Electric Assembly Having a Contact Body Comprising or Consisting of an Elastically Flexible and Electrically Conductive Material

The invention relates to an electric assembly.

Electrical assemblies comprise at least one conductor element for contacting a mating contact. Usually the electrical conductor is adapted to be abutted by the mating contact, whereby correct alignment of the mating contact and the electrical conductor has to be ensured. Therefore, if an offset in the relative position between electrical conductor and mating contact is too high, e.g. due to high tolerances in the manufacturing of the electric assembly, proper contact cannot be assured. As a consequence, electrical assemblies must be rejected at the manufacturing line.

It is therefore the objective of the invention to provide an electrical assembly that allows larger tolerances between the conductor element and the mating contact.

In accordance with the present invention, the problem is solved by an electric assembly comprising a carrier device having at least one conductor element, the electric assembly further comprising at least one contact body comprising or consisting of an elastically flexible and electrically conductive material, wherein the at least one contact body is connected to the at least one conductor element.

In the inventive electric assembly, a contact body is connected to the conductor element. Therefore, the mating contact does not have to directly abut the conductor element. It may contact the conductor element via the contact body. The contact body comprising or consisting of an elastically flexible material may compensate for larger tolerances in the relative position of the conductor element and the mating contact. Hence, fewer electric assemblies will be rejected due to discrepancies between the supposed and actual positions of the conductor element on the carrier.

The invention can be further improved by the following features, which are independent from one another with regard to their respective technical effects and which can be combined arbitrarily.

For example, according to the first aspect of the invention, the at least one contact body may comprise or consist of an electrically conductive elastomer, particularly an elastomeric composite. The elastomeric composite may comprise an elastomer base, in which conductive particles may be dispersed, impregnated, injected, infused or the like such as graphene, carbon or metal fillers like silver, for example. The conductive particles may be dispersed uniformly throughout the contact body. Hence, the whole contact body may be electrically conductive. Upon compression of the contact body, the density of the conductive particles in the contact body may increase, which may lead to an improvement of the electric conductivity of the contact body.

The contact body may be configured as a switching and/or safety mechanism, whereby the contact body may comprise macroscopically rather isolating characteristics in a relaxed uncompressed state and whereby the contact body may comprise macroscopically electrically conductive characteristics in a compressed state. This may be implemented by predetermining the density of the conductive particles in the contact body, so that the particles are far enough apart in the relaxed uncompressed state. Upon compression, the density of the conductive particles within the contact body may be increased to form a conductive path.

The conductive particles may be concentrated in a section of the contact body such that the contact body may be electrically conductive at said section and electrically isolating apart from said section.

Alternatively to a conductive elastomer, particularly a conductive elastomeric composite, the contact body may comprise or consist of electrically conductive metal threads or carbon nanotubes, which may be formed to an elastic mass, e.g. by pressing or the like.

The contact body may particularly protrude from a surface of the carrier device. Therefore, a gap between the carrier device and the mating contact may be bridged by the contact body. The contact body may preferably protrude from a surface of the carrier device at which the conductor element is arranged.

According to a further advantageous aspect, the carrier device may be at least partially received in the contact body. Thus, the contact body may form a protective shell for the part of the carrier device received in the contact body.

Particularly, the at least one conductor element may be received in the at least one contact body so that the at least one conductor element may be protected by the at least one contact body from outer influences such as liquids or dust as well as mechanical stress.

To further increase the protection of the carrier device, particularly the at least one conductor element conferred by the at least one conductor body, the carrier device, particularly the at least one conductor element, may be at least partially embedded in the contact body.

The at least one contact body may preferably be directly disposed onto the carrier device, particularly the at least one conductor element. Alternatively, the at least one contact body may be formed on a carrier, for example a foil, which may be adapted to be mounted to the carrier device. The carrier may preferably be adapted to be adhesively attached to the carrier device. The contact body may be formed on the carrier, particularly the foil, in a predetermined configuration.

In order to increase the contact surface for the mating contact, the at least one contact body may project in a lateral direction along the surface of the carrier device beyond the conductor element. In other words, the contact surface of the at least one contact body may be larger than the contact surface of the at least one conductor element at the section of the carrier device, at which the at least one contact body is formed.

