# US 2017/0288358 A1 · Connecting element for electrical and mechanical connection of electronic modules, electronic module arrangement for installation in a cylindrical installation space and rolling bearing arrangement

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- Number: US 2017/0288358 A1
- Document ID: US20170288358A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/506,567
- Filed: 2016-02-03
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2015-02-06
- Assignees: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
- Applicants: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
- Inventors: Jens HEIM; Sergej MENSCH; Andreas SCHIFFLER
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170288358A1

## CPC

- H01R 39/643: {through ball or roller bearing}
- F16C 19/00: Bearings with rolling contact, for exclusively rotary movement (adjustable bearings F16C23/00, F16C25/00 {; electrically insulating bearings H02K5/173})
- F16C 41/002: {Conductive elements, e.g. to prevent static electricity}
- F16C 41/004: {Electro-dynamic machines, e.g. motors, generators, actuators}
- F16C 41/007: {Encoders, e.g. parts with a plurality of alternating magnetic poles}
- F16C 41/008: {Identification means, e.g. markings, RFID-tags; Data transfer means}
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS

## Abstract

The present invention relates to a connecting element for electrical and mechanical connection of electronics modules. The connecting element includes a base part having a receptacle area that serves to hold an electronics module, wherein the receptacle area has first electrical contact points for the electrical connection of the connecting element to electrical contact points of the electronics module. The base part includes a first end region having a first recessed section on the top side and has a second end region having a second recessed section on the bottom side. Second electrical contact points for connecting to further connecting elements are disposed on the top side of the first recessed section and on the bottom side of the second recessed section. The recessed sections are designed such that the end regions of connecting elements that are located next to each other can be positioned opposite one another in such a way that the top sides of the connecting elements are located on a plane and the bottom sides of the connecting elements are located on another plane. The second electrical contact points are disposed in such a way that the connecting elements can be positioned at different angles (a) with respect to one another. The invention also relates to an electronic module arrangement having at least one connecting element and an electronics module disposed in the receptacle area of the connecting element.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A connecting element for the electrical and mechanical connection of electronics modules comprising a base part with
a receptacle area used for holding an electronics module, the receptacle area has first electrical contact points for connecting the connecting element to electrical contact points of the electronics module,
a first end region with a first recessed section on top side thereof and a second end region with a second recessed section on a bottom side thereof, second electrical contact points for connecting to other connecting elements are arranged on the top side of the first recessed section and on the bottom side of the second recessed section, the first and second recessed sections are constructed such that the first and second end regions of connecting elements that are in line with each other are positioned opposite each other such that the top sides and the bottom sides of the adjacent connecting elements each lie in a plane, and the second electrical contact points are arranged so that the adjacent connecting elements that are positioned at different angles (α) to each other maintain the contact between opposite second contact points.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The connecting element according to claim 1, further comprising a positioning element for positioning the connecting element in a carrier.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The connecting element according to claim 1, wherein the second electrical contact points of the adjacent connecting elements are connected by at least one of a conductive adhesive, soldering, press-fit connection, welding, or crimping.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

An electronics module arrangement for installing in a cylindrical installation space comprising a connecting element according to claim 1, wherein and an electronics module arranged in the receptacle area of the connecting element.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The electronics module arrangement according to claim 4, further comprising multiple ones of the connecting elements connected to each other by the second electrical contact points and one or more of the electronics modules, and a maximum possible number of the electronics modules corresponds to a number of the connecting elements.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The electronics module arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the electrical contact points of the electronics module are connected to the first electrical contact points of the connecting elements by a connector element made from an electrically conductive material.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The electronics module arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the first electrical contact points of the electronics modules are formed of an electrically conductive material or are realized by an electrically conductive coating.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The electronics module arrangement according to claim 5, further comprising a hollow cylindrical carrier that is adapted in diameter to a cylindrical installation space and is insertable into the installation space such that the connecting elements connected to each other are arranged in the carrier in a circumferential direction.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The electronics module arrangement according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the connecting elements or the electronics modules have recesses for positioning the connecting element and the electronics module relative to each other.

### Claim 10 (depends on 4)

A rolling bearing arrangement comprising a rolling bearing with two concentric bearing rings and rolling bodies arranged between the bearing rings in a rolling body space, and an electronics module arrangement according to claim 4, arranged in a rolling bearing installation space.