GB2524835A

GB2524835A - Cover lid, housing for electric or electromagnetic applications and method of assembly of a HF housing

Info

Publication number: GB2524835A
Application number: GB1406149.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Rainer Krause; Wilhelm Weitzenberger; Cornelia Litwa; Oliver Schwaiger
Original assignee: Kathrein Werke KG
Current assignee: Kathrein SE
Priority date: 2014-04-04
Filing date: 2014-04-04
Publication date: 2015-10-07
Also published as: GB201406149D0; WO2015150500A1

Abstract

A cover lid 50 for a housing 1 for electric or electromagnetic applications has parallel upper 54 and bottom 53 surfaces, these surfaces connected by a peripheral lateral surface that has a bevelled edge 58, preferably adjacent the bottom surface. The lid 50 is preferably press-fit into a reception space (20) of housing (10) (see fig 4) that contains a PCB (24) where the housing may also have an further external lid that encloses the cover lid. The lid may have peripheral recesses that provide for some resilience when the lid is press-fitted, as the lid is made slightly bigger than the reception space. A method of assembly of the housing with a cover lid is disclosed, where the position of a press fitted lid is monitored by detecting the effect on the enclosed electronics. The position of the lid may alter the impedance of transmission lines inside the housing. The position may thus be optimised for a preferred impedance.

Description

of a. i-I F housing

S

cr&ssrek.re.rfl [0001] None.

[0002] The present iiwention relates to a housing fin eketric. or electromagnetic applications, in particaar for high frequency (i-IF) requirements. More precisely, the present invention relates to a housing lid, a housing comprising the housing lid, and a method of manufacturing the housing.

00031 1 hg1 trequenes compone its, suji as couplers are siiueu. of stncl requir mcnts flu robustncs and re iabihty I he hi1it freqaency on1poTIcn1s ate paUaged in a houang, hich is designed to rninumze HP or radio frequency (RF)interfercnces from a signal.

[0004] Passive intermodulation (PiM is a fOrm of intennodulation distortion that can occur even when no active components are present. PTh1 can occur in a variety of ateas ranging from coaxial connectors and cables to rusty bolts or any joint where dissimilar metals occur.

Passive inteimodulation can produce interference between signals, and this passive intermodulation can sometimes hide a wanted signal.A designer of a eircuh will therefOre try and reduce the passive intermodulation.

[0005] One element that can lead to reduction in the PIIM is the packaging or housing of high frequency components The housing is designed to reduce the RIM values.

Sununary of the ilivdntion [0006] The present invention proposes a cover lid for a housIng thr electric or electromagnetic applications. wherein the cover lid comprises a cover lid plate having a S bottom plate surface, an upper plate surface, the upper plate surface being anwiged substantiafly parallel to the bottom plate surface, arid a latera.l lid surface joining the bottom plate surface and the upper plate surface, wherein the lateral, lid surface comprises a bevelled portion [00071 The bevelled portion helps press-fitting the cover lid into a housing in a homogeneous and regular manner, the cover lid being parallel and remaining parallel to the housing's bottom base during the press-fitting.

[0008] When the cover lid covers a housing, at least a part of the latera' lid surthee lies is against a lateral vall of the housing, thereby closing and sealing the housing. At least another part of the lateral lid surface does not conflict the lateral wal This geometry of the cover lid.

in particular the bevelled portion, therefbre helps reducing unwanted cold welding between the housing and the cover lid arising, during the assembly process and subsequently in use, which could also lead to passive intennodulation.

(1009] In one aspect of the invention, Lire lateral, lid surface comprises a first lateral lid ux.ndmg from thL upper patc strlave and heig sub'dantially prpunthcular to tie upper plate surface, and a second lateral lid surface, extending from the first lateral lid surface to the bottom plate surface, at a bevelled angle with respect to the first Lateral lid surface, thereby forming the bevelled portion. Preferably, the bevelled angle lies in the range of 3° to 45°. preferably in the range of 5 to 15°.

[0010] The bevelled portion may comprise a hevefled edge, such that the area or the external dimensions of the bottom plate surthee is smaller than the area or the external dimensions of the upper plate surface.