The at least one contact body may be formed as a contact pad for the mating contact. The mating contact may be pressed into the at least one contact body allowing for a stable connection, particularly in harsh environments, in which the electric assembly may be subjected to vibrational stress.

The carrier device may be a circuit board, particularly a printed circuit board, having at least one conductive track. The at least one conductive track may be the conductor element. The exact positioning of the at least one conductive track and the mating contact may be difficult, so that by providing the at least one contact body on the at least one conductive track, a higher tolerance in the relative position between the mating contact and the at least one conductive track may be compensated.

The carrier device may particularly be a double sided printed circuit board, wherein conductive tracks are provided at two opposing sides of the printed circuit board. In this case, at least one conductor body may be provided at each side. The double sided printed circuit board may be preequipped with the contact bodies, for example in a moulding process.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the carrier device may be an electric cable. The electric cable may comprise a conductor core, which may act as the conductor element. However, according to a preferred embodiment, the electric cable may be a shielded electric cable, wherein the at least one contact body is connected to the cable shielding.

The carrier device may also be a shielding housing for shielding electric circuits or components received in the shielding housing from electromagnetic interference from the outside of the shielding housing, or vice versa. The shielding housing may for example be a die cast housing formed from an electrically conductive material. According to a further embodiment, the carrier device may comprise a stripped wire as the at least one conductor element, which may be embedded in or sleeved by the at least one conductor body. Alternatively, the contact body may be formed as a contact pad, which may be contacted directly by the stripped wire. The stripped wire may also constitute the mating contact adapted to be pressed against the contact body for contacting a different conductor element.

The at least one contact body may be a sealing gasket for at least partially sealing the carrier device. The sealing gasket comprising or consisting of an electrically conductive material, allows it to function both as a seal and as a conductor. Particularly, the sealing gasket may also form at least part of a shielding.

The contact body may for example be formed as a sealing ring adapted to be inserted into a corresponding notch in the shielding housing. The at least one contact body may itself form a housing, whereby the housing may comprise a cable entrance side in which the cable may be sealingly inserted into the housing.

When using the contact body for sealing, it may be particularly advantageous if the contact body has a relatively high elasticity. The relatively high elasticity may be defined by a relatively low Young’s modulus. Preferably, the Young’s modulus may not be higher than about 5 GPa. In accordance with an advantageous embodiment, the Young’s modulus of the contact body may be between about 0.001 GPa and about 5 GPa.

When the carrier device is a circuit board, the contact body may provide a sealing layer, which may cover the circuit board at least partially.

In a further, preferred example, the electric assembly may comprise a receptacle having a bottom wall. The at least one contact body may be received in the receptacle in an elastically deformed state, in which the at least one contact body seals the bottom wall. As the at least one contact body is electrically conductive, the at least one contact body may form an electrically conductive path through the receptacle.

Preferably, the at least one contact body may be received in the receptacle in a relaxed state, in which it is not elastically deformed. In the at least relaxed state, a bottom wall of the receptacle may be openly accessible, wherein the at least one contact body may be elastically deformed within the receptacle until an end position in which the at least one contact body reaches the deformed state, covering the bottom wall of the receptacle. Therefore, insertion of the at least one contact body into the receptacle may be further facilitated. For deforming the at least one contact body within the receptacle, an activation element may be provided. The activation element may comprise a press-on surface having a width that is lower than a width of the receptacle. Therefore, the press-on surface may extend into the receptacle and press against the at least one contact body to elastically deform the at least one contact body. Upon deformation, the at least one contact body may expand in the lateral direction until contact with lateral surfaces of the receptacle is made.

The at least one contact body may have a width in the relaxed state, which is larger than the width of the press-on surface. In this embodiment, the at least one contact body may have a concave shape formed by the press-on surface in the elastically deformed state. Hence, the material of the at least one contact body may be displaced into a space between the press-on surface and the lateral surfaces of the receptacle upon deformation. Therefore, the strain caused by the press- on surface on the at least one contact body may be further reduced.

