DE102024000676A1 - Component arrangement with two components and method for their assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a component arrangement (B) comprising a first component (B1) and a second component (B2), wherein the second component (B2) has an RFID chip (13) which can only be activated and thus transmitted by a correctly formed joining connection between the two components (B1, B2), wherein the first component (B1) is a body (1) for a vehicle and the second component (B2) is a grab handle unit (2).
According to the invention, the second component (B2) has an open circuit (14) for activating the RFID chip (13) through two contact points (KS) spaced apart from one another, and the first component (B1) is made of an electrically conductive material, wherein the two components (B1, B2) are designed in such a way that only through the correctly formed joint connection between the two components (B1, B2) the two contact points (KS) of the second component (B2) make electrically conductive contact with the first component (B1), thereby closing the circuit (14) through the first component (B1) and activating the RFID chip (13).
Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for assembling the component arrangement (B).

Description

The invention relates to a component arrangement with two components according to the features of the preamble of claim 1 and a method for their assembly.

The state of the art is, as in the DE 10 2020 005 606 A1 described, a method for checking a joint between two components to be joined using an RFID chip is known. When the respective component reaches an end position, the end position of the components is detected by a switching contact and/or switching electronics connected to the RFID chip and transmitted to the RFID chip via an electrical line to activate it. The RFID chip then sends a signal to a computer unit in a production environment to confirm that the joint has been correctly established.

In the DE 10 2020 000 494 A1 a mechanically activatable RFID transponder and an assembly component with a mechanically activatable RFID transponder are described. The RFID transponder comprises a transponder resonance circuit with a transponder antenna and a resonance capacitance connected in parallel thereto, wherein the transponder resonance circuit is designed to be inductively coupled to a reader resonance circuit of an RFID reader. The RFID transponder has an activation switching element connected in parallel to the transponder antenna and in parallel to the resonance capacitance, which is designed to be switchable between a closed switching state and an open switching state by mechanical actuation. When the switching state is open, the inductive coupling of the transponder resonance circuit with a reader resonance circuit is enabled. When the switching state is closed, the inductive coupling of the transponder resonance circuit with a reader resonance circuit is prevented.

The invention is based on the object of specifying a component arrangement with two components which is improved compared to the prior art and a method for their assembly which is improved compared to the prior art.

The object is achieved according to the invention by a component arrangement with two components having the features of claim 1 and a method for their assembly having the features of claim 7.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

A component arrangement has a first component and a second component, wherein the second component has an RFID chip, in particular an RFID transponder, which can only be activated and thus capable of transmission by a correctly formed joint connection between the two components. The first component (B1) is a body (1) for a vehicle and the second component (B2) is a handle unit (2).

According to the invention, the second component has an open circuit for activating the RFID chip through two contact points spaced apart from one another. This means that the circuit is open in and/or on the second component, i.e. open, and this is achieved by the two contact points spaced apart from one another. The first component is made of an electrically conductive material, in particular metal. The two components are designed in such a way that only through the correctly formed joint connection between the two components do the two contact points of the second component make electrically conductive contact with the first component, thereby closing the circuit through the first component and activating the RFID chip. This means that when the two components of the component arrangement are correctly joined together, i.e. when the two components of the component arrangement are correctly joined together, the circuit is closed. If this correctly formed joint connection between the two components of the component arrangement is not present, the circuit is open. It is and remains open until the correctly formed joint connection is present.

In a method according to the invention for assembling the component arrangement, the joint connection of the two components is produced, i.e. the two components are joined together. As a result, the two contact points of the second component make electrically conductive contact with the first component, whereby the circuit for activating the RFID chip is closed by the first component and the RFID chip is activated and is therefore capable of transmitting.

Advantageously, a signal from the activated RFID chip is read out as an acknowledgement that the joint has been correctly produced, in particular read out automatically. It is intended, for example, that this acknowledgement is recorded electronically by a production system and, for example, processed automatically.

The solution described uses an RFID chip that is basically able to send a signal even if it is not directly visible. However, this RFID chip is also designed and arranged on the second component, in particular embedded in it, in such a way that it is only activated by the correctly performed joining process of the both components, for example by locking, clipping or hanging, is switched electrically and/or electronically and thereby activated, which in particular makes it capable of transmitting. The two components are thus designed in such a way that when the joining connection is implemented correctly through the mechanical joining process, the RFID chip is also switched electrically and thus activated. In this way it can be ensured that the joining process was carried out correctly, i.e. that the two components are correctly connected to one another, because only in this case can the RFID chip send a signal, in particular a confirmation signal to confirm the correct joining connection. Only when the two components are assembled correctly and the joining connection is correctly established is the RFID chip in a transmittable state and can send the confirmation signal accordingly for confirmation, which can be read out as an acknowledgement that this assembly step has been carried out correctly, for example using an RFID reader. This acknowledgement can be electronically recorded by a production system and thus processed automatically. This eliminates the need for a manual test step to check the joint between the two components and for confirmation by another worker, thus saving costs.