100111 In an aspe t ni the in'. cotton, tht hew led port on extends alon& dx. ntire hut ial periphery of the cover Lid plate.

[0012] in yet another aspect of the present in vention, a plurahtv of recesses are spaced apart along the lateral lid surthce, across the lateral lid surface. Preferably the plurality of rece sea extends along the first lateral lid surface, across the first lateral lid surthee, where a contact between the cover lid and the housing peripheral wall is important.

[0013] The plurality of recesses allow reducing the cold welding by allowing material migration when the cover lid is press-fitted within the housing.

[0014] The recesses further allow absorbing manufacturiig tolerances of the cover Rd.

10015] The recesses may he round, rectangular, triangu'ar or have any other form. The recesses may be regularly spaced apart but may also he spaced apart iii a non regular disposition.

[00161 By providing at least one groove on the upper plate surface, unwanted cold welding between the housing and the cover lid arising during the assembly process and subsequently in use may be further reduced. lie groove farther allows reducing the press4itting threes on the cover lid which are applied during the assembly process.

[0017] in one aspect of the invention, the covcr lid plate comprises at least three corners. At least one of the corners comprises a. profile including at least one of a truncation and a. curved profile. The profile allows reducing unwanted cold welding.

[00181 In another aspect of the invention, the cover lid plate has a rounded, oval or curved shape.

[001 9] lie present invention further pnmoses a housing for electric or electromagnetic applications comprising: a bottom base, a lateral peripheral housing wall, extending from the bottom base, the lateral housing wall having a peripheral internal edge defining a cover lid reception at ace, and a cover lid as described above, wherein the cover lid is press fitted into the cover lid reception space.

[00201 By providing a cover lid dimensioned to he larger than tire cover lid reception space, sealing of the housing may he ensured.

[0021] In an aspect of the present invention, the housing comprises a protection cover resting on top of the lateral housing wall, above the cover lid. In another aspect of the present invention, the protection cover is integrally fornied with the cover lid.

0022] the nesent mventtor further t( }e' a method of ckW1flhhflg i housin for electra or electromagnetic applications, the housing comprising a bottom base with a peripheral aterai housing wafl defining a cover id reception space, the method comprising press4itting a cover lid into the cover lid reception space to close the housing, and monitoring at least one electrical parameter to define a final position of the cover lid into the housing.

[002 3] The method of assernhiy:flows optimizing electrical parameters values, when ti-ic at least one electrical parameter is tuned with the cover lid position during the cover lid assembly.

[00241 These and other aspects of the inventjon will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiment(s) described hereinafter.

[0025] Fig. 1 shows a coupler having a housing with a cover lid according to an embodiment of the present invention; [0026] Fig2 shows a cross section view of the coupler of figure 1; [0027] Fig. 3 is an exploded \qew of the coupkr of figure 1; [0028] Fig. 4 shows a cover lid according to an cmnhodiment of the present invention; [0029] Fig. 5 is a top view of the cover lid of figure 4 [0030] Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of the cover lid of figure 4; [00311 Fig. 7 shows a top view of a cover lid according to ait embodiment of the present invention; [0032] Fig.8 shows an exploded view ot'a filter having a housing with a cover lid according to an en hodiment oldie present invention; j003 -Fig 9 C,oi, an antenna having a housing with a covet 1W aecorchn to yet another embodiment cithe present invention; 10034i Fig 10 is a block diagram of a method of assembly of a housing with a cover lid according to one ernbodhnent of the present. invention.

[0035] The ruvenflon. will now be described on the basis of the drawings. lilt will be understood that the embodiments arid aspects of the invention described herein are only examples and d.c not ilmit the protective scope of the dains in anyway. ihe mventon is definect by the claims and their equivalents. It will he understood that features of one aspect or embodiment of the invention can he combined with a feature of a difirenL aspect or aspects and/or e nhodirnen ts of the irwentiori.