The at least one contact body may be arranged between the press-on surface and a counter surface formed by the bottom wall, such that in the elastically deformed state, the at least one contact body is squeezed between the press-on surface and the counter surface. Preferably, the activation element may be movable from a first position to a second position. In the first position, the press-on surface may be further distanced from the counter surface, such that the at least one contact body is in a relaxed state. In the second position, the press-on surface is arranged closer to the counter surface, such that the at least one contact body is squeezed between the press-on surface and the counter surface, wherein the at least one contact body extends laterally and contacts the lateral surfaces of the receptacle and fully seals the gap.

A gap may be provided in the receptacle, which gap may be open in the first position and sealed by the at least one contact body in the second position.

Advantageously, the activation element may be fixed at the second position in which the at least one contact body is in a deformed state, so as to keep a constant pressure on the at least one contact body during use. The activation element may for example be latched, screwed or glued in said position.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the receptacle may be limited by at least two or at least three different components of the electric assembly. For example, the receptacle may be limited by the counter surface, the lateral surfaces and/or the activation element.

The counter surface may be provided with a substrate, a die cast part, an isolating member or the like. Preferably, the counter surface is arranged within a housing. The lateral surfaces can be part of the housing. For example, the lateral surfaces can form guiding surfaces guiding the movement of the activation element. The lateral surfaces may be formed by shielding contacts, which may be contacted by the contact body in the elastically deformed state. Therefore, an electrical connection for shielding can be established by the at least one contact body in the elastically deformed state.

The activation element may be formed by a cover having a protrusion extending into the receptacle for deforming the at least one contact element, the protrusion being spaced apart from the lateral surfaces. The protrusion may essentially be configured to be arranged centrally in the lateral direction in the receptacle, such that it is equally distanced from both lateral surfaces.

Between the counter surface and the lateral surfaces, gaps may be formed which, in the elastically deformed state, may be sealed by the at least one contact body. The gaps may be open at least in a relaxed state of the at least one contact body.

In general, any one of the lateral surfaces, the counter surface and the press-on surface may be at least partially electrically conductive. Preferably, at least two of the surfaces are at least partially conductive. Hence, the at least one contact body may form an electrical bridge between at least two conductive elements. Consequently, each component may, in different embodiments, form the carrier device having at least one electrical conductor element.

For example, in one embodiment, the activation element may be formed from an electrically conductive material or at least the press-on surface may be electrically conductive and the remainder of the activation element may be electrically isolating. The press-on surface may be formed by an electrically conductive coating that is applied to an electrically isolating body of the activation element. As the press-on surface presses against the at least one contact body, an electric connection is formed between the activation element and the at least one contact body.

In one embodiment, the counter surface may be formed by an electrically conducting material. For example, the counter surface may be provided by an electrically conductive die cast part. Hence, upon contacting both the counter surface and the press-on surface, an electric connection between the activation element and the counter surface is established. The electric connection may serve different purposes, such as a signal contact or a power contact. Preferably, a ground connection is established. To do this, the press-on surface or the counter surface may form a ground contact. The substrate with the counter surface may for example be a circuit board having conductive paths and/or conductive pads. The activation element may press the at least one contact body against at least one conductive path and/or at least one conductive pad establishing an electric connection. Preferably, the at least one contact body may fully cover the at least one conductive path and/or at least one conductive pad sealing said at least one conductive path and/or conductive pad. The at least one contact body may be configured to form an electrically conductive bridge between the press-on surface and the counter surface after the at least one contact body is pressed down about 20% of the way until it reaches the elastically deformed state.

The lateral surfaces may be electrically isolating. However, in a further embodiment, the lateral surfaces may be at least electrically conductive. Advantageously, the lateral surfaces form shielding contacts, which can be contacted if the at least one contact body is in the elastically deformed state. Therefore, the at least one contact body may serve multiple purposes. On one hand, it seals the at least one conductive path and/or at least one conductive pad of the substrate, it creates a contact bridge to a ground contact. Additionally or alternatively, the at least one conductive pad may establish a shielding contact.

Preferably, the contact surface is fully covered by the at least one contact body in the elastically deformed state within the receptacle.

It is particularly advantageous if an indication is provided, indicating whether the at least one contact body is in the deformed state. This may for example be implemented by an electric signal that registers when an electric connection between the lateral surfaces is established via the at least one contact body. The lateral surfaces may be part of an electric circuit that is closed by the at least one contact body, when the at least one contact body is in the elastically deformed state.