The solution described is particularly advantageous when assembling components that have to be assembled with increased care, especially when a component function fails due to production, which could pose a risk to life and limb. In these joining processes, it has previously been common practice for another worker to visually check the correct implementation of the assembly step separately and then confirm that it has been carried out correctly. However, if the joining point is not visible, the correct implementation of the joining process, particularly in the case of locking elements or suspension systems, can only be verified via an acoustic signal, such as a snapping or clicking sound, or, if possible, only by subsequent tests, such as a tensile test on the assembled component. However, these tests are subject to errors and cannot clearly confirm that the assembly step was actually carried out correctly. The solution described here avoids these disadvantages of the previous procedure.

In one embodiment, the open circuit with the two contact points spaced apart from one another is formed by an electrically conductive component body of the second component, wherein the RFID chip is arranged in and/or on this component body and is coupled to the component body in an electrically conductive manner. The component body is made of metal, for example. Alternatively, the open circuit can be formed, for example, by conductor tracks arranged on and/or in the second component, in particular on and/or in its component body, which are connected to the RFID chip.

In one embodiment, the first component is a body for a vehicle and the second component is a grab handle unit. The body is also referred to, for example, as a shell or shell structure. For example, the first component can also be just one element of this body, for example a roof element or a spar or a strut. The second component designed as a grab handle unit has, for example, a grab handle console, which forms the component body of the second component, and a grab handle. The grab handle is, for example, pivotably arranged on the grab handle console. For example, two connecting sections of the grab handle are each pivotably connected to the grab handle console via a respective pivot axis. The two pivot axes are in particular components of a common virtual pivot axis about which the grab handle can pivot.

The joint is in particular a positive connection between the two components. Alternatively or additionally, it can be, for example, a force-fitting and/or material-fitting connection between the two components.

The joining connection, which is in particular a form-fitting connection, is in particular a locking connection. For this purpose, the two components in particular have locking elements that correspond to one another to form the locking connection. Alternatively or additionally, the joining connection can be, for example, a connection that is or is to be formed by clipping the two components together and/or by hanging the two components into one another.

It is provided in particular that the first component designed as a body has two spaced-apart latching openings and the component body designed as a handle console of the second component designed as a handle unit has two corresponding connecting formations with latching lugs.

It is particularly provided that the respective contact point is formed by a contact base section of the component body designed as a handle console of the second component designed as a handle unit, which is adjacent to the respective connection formation and which only correctly formed joint to the first component formed as a body.

The solution described is therefore used in particular to secure the mechanical locking of the grab handle unit to the body of a vehicle, whereby this security is made possible by activating the RFID chip. The grab handle unit is connected to the body in particular via corresponding locking elements. It must be ensured that these locking elements also lead to a complete positive connection. In this case, the circuit is closed because the two contact points are connected to one another in an electrically conductive manner via the body.

The contact points of the grab handle console and a respective contact area of the body, which is electrically conductively contacted by the respective contact point of the grab handle console when the locking connection is correctly designed, are designed such that they are not electrically conductively contacted with one another, i.e. in particular they do not lie against one another, when they are not or not correctly assembled, i.e. when the locking connection is not or not correctly designed.

As described above, the RFID chip is connected to the conductor tracks of the grab handle console, which form the circuit of the grab handle unit, or is electrically coupled to the grab handle console that forms the circuit. By closing the circuit with a correctly formed locking connection over the body, the RFID chip is activated and thus put into a transmitting state. Correct installation can therefore be confirmed by the RFID chip, since the RFID chip is only capable of transmitting when the grab handle unit is correctly installed on the body, i.e. with a correctly formed locking connection, and the circuit is thus closed.

As described, the handle unit and the body are designed in such a way that the electrical circuit can only be closed through the body when they are fully engaged, i.e. when the locking connection is correctly formed.

The solution described allows the components, especially those relevant to safety, to be installed in a verifiably safe manner, thus ensuring that they function as intended. Furthermore, manual checking and confirmation of the correct implementation of the assembly of the components can be eliminated, as the electronically available signal from the RFID chip can be automatically stored in the production system. The solution described thus enables process-safe assembly, avoidance of incorrect installation and reduction of assembly costs.

Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to drawings.