0036) 1 it I howc a couplet 1 haviug a hoas ng 10 acodwg to an apcct of the present invention. Figure 2 is a crosssectionai view of the coupler 1 and figure 3 shows an exploded S view of the coupler I. [00371 The housing 10 comprises a boioni base 15 and four lateral housing walls forming a peripheral lateral housing wall 1.7, whtch extend substantially perpendicularly uriwards from the bottom base 15.. The lateral housing wail I 7 has a peripheral internal edge 19 which define a cover lid reception space 20 tbr receiving, a cover lid 50.

1D038] i'he housing 10 is closed by the cover lid 50. The cover lid 50 is best seen on figures 4. to 6.

[0039J The cover lid 50 comprises a cover lid plate 52 with a bottom plate surface 53 and an upper plate surface 54. The upper plate surface 54 is arranged substantially in a plane which is parallel to the pane of the bottom plate surface 53, A lateral lid surface 55 joins the bottom plate surface 53 and the upper plate surface 54.

[0040] The lateral lid surface 55 comprises a first bteral lid surface 56, extending si bstan alIy perperdicular to tin urer plate.urnce S4 and a second areral hd surface 7, extending inwards at a bevelled angle from the first lateral lid surthee 56. The lateral lid surfiice 55 therefbre comprises a bevelled portion SW In other words, the area of the bottom plate surface 53 is smaller than the area. of th.e upper plate surface 54.

[0041] The bevelled angle is smalier than 10 degrees.

[0042] lii the aspect of the disclosure shown on figures 4 to 6, the bevelled portion 58 extends along the entire lateral periphery of the cover lid plate 52. However, this is not a limiting example and the bevelled portion 58 may extend along part of the lateral periphery, eg. along two opposite lateral walls, or only along one single lateral wall, I43] The hevefled portion 58 may comprise a bevelled edge as in the example of figures 4 m to 6. The lateral lid surthee 55 with the beveled portion may also comprise a curved profile or a profile such that the area or the external dimensions of the bottom plate surfhce 53 is smaller than the area or the external dimensions of the upper plate surface 54.

[0044] In the iflustated aspect of the disclosure, the cover lid 50 is in a shape of a 13 rectangt'ar parallclepiped I lowc vet, this of ap is not hmtirg the rnonnon, RnC other brnc arc conceivable, such as a polygon, a cross, an oval or rounded form.

[0045] At least a part of the first lateral surface 56 lies against the lateral walls 1 7, thereby closing and sealing the housing 10 when the cover lid 50 covers the housing 1 0. The second lateral surface 57 does not contact thc lateral wall 17. This geometry of the cover lid 50 reduces unwanted cold welding between the housing 10 and the cover lid 50 arising during the assembly process and subsequently in use.

100461 The first lateral lid surface 56 thmther coinnrscs a plurality of recesses 66 spaced apart along the bevelled portion 58, on the first lateral lid surface 56. The recesses 66 may be round, rectanguar, triangular or have any other form. The recesses 66 may be regularly spaced apart but may also be spaced apart in a non regular disposition. The plurality of recesses 66 further reduces the cold welding by allowing material migration when the cover lid 50 is prcsstitted within the housing 10. 3°

[0047] The recesses 66 helps reducing the risk of cold weldtng between the housing 10 and.

the co er lid SO nsmg during h accmhly proees and suhsequentl 11', ncc The recesses 6t flurther advantageously allows absorbing manufacturing tolerances of the cover lid.

[004$] The cover lid plate 52 of this aspect of the disclosure is further designed with four corners 62. At least one of the four corners 62 is truncated, In the aspect shown in figures 4 and 5, all of the four corners 62. are truncated. However, this is not a hmflutg example, arid the cover lid plate 52 may have one, two or three truncated corners. The skilled person will understand that the truncated corners 52 help avoid coldwekling. whilst allow minimiztflg the forces depioyed doting the assembly of the cover lid 2.0 within the housing 10.

[0049] In Ihe aspect stio'n ru bgures 4 an. 5 the corners ate truncitd with an angle o about 45°. This is not limiting the present invention. The corners may he truncated with another ang(e, or the corner may have a shape with a curve.

[0050] The cover lid 50 15 Pressed in or fitted in the cover lid reception space 20. as will be described with rcthrence to figsre 11. Je cover lid 50 is slightly larger than the cover lid reception space 20, to ensure a tight closing of the housing whilst helping achieving a reguhu s press fitting during assembly.