According to a further advantageous aspect of the invention, the at least one contact body may be a shielding. The at least one contact body may be connected to a shielding of the carrier device and may ensure a continuous shielding path between the carrier device and the mating contact which, in this case, may be a shielding of a complementary connector, for example.

The electric assembly may further comprise at least one mating contact, whereby the at least one mating contact may contact the at least one conductor element indirectly via the at least one contact body. The at least one contact body may form an interface between the at least one conductor body and the at least one mating contact.

The carrier device may comprise multiple conductor elements, wherein the conductor elements may be electrically isolated from one another. A separate contact body may be provided for each conductor element.

For providing a stable connection between the at least one contact body and the carrier device, particularly the at least one conductor element, the at least one contact body may be fixedly attached to the carrier device. The at least one contact body may be moulded to the carrier device, by a one-shot, two-shot or even a hotmelt moulding process. In order to facilitate the forming of the at least one contact body onto the carrier device, the at least one contact body may comprise or consist of a thermosetting material, preferably a thermosetting elastomeric material.

The invention further relates to the use of a contact body comprising or consisting of an elastically flexible and electrically conductive material, preferably an elastomeric composite, as a contact interface between a carrier device and a mating contact.

Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of a contact body comprising or consisting of an elastically flexible and electrically conductive material, preferably an elastomeric composite, as a sealing gasket for a carrier device.

Additionally, the invention relates to the use of a contact body comprising or consisting of an elastically flexible and electrically conductive material, preferably an elastomeric composite, at least as part of a shielding for a carrier device.

In the following, the exemplary embodiments of the electric assembly according to the invention are explained in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the figures, the same reference numerals are used for elements which correspond to one another in terms of their function and/or structure.

According to the description of the various aspects and embodiments, elements shown in the drawings can be omitted if the technical effects of these elements are not needed for a particular application, and vice versa’, i.e. elements that are not shown or described with reference to the figures but are described above can be added if the technical effect of those particular elements is advantageous in a specific application.

In the figures:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of an electric assembly according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a schematic detail view of the first exemplary embodiment of the electric assembly shown in Fig. 1 with a mating contact;

Fig. 3 shows a schematic perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of the electric assembly according to the invention;

Fig. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of the second exemplary embodiment of the electric assembly shown in Fig. 3 with a mating contact; Fig. 5 shows a schematic perspective view of a third exemplary embodiment of the electric assembly according to the invention;

Fig. 6 shows a schematic perspective view of a fourth exemplary embodiment of the electric assembly according to the invention;

Fig. 7 shows a schematic front view of a sixth exemplary embodiment of the electric assembly in a first position;

Fig. 8 shows a schematic front view of the sixth exemplary embodiment of the electric assembly in an intermediate position; and

Fig. 9 shows a schematic front view of the sixth exemplary embodiment of the electric assembly in a second position.

According to a general aspect, an electric assembly 1 comprises a carrier device 2 having at least one electrical conductor element 4 and comprising at least one contact body 6. The at least one contact body 6 comprises or consists of an elastically flexible and electrically conductive material 8 and is connected to the at least one electrical conductor element 4.

The at least one contact body 6 may for example comprise or consist of electrically conductive metal threads or carbon nanotubes which may be formed to an elastic mass, e.g. by pressing.

However, more preferably, the at least one contact body 6 may comprise or consist of an electrically conductive elastomer, particularly an elastomeric composite. Such an electrically conductive elastomer composite may comprise an elastomer in which conductive particles are dispersed throughout the raw material prior to setting it. Alternatively, predetermined paths may be provided along which the conductive particles are concentrated within the elastomeric mass.

In Figs. 1 and 2, a first exemplary embodiment of the inventive electric assembly 1 is shown.

According to the first exemplary embodiment, the carrier device 2 may be a circuit board 10, particularly a printed circuit board.

