds to the mounting direction. The conductor tracks  4   a  of the punched grill  4  run essentially within the horizontal plane, wherein the free ends  4   b  are bent, and the contact surfaces  12  of the free ends are formed in turn in the vertical direction V. Alternatively, if appropriate, the free ends are partially bent with respect thereto, as is shown in detail with respect to  FIGS. 3-6 . In this context, the free ends are accommodated entirely or mainly in the continuous free spaces  10  and therefore run in the free spaces  10  of the upper shell  5  in the vertical direction and/or also project through. The free ends  4   b  have novel contouring, which will be described below. 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  show internal views of the contacting module  1 , including views of the lower side of the upper shell  5  after the punched grill  4  has been inserted but before the connection to the lower shell  3 . Stamping pins (e.g., plastic knobs) are formed as securing regions  14  on the underside and/or inner side of the upper shell  5 . The securing regions are stamped mechanically during or after the insertion of the punched grill  4 , for example, as shown in  FIG. 4  in the eyes of the punched grill  4  or as shown in  FIG. 3  on both sides of the conductor tracks  4   a , with the result that after the mechanical stamping or deformation, the punched grill  4  is secured in the upper shell  5 . The stamping pins therefore serve as securing regions  14  and are spaced apart from the free ends  4   b , with the result that they can be adjusted flexibly. 
     The free ends  4   b  can, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, be adjusted in an elastically resilient or flexible fashion owing to their contouring, advantageously in all three spatial directions. As a result, the punched grill  4  can compensate tolerances in all the spatial directions through the flexible embedding in the two shells or half-shells  3 ,  5 . Furthermore, as a result of this connection, the transmission of relative movements from the fixedly embedded regions around the securing regions  14  is reduced. Since the punched grill  4  with its conductor tracks  4   a  is no longer secured over a large area in the two-shell housing  3 ,  5 , but is instead secured only in the securing regions  14 , oscillations induced in the housing  3 ,  5  are transmitted directly as far as the free ends  4   b  to a small degree. The punched grill  4  can therefore be adjusted around the securing regions  14  between the shells  3 ,  5 . 
       FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  5  show various contouring possibilities of the free ends  4   b . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the conductor track  4   a  runs as far as the free space  10  in the upper plate  5  and then makes a 90° downward bend  15   a  (upward in  FIG. 4 ) with a first radius, then carries out a 180° upward bend  15   b  into the free space  10  and/or through the free space  10  with a relatively small radius. As shown in  FIG. 4 , there is thereafter a lateral adjoining section  15   c , i.e., one that extends essentially in the horizontal direction, in which the stamped metallic conductor track of the free end  4   b  runs in the vertical direction, i.e., is bent with respect to the horizontal run of the conductor tracks  4   a . The section  15   c  makes the subsequent 90° bend  15   d , with the result that the stamped conductor track subsequently runs, for example, horizontally again or somewhat obliquely with respect to the horizontal, with a subsequent opposing bend  15   e  that is adjoined by the contact surface  12 , which is widened in order to make contact better. The contact surface  12  can, for example, be bent somewhat at its upper region—the lower region in  FIG. 4 . Also, contact surface  12  can include a welding dimple  17 , for example, for subsequent resistance welding. 
       FIG. 3  shows a further embodiment in which the conductor track  4   a  firstly runs, after it is secured in securing regions  14 , in the plane of the upper shell  5  with bends, and subsequently extends horizontally as a free end  4   b  underneath the free space  10 , where two webs  16  run, for example, bent in parallel away from the conductor track  4   a  and upwardly with a 90° bend  15   f  through the free space  10  of the upper plate  5 , wherein the contact surfaces  12  adjoin one another at their upper end.  FIG. 5  corresponds to this embodiment. 
     The free ends  4   b  can therefore each be formed by subsequently bending the initially planar punched grill  4 . The bending of the free ends  4   b  can occur during the punching process out of a piece of sheet metal as a separate bending process, or else during the stamping of the two shells  3 ,  5 . 
     The contouring of the free ends  4   b  therefore permits resilience in the three spatial directions, both during the contacting and also in the case of loading during subsequent operation. 
     Solenoid valves  6  and sensors  7  are mounted or pre-mounted, partly by means of the screws  8  and/or by means of plug-type contacts, on the control housing  2 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . The contacting module  1  described above is subsequently fitted on and is advantageously attached both to the control housing  2  and to the components, i.e., the solenoid valves  6  and the sensor  7  and, for example, in turn by means of screws  8 . The screws  8  can therefore serve to attach the contacting module  1  to both the control housing  2  and the components  6 ,  7 . In this context, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the contact surfaces  12  of the free ends  4   b  project upwardly out of the free spaces  10 , wherein during the mounting process, the contact tongues  18  pass through the free spaces  10  of the shells  3 ,  5  and subsequently run parallel to, and somewhat spaced apart from, the contact surfaces  12  of the free ends  4   b , as shown in  FIG. 6 . The welding dimple  17  lies on the side of the contact surface  12  that faces the contact tongue of components  6  or  7 .  FIG. 6  therefore shows the contacting region between the contact surface  12  and the contact tongue  18  for the subsequent materially joined and/or positively locked connection. 
     In the embodiment shown, contact is made by means of a welded connection, in particular a resistance welded connection. For this purpose, as shown in  FIG. 1 , a welding device moves the two welding partners  18 ,  12  from above in the respective free spaces  10 , presses the contact tongue  18  and contact surfaces  12 , respectively, together and welds them to one another. Alternatively, positively locking connections are also possible by means of corresponding latches; if appropriate, connections can be made by means of a suitable solder, in particular a high temperature solder or else a conductive adhesive. 
     The control unit (ECU) is subsequently fitted onto the contacting module  1  from above and can include, for example, a suitable multi-pin connector that is fitted onto a plug receptacle  20  formed in the central right-hand region of the contacting module. The transmission control module  22  is therefore formed and is subsequently fitted onto the respective transmission. 
     In  FIG. 2 , pistons  24  and air inlets  25  and air outlets  26  are provided for pneumatic control in a known manner. 
     It will be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained, and since certain changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
     It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention that, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.