[0051] The housing 10 of' figures 1 to 3 is a coupler housing, provided with four connectors 80. attached through wo opposite sides of the lateral housing wafl] 7. This is not limiting the invention, and figure 8 gives an example of a filter housing.

[052] The bottom base 15 of the coupler housing is best seen on Fig. 3 Th.e ixittoin base.15 is formed by a stack comprising a first substrate 22, a conductor board 24 and a second substrate 26.

10053] The coupler 1 of figures 1 to 3 further comprises a protection cover 60. The protection cover 60 is fastened to the housing 10 by means of screws 61 inserted into screw holes 62. on top of the housing walls 17 (seen on figure 1). this is an example of connection of a protection cover 60 on the housing 10. The protection cover 60 is provided to protect the coupler 1 from its environment.

100541 Fig. I shows another example of cover lid 450, which comprises a cover lid plate 452 with a bottom phite surface 453 and an upper plate surface 454. The upper plate surface 454 is 1:1 arranged substantially in a plane which is parallel to the plane of the bottom phite surface 453.

A iateral lid surface 455 joins the bottom plate surthee 853 and the upper plate surface 454.

[0055] The lateral lid surface 455 comprises a first lateral lid surface 456, extending substantially perpendicular to the tipper plate surface 454, and a second lateral lid surthee 457.

extending inwards at a bevelled angle from the first lateral lid surthee 156. The lateral lid sur±hce 455 therefore comprises a bevelled portion 458.A plurality of recesses 466 are on. the lateral lid surface 455.

[0056] The cover lid plate 452 of figure 7 differs from the cover lid plate 52 in that the cover lid phte 452 comprises at least one groove 76 on the bottom lid surface 453. Ihe groove 76 is peripheral but this is not limiting the invention.

[0057] The groove 476 helps reducing unwanted cold welding between the housing and the cover lid arising during the assembly process and subsequently in use. The groove 474 further allows reducing the press-tittng forces on the cover lid which. are needed during the asserriNy process.

100531 Fig.8 shows an ex.pkxled view xf a filter 201 having a housing 7.10 closed by a cover lid 250 according to another aspect of the present disdosure.

[00591 The housing 210 comprises a bottom base 215 and a lateral housing peripheral wall 217 extending substantially perpendicular to the bottom base 215. The lateral housing wall 217 with a peripheral internal edge 219 defines a cover lid reception space 220 for receiving the cover lid 250.

[0060] The cover lid 250.ornprtses a cover id plate 252 ir a shape of a iectangular 2.5 paralielepiped with a bottom plate surface 253. an upper plate surface 254. mainly parallel to the bottom plate surface 253, and a. literal lid sarThce 255 joining the bottom plate surfaces 253 and the upper plate surfaces 254.

[006fl The lateral lid surface 255 comprises a first lateral lid surface 256, extending substantially perpendicular to the upper plate surface 254, and a second lateral lid surface 257, extending inwards at a bevelled angle from the first lateral lid surface 256. The lateral lid surface 255 therefore comprises a bevelled portion 25W [00621 The bevelled angle lies in the range of 0 to 10 degrees.

[00631, In the aspect shown on figure 8. the bevelled portion 258 extends along the entire lateral periphery of the cover lid plate 252. However, this is not a muting example and the bevelled portion 232 may extend along part of the lateral peripheiy, e.g. along two Opposite lateral walls, or only one lateral wail.

[0064] The first lateral lid surface 256 comprises a plurality of recesses 266 regularly spaced apart along the first lateral lid surface 256.

[0065j The cover lid pate 252 has four corners 262, At least one of the corners 262 is truncated. Hbwever, this is not a limiting example, and the cover lid plate may have one, two or three truncated corners.

[0066] As can be seen on figure 8. the filter 201 comm rises a pluralitY of coaxial resonators 282. An isolator 284 is provided to prevent electrical contact between the cover lid 210 and is the peripheral internal edge 219.