The circuit board 10 comprises a rather rigid plate-shaped structure 12 of insulating material to which integrated circuits, such as conductive tracks 14 are attached. A plurality of separate conductive tracks may be provided electrically isolated from one another by air and/or the insulating material. Each conductive track 14 may form an electrical conductor element 4 which may lead to a different component to be contacted. In order for a mating contact 16 to easily contact the electrical conductor element 4, the contact body 6 may be disposed onto the electrical conductor element 4 forming a contact pad 18 protruding from a surface 20, particularly a top surface, of the carrier device 2. The contact body 6 being elastically deformable may thus provide a cushioned interface between the mating contact 16 and the electrical conductor element 4. Therefore, the contact body 6 may compensate for tolerances between the mating contact 16 and electrical conductor element 4.

A plurality of separate contact bodies 6 may be provided each forming a contact pad 18 for a separate mating contact 16 for contacting an individual electrical conductor element 4. In this exemplary embodiment, four separate contact bodies 6 are provided, each adapted to contact a different mating contact 16.

The contact body 6 may comprise a larger cross section in a plane essentially parallel to the surface 20 than the part of the electrical conductor element 4 covered by the contact body 6. In other words, the contact body 6 may comprise a larger contacting surface 21 for contacting the mating contact than the electrical conductor element 4. Therefore, the contact body 6 may also serve as an enlarged contacting surface for the mating contact 16. Preferably, at least one contact body 6 may extend laterally beyond the lateral edge of the carrier device 2.

Instead of a circuit board as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the carrier device 2 may also be just an electrically conductive contact element such as a contact tab or a contact spring.

The contact body 6 may particularly form a seal for the carrier device 2 or at least the electrical conductor element 4. For this, the carrier device 2 or at least the conductor element 4 may be covered by the contact body 6 or even embedded by the contact body 6. Therefore, the electrical conductor element 4 may be prevented from coming into contact with particles like dust and/or liquids.

The contact body 6 may particularly be directly disposed on the electrical conductor element 4. Preferably, the contact body 6 may be fixedly attached to the electrical conductor element 4. The contact body 6 may particularly be dispensed or moulded to the carrier device 2. The contact body 6 may be formed onto the carrier device 2 with a one-shot injection moulding process, a two-shot injection moulding process or a hotmelt moulding process. Therefore, the contact body 6 may preferably comprise or consist of a thermosetting elastomeric composition.

The electric assembly 1 may be mounted in a connector housing 22 as is shown in Fig. 2. In Fig.

2, a detailed section of a cut view is shown. The connector housing 22 may comprise a base 24 and a cover 26 pivotably attached to said base 24. In order to provide a compact connector having a high contact density, the circuit board 10 may be a double sided circuit board, such that opposing flat surfaces of the circuit boardlO are each provided with electrical conductor elements 4. Correspondingly, contact bodies 6 may be provided on each surface, i.e. a top and a bottom surface of the double sided circuit board.

Two covers 26 may be provided, each cover being pivotably attached to the base 24. One cover 26 may be adapted to close a top portion of the housing 22 and the other cover 26 may be adapted to close a bottom portion of the housing 22.

The mating contact 16 may be fixedly held by the cover 26, preferably at an inward facing side. In this case, the mating contact 16 may be an insulation displacement contact, which is adapted to clamp a wire 28 between two cutting flanks, whereby the cutting flanks are adapted to cut through the insulation of the wire 28 and contact the wire’s inner conductor.

The wire 28 may be inserted into the connector housing 22 through an opening (not shown), whereby the wire 28 may be contacted by the mating contact 16 upon pivoting the cover 26 towards the base 24. Upon closing the connector housing 22 by pivoting the cover 26 towards the base 24, the mating contact 16 may be pressed against or even into the contact body 6. The contact body 6 may increase the contact area for the mating contact 16, allowing higher tolerances in the relative position of the mating contact 16 and the electrical conductor element 4. Furthermore, vibrations or the like can be compensated by the elastically deformable contact body 6 increasing the reliability of the connector.

With reference to Figs. 3 and 4, a second exemplary embodiment of the electric assembly 1 is further elucidated.

In accordance with the second embodiment, the carrier device 2 may be a shielding housing 30 formed as a die cast housing, for example. The shielding housing 30 may comprise or consist of an electrically conductive metal or metal alloy and enclose a receptacle 32, the receptacle 32 being open at a face side 34 of the shielding housing 30.