[0067] Pig. 9 shows a side view of an antenna 301 having a housing 310 with a cover lid 350 according to yet another aspect of the dkcosure of the present invention.

2,0 [0068] The housing 310 comprises a bottcm base 3 15 and a lateral peripheral housing wall 317 extending substantially perpendicular to th.e bottom base 315 and defining with a peripheral internal edge 319 a wer lid reception space 320 for receiving the cover lid 350.

[0069] The cover lid 350 comprises a cover lid plate 352 in a shape of a rectangular 2.5 parallelepiped with a bottom plate surface 353, an upper plate surface 354, which is formed substantially parallel to the bottom.. plate surf ce 333, and a lateral lid surface 355 joining the bottom plate surfaces 353 and the upper plate surfaces 354, [0070] The lateral lid surface 355 comprises a first lateral lid surface 356. extending substantially perpendicular to the upper plate surface 354, and a second lateral lid surface 357.

extending inwards at a bevelled angle from the first lateral lid surface 356. The lateral lid surface $55 therefore comprises a bevelled portion $58. in other words, the area or the xtcrnal chmens ons of the ottom plate irhee 351 is smaller han th arts c' Ox. cxlernal dimensions of the upper plate surface 354.

[0071] The first lateral lid surthee 356 in the aspect shown en figure 9 extends substantially perpendicular to the upper plate surface 354. However, this is not limiting the invention and the lirst Lateral lid surface 356 may also extends at a tirst angle different from 90° from the upper plate surface 354.

[0072] The bevelled angle lies in the range of 0 to 10 degrees.

10073] The bevelled portion 358 extends along the entire lateral perithery of' the cover lid plate 352. 1-lowever. this is not a limiting example and the bevelled portion 382 may extend along part of the lateral periphery, e.g. along two opposite lateral wails, or only one lateral wail.

[0074] Also not seen on figute 9, the first ateral lid surface 356 may comprise s plusal!t of recesses spaced apart along the first lateral id striate 35o Smijarly te ov&r lid plate 352 has tour u rrier)c2 At. east one of the coueis 362 tray 1e piovided with a truneaton or a curved profile.

[0075] As can be seen on figure 9, the bottom base 3 15 of the housing comprises a plurality of electrical parts 382. located on a circuit board 323 within the bout ing 310 when the housing 310 is closed by the cover lid 350, press fitted into the housing 310. Radiating elements 384 of the antenna 301 are located on the outside, i.e. on the other side of the bottom base 301.

, [0076] In the example of flgure 9 the cixuit board 83 is fixed to the bottm base 315 In other embodiments, the bottom base 315 may he formed integrally with the circuit board 383 or the circuit board 383 may fbrm the bottom base 3115.

[0077] The radiating elements 384 of the antenna 301 of figure 9 fomi a dipole mounted on 34) a support structure, This is not a limiting example and the radiating elements may have any other configuration, such as a planar radiatint element or a plurality of dipoles..

[0078] The bottom base. .3 15 of the housing 310 shown on figure 9 comprises a refieclion element for the antenna 301, hut this is not a limiting example.

[00791 lie cover lid 350 in the example of figure 9 serves as an isolation clement which, when closing the housing 310, isolates the eiectrica circuit with the electrical parts 382 bun the radiating &cments 384.

s 10080] A closing of the housing 310 is easily achieved by press-fitting the cover lid 350 into the cover lid reception space 320. The fixation and closing of the housing is facilitated with respect to a closing with, e.g., screws.

[0081] Figure 10 shows a method of assembling a housing comprising a bottom base with four lateral housing walls defining a cover lid reception space. [he method of assembly is described with reference to the housing 10 and the cover lid 50 of the coupler I of figures I to 3.

[0082] In a first step Si, the cover lid 50 is press-fitted into the housing 10. The cover lid 50 is press-fitted into the cover lid reception space 20 to close the housing. PreferaHy. a press-fitting three is applied on the upper plate surthce.5 4 of the cover lid 50, over the entire surfaee or over sonic application points located on the upper plate surface 54, such that the cover lid is press fitted in a homogeneous and regular maimer, the cover lid being parallel and remaining parallel to the housing's bottom base 10 during the press-fitting.