Circuits or contacts may be inserted into the receptacle through the opening at the face side 34, whereby the circuits or contacts may be prevented from local sources of the local environment from affecting the internal circuits or contacts via electromagnetic interference or vice versa.

The housing 30 may comprise a receiving notch 36 at the face side 34, framing the opening of the receptacle 32. According to the second embodiment, the electrically conductive shielding housing 30 may constitute the electrical conductor element 4, the receiving notch 36 formed at the face side 34 of the shielding housing 30.

A cover 38, such as a plastic cover, may be provided, said cover being adapted to be mounted to the shielding housing 30 at the face side 34. Hence, the cover 38 may be configured to close the receptacle 32 at the face side 34.

The cover 38 may comprise a metal shielding 39 on a side edge 40 to further increase the electromagnetic compatibility of the contact system.

The contact body 6 may be formed as a sealing gasket 42 protruding from the receiving notch 36. Therefore, the contact body 6 may form an interface for the mating contact 16, i.e. the cover 38, whereby the elastic material is compressed upon mating, sealing the receptacle 32 at least at the face side 34. Thus, liquids or particles such as dust or the like are prevented from entering the receptacle and potentially damaging the internal circuits or contacts.

As the contact body 6 comprises or consists of an electrically conductive material, particularly an elastomeric composite, the contact body 6 may for a shielding 43, providing a continuous path between the shielding housing 30 and the metal shielding 39 of the cover 38. Therefore, the shielding performance of the contact system can be increased as there is no gap between the shielding components improving the electromagnetic compatibility of the electric assembly 1.

The contact body 6 may be formed as a separate interchangeable sealing gasket 42 or may be directly dispensed to the receiving notch 36 via moulding or with an extruder device.

In Fig. 5, a further exemplary embodiment of the inventive electric assembly 1 is shown.

As can be seen in Fig. 5, the carrier device 2 may be a shielding housing 30 for improving the electromagnetic compatibility of the contact system, similar to the shielding housing 30 described with reference to the second embodiment.

In this case, however, the shieling housing 30 may be a connector cover 44 adapted to be mounted on a base housing (not shown). The connector cover 44 may comprise a frame 45 in which terminal receptacles 46 may be received. The terminal receptacles 46 may receive terminals protruding from the base housing at the face side 34. The connector cover 44 may further comprise a connector interface formed on a side opposite the face side 34 for connecting to a complementary connector. The connector cover 44 may further comprise locking latches 48 pivotably attached to the frame 45, so that the base housing may be secured to the connector cover 44. The locking latches 48 may also be vertically movable into a lowered position, i.e. away from the base housing, in order to pull the base housing towards the connector cover 44, when the connector cover 44 is mated with the mating housing and secured by the locking latches 48. A sealing gasket 42 may be formed on the face side 34 forming a rim portion 49 for engaging a rim of the base housing. The sealing gasket 42 may particularly form the entire rim portion 49 and may be compressed by base housing upon assembly. The locking latches 48 may pull the base housing towards the sealing gasket 42 providing a constant compression force onto the sealing gasket 42 for sealing the connection between the base housing and the connector cover 44.

The elastically and electrically conductive material of the contact body 6 may particularly be pressure sensitive, so that the electric conductivity of the contact body 6 may be increased upon compression.

The contact body 6 may particularly be moulded to the connector cover 44.

The connector cover 44 may preferably be adapted for heavy duty connectors ensuring safe power transmission even under the harshest conditions. Shielding and sealing functionalities can be integrated in a single component by providing the contact body comprising or consisting of the electrically conductive and elastic material, particularly the elastomeric composite.

Now a fourth embodiment of the inventive electric assembly 1 is further elucidated with reference to Fig. 6.

The electric assembly 1 comprises a cable 50 forming the carrier device 2. The cable 50 may be a shielded cable having a cable shielding arranged coaxially to a cable core. The cable shielding may shield against electromagnetic interference from the cable core towards the local environment or from the local environment to the cable core.

At least one cable 50 may be terminated to a terminal for connection to a complementary connector. For terminating the cable 50, the cable core is laid bare at a section wherein the cable 50 is to be terminated.

The contact body 6 may be disposed onto the cable shielding continuing the shielding of the cable shielding. The contact body 6 may comprise a sleeve section 52 to be sleeved around the cable shielding contacting the cable shielding and extending coaxially to the cable core, whereby a gap is provided between the cable core and the contact body 6. The cable shielding may thus be embedded in the contact body 6. Hence, according to the fourth exemplary embodiment, the cable shielding forms the electrical conductor element 4.

Preferably, the contact body 6 may form the entire shielding housing 30 encasing not only the laid bare cable shielding, but also the termination of the cable. The electric assembly may comprise a contact interface 51 mounted in the shielding housing 30 and protruding from the shielding housing 30 at a side distal to an entrance of the cable 50 for connecting with a complementary connector. The complementary connector may comprise a shielding housing, which may serve as the mating contact continuing the shielding from electromagnetic interference to the complementary connector.

The electric assembly 1 may comprise two carriers 2, whose electric conductor may be contacted by a single contact body 6. In this case, two cables 50 may be provided, each being at least partially sleeved by a separate sleeve section 52, whereby the sleeve sections 52 may merge into a central section 54 at which the cables 50 may be terminated.

The contact body 6 may particularly be formed from the conductive elastomeric composite. The composite may comprise an elastomeric base, preferably having good sealing properties. Electrically conductive particles such as graphene, carbon or metals like silver may be dispersed, infused or injected into the elastomeric base.

Therefore, the shielding housing 30 may simultaneously be adapted for shielding and sealing the carrier device 2 or the connection with a complementary connector. Furthermore, due to the elastic properties of the contact body 6, tolerances in the relative position of the carrier device 2 relative to the mating contact may easily be compensated.

A further advantageous embodiment is described in the following with reference to Figs. 7 to 9, which show a schematic front view.

The electric assembly 1 comprises a receptacle 60, which may be limited by a bottom wall 62 and lateral walls 64 having lateral surfaces 66. The bottom wall 62 may be spaced apart from the lateral walls 64, such that a gap 68 is formed between the bottom wall 62 and the lateral surfaces 66. The bottom wall 62 may be formed by a substrate 70 such as a circuit board, an electrically conductive component, e.g. a die cast part, or an electrically insulating component. In this exemplary embodiment, the bottom wall 62 is formed by a substrate 70 having a conductor element 4, such as a conductive path or pad, facing the receptacle 60. The conductor element may for example be a grounding contact or the like. Preferably, the substrate 70 extends beyond the lateral surfaces 66 in a lateral direction. The lateral walls 64, may form a guide 72 towards the bottom wall 62. In this exemplary embodiment, the lateral walls 64 may be formed by an electrically conductive material. The lateral walls 64 may for example be part of a shielding, which prevents electromagnetic interference. In a further not shown embodiment, the lateral walls 64 may be electrically insulating or at least one lateral surface may comprise a signal contact, power contact or ground contact.

At least one contact body 6 formed from an electrically conductive and elastically flexible material 8, particularly an electrically conductive elastomer, may be received within the receptacle 60. In Fig. 7, the at least one contact body 6 is shown hovering in the air. This shows that the at least one contact body 6 may be a separate component such as a gasket, which is inserted into the receptacle. However, the at least one contact body 6 may also be rigidly attached, e.g. moulded to one of the lateral surfaces or the bottom surface.

Preferably, the at least one contact body 6 is arranged within the receptacle 60 having a width 74 in the lateral direction, which is lower than a width 76 of the receptacle 60, at least in a relaxed state 78 as shown in Fig. 7. Hence, the at least one contact body 6 may be distanced from at least one lateral surface. The at least one contact body 6 may, at least in the relaxed state, be arranged equidistantly to each lateral surface 66.As can be seen in Fig. 7, the width 74 of the at least one contact body 6 may be larger than a width 80 of the conductor element 4 such that the at least one contact body 6 may be adapted to cover the at least one conductor element 4 and protect the at least one conductor element from dust particles and liquids.

An activation element 82 for elastically deforming the at least one contact body 6 may be provided. The activation element 82 may for example be a cover 84 having a protrusion 86 with a width 88 that is lower than the width 76 of the receptacle 60, such that the protrusion 86 may extend into the receptacle 60. Preferably, the width 88 of the protrusion 86 may be lower than the width 74 of the at least one contact body 6. A front face 90 of the protrusion 86 forms a press-on surface 92, which is adapted to rest on the at least one contact body 6 and faces towards the bottom wall 62. Advantageously, the protrusion 86, the at least one contact body 6 and the conductor element 4 on the bottom wall 62 may be aligned.