[00831 During press-fItting, at least one electrical parameter is monitored to define a final position of the cover lid 50. In the example of the coupler 1, the thur connectors 80 are connected to an impeJane of MI Ohns! he Tefiect1oI7 hctwcen the diflerrt paths anC connectors are measured and monitored to derive the electrical parameters (step 82).

[0084] Electrical parameters which could he monitored include inn are not limited to a return loss of the four ports where the connectors arc located, a coupling factor, an isolation between ports.

[0085] Afkai position of the cover lid 50 is a position -where the eiecical parameters correspond to an optimized value of the at least one electrical parameter being monitored, such as a value of isolation.

1TO6j The method of assembly according to the present invention allows optimizing the coupler's performances, when the at least one electrical parameter is tuned with the cover lid posi4ion during the cover lid assembly.

00871 WhUc various embodiments at' the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented k' was' of example, and not limitation. It will be ppntnt to persons skilled in the relevant arts that various changes in thrni and detail can be made therein without departing from the scope o:the invention.

Claims

Ciahn s I A cOC3 lid (50) tot a hoLsing (1) for eleettic or e[ecftomagnetic applicrions, whcteir S the cover lid comprises a cover lid plate (52:) having a botiom plate surface (53). an upper plate surface (54), the upper plate surface being alTanged substantially parallel to the bottom plate surthce, and a lateral lid surface (55) jornng the bottom plate surface and the upper plate surface, wherein the lateral lid surface (55) comprises a bevel led portion (58).
2. The cover lid aceordmg to claim 1, wherein, the lateral lid surface (55) comprises a first Jateia lid surtac (56), eMendi g tron the upper plcte surface (54j ard being substantially perpendtcular to the upper plate surthee (54), and a second lateral lid surfhee (57), extending from the first lateral lid surthce (56) to the bottom plate surface (53'), at a bevelled angle with respect to the first lateral lid surface (56), thereby forming the bevelled portion (5&i.
3. The cover lid according to claim 2., where the bevelled angle lies in the range of 3° to 45°. preferably in the range of 5 to 15°.
4. The cover lid according to anyone of claims I to 3, wherein the. bevelled portion (58) extends along the entire penphery of the cover lid, in particular lonmug said lateral lid surface (55).
5. The cover lid according to anyone of claims I to 4, comprising a plurthi of recesses (66) spaced apart along the lateral lid surface (55).
6. The cover lid according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of recesses extends along the first lateral lid surface (56).
7. The cover lid according to anyone of claims I to 6. comprising at least one groove on the upper p]ate surfihce. the groove being preferably peripheral.
8. The cover lid according to anyone of claims 1 to 7, wherein the cover lid plate (52) comprises at Least three corners (62) and wherein at least one of the corners (62) comprises a profile mc!LLdmg at least one of a truncation and a nirved profiie.
9. The cover lid according to anyone of claims 1 to 7, wherein the cover Lid plate (52) has a rounded., oval or curved profile.
1.0. A housing (10) tbr electric or electromagnetic applications, comprising: a bottom haseft5), a lateral peripheral housing wall (17), extending from the bottom base (15), the lateral housing wall (17) having a peripheral internal edge (19) defining a cover lid reception space (20), and -a cover lid (50) according to any one of claim 1 to ¶L wherein the cover lid is press fitted into the cover Ed reception space (20).
ii. The housing according to claim 10. wherein the cover lid (50) is dimensioned to be larger than the cover lid reception space (20).
12. The housing according to claim 10 or Ii, comprising a protectioTi CoVer (00) resting on top of the aterat housing wall (17), shove the cover lid (50).
13. The housing according to claim 12, wherein the protection cover (60)is integrally formed with the cover lid ($0).
14. A method of assembling a housing (50) thr ehxnric or electromagnetic applications, the housing comprising a. bottom base (1 5) with a peripheral lateral. housing waH (1 7) defining a cover lid reception space (20), the method comprising press-fitting a cover],id. (50) into the cover lid reception space (20) to close the housing, and monitoring at least one electrical parameter to define a final position of the cover lid (50) into the housing (10).