The activation element 82 may be formed from an electrically conducting material. Alternatively, only the press-on surface 92 may be electrically conducting. For example, the press-on surface may be formed by an electrically conducting coating which is applied to the front face of the protrusion. In a further embodiment (not shown), the activation element 82 may be electrically insulating.

In Fig. 7, the activation element 82 is shown in a first position 94 in which it does not press against the at least one contact body 6. It is to be noted that as with the lateral surfaces and the bottom surface, the at least one contact body 6 may, in one embodiment, also be rigidly attached to the press-on surface 92, e.g. via moulding or the like. The first position 94 denotes a position in which the at least one contact body 6, which may be a gasket, is in a relaxed state.

The activation element 82 may be movable from the first position 94 into a second position 96, which is shown in Fig. 9. The protrusion 86 of the activation element 82 may press the at least one contact element against the bottom wall 62, which thus acts as a counter surface 98. At an intermediate position 100, shown in Fig. 8, the at least one contact body is squeezed between the at least one press-on surface 92 and the counter surface 98 covering the conductor 4 and thus sealing the conductor 4.

As the at least one contact body is electrically conductive, an electric path from the activation element 82 to the conductor element4 is provided. As the conductor element4 is in this exemplary embodiment, a grounding contact, a grounding connection is established.

Upon further movement of the activation element 82 towards the bottom wall 62, the material 8 of the at least one contact body 6 is pushed laterally outwards, therefore expanding the width 74 of the at least one contact body 6.

In the second position 96 of the activation element 82, the material 8 has been pushed so far that it is also pressed against the lateral surfaces 66, closing the gaps 68 and completely covering the bottom wall within the receptacle. Thus, the at least one contact body reaches an elastically deformed state 102. As the lateral surfaces 66 are electrically conductive in this exemplary embodiment, electric connections may be established via the at least one contact body 6. The lateral walls 64 may for example be shielding contacts which provide protection against electromagnetic interference.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the lateral walls 64 may be part of an electric circuit that is closed by the at least one contact element 6 in the elastically deformed state 102 as shown in Fig. 9. The electric circuit 104 may be closed by the at least one contact body 6 when the activation element 82 is in the second position 96. An electric signal 106 may be provided to indicate that the activation element 82 has reached the second position 96 and the at least one contact body 6 has reached the elastically deformed state 102. The electric signal may be converted into an acoustic and/or visual signal such that the signal may be easily noticed. Thus, this embodiment may provide a further safety function, indicating to the customer whether the electric assembly is correctly installed or whether the connection is lost during long term use.

Generally, the sixth embodiment shows a multifunctional purpose of the contact body 6. It may simultaneously serve as a shielding contact, a grounding contact, a seal and a signal contact. Depending on the application requirements, different functions of the contact body 6 can be established either in combination with other functions or separately. Different components can form the carrier device while the contact body 6 seals the receptacle 60 and forms an electrically conducting bridge between conductors.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

1 electric assembly

2 carrier device

4 electrical conductor element

6 contact body

8 electrically conductive and elastically flexible material

10 circuit board

12 structure

14 conductive track

16 mating contact

18 contact pad

20 surface

21 contacting surface

22 connector housing

24 base

26 cover

28 wire

30 shielding housing

32 receptacle

34 face side

36 receiving notch

38 cover

39 metal shielding

40 side edge

42 sealing gasket

43 shielding

44 connector cover

45 frame

46 terminal receptacle

48 locking latches

49 rim portion

50 cable

51 contact interface

52 sleeve section

54 central section 60 receptacle

62 bottom wall

64 lateral wall

66 lateral surface

68 gap

70 substrate

72 guide

74 width of contact body

76 width of receptacle

78 relaxed state

80 width of conductor element

82 activation element

84 cover

86 protrusion

88 width of protrusion

90 front face

92 press-on surface

94 first position

96 second position

98 counter surface

100 intermediate position

102 elastically deformed state

104 electric circuit

106 electric signal