• 1 schematisch eine Bauteilanordnung mit zwei noch nicht korrekt miteinander gefügten Bauteilen, und
• 2 die Bauteilanordnung mit den beiden korrekt miteinander gefügten Bauteilen.

The following show:

• 1 schematically a component arrangement with two components that are not yet correctly joined together, and
• 2 the component arrangement with the two components correctly joined together.

Corresponding parts are provided with the same reference numerals in all figures.

The 1 and 2 show an exemplary embodiment of a component arrangement B with a first component B1 and a second component B2. Based on this 1 and 2 Furthermore, a method for assembling the component arrangement B, ie for assembling the two components B1, B2 together, is also described. In 1 the two components B1, B2 are not or not yet correctly assembled together, ie a joint connection between the two components B1, B2 is not or not yet correctly formed. In 2 the two components B1, B2 are correctly assembled together, i.e. the joint between the two components B1, B2 is correctly formed.

The first component B1 is a body 1 for a vehicle. The second component B2 is a grab handle unit 2 with a grab handle console 3, which forms a component body BK of the second component B2, and a grab handle 4. In the example shown, the grab handle 4 is arranged so that it can pivot on the grab handle console 3. In the example shown, this is achieved by two connecting sections of the grab handle 4 being pivotably connected to the grab handle console 3 via a respective pivot axis 5. The two pivot axes 5 are components of a common virtual pivot axis about which the grab handle 4 can pivot.

The joint is a positive locking connection between the two components B1, B2. For this purpose, the two components B1, B2 have locking elements that correspond to one another to form the locking connection. In the example shown, the body 1 has two locking openings 6 that are spaced apart from one another and the handle console 3 has two corresponding connecting formations 7 with locking lugs 8. The connecting formations 7 and the locking openings 6 have the same distance. The connecting formations 7 are each connected via a base section 11 is connected to a base section 12 of the handle console 3.

In the example shown, a body panel, designed in this example as a roof liner 9, is also arranged between the body 1 and the grab handle unit 2, which has two openings 10 for passing through the respective connecting formation 7 and the respective base section 11 of the grab handle console 3.

The respective connecting formation 7 has, without the locking lug 8, a smaller diameter and/or cross-section than the respective locking opening 6 in the body 1 and than the respective opening 10 in the roof liner 9, so that the respective connecting formation 7 can be passed through the respective opening 10 in the roof liner 9 and inserted into the respective locking opening 6 in the body 1.

The respective connection formation 7 with the locking lugs 8 has a larger diameter and/or cross section than the respective locking opening 6 in the body 1. The locking lugs 8 and/or the connection formations 7 are designed to be so flexible that the diameter and/or cross section of the respective connection formation 7 with locking lugs 8 is sufficiently reduced during the passage of the locking lugs 8 through the respective locking opening 6 in order to enable this passage, as in 1 shown, and increases again after the locking lugs 8 have passed through the respective locking opening 6, as in 2 shown.

The respective base section 11 has a larger diameter and/or cross-section than the respective latching opening 6 and a smaller diameter and/or cross-section than the respective opening 10 in the roof liner 9. The respective base section 11 can thus be guided through the respective opening 10 in the roof liner 9 during the formation of the latching connection.

The locking connection is only correctly formed if both connection formations 7 and both base sections 11 of the grab handle console 3 are guided through the respective opening 10 of the roof liner 9 and both connection formations 7 of the grab handle console 3 are inserted into the respective locking opening 6 of the body 1 until both base sections 11 of the grab handle console 3 rest against a front side of the body 1 facing the roof liner 9 and the locking lugs 8 are guided completely through the respective locking opening 6 of the body 1 and locked into the body 1, i.e. are positioned on a rear side of the body 1.

The headliner 9 is made of an electrically insulating material.

In order to be able to check whether the joint, in this example the latching connection, is correctly formed, the second component B2, in this example the handle unit 2, has an RFID chip 13 which can only be activated and thus capable of transmitting by the correctly formed joint between the two components B1, B2, in this example only by the correctly formed latching connection between the body 1 and the handle unit 2. In order to be able to activate this RFID chip 13 by correctly forming the joint, in this example the latching connection, the second component B2, i.e. the handle unit 2, has an open circuit 14 through two spaced-apart contact points KS for activating the RFID chip 13 and the first component B1, in this example the body 1, is made of an electrically conductive material, in particular metal.

The two components B1, B2, in this example the body 1 and the handle unit 2, are designed in such a way that only through the correctly designed joining connection, in this example only through the correctly designed locking connection, the two contact points KS make electrically conductive contact with the first component B1, in this example the body 1, and as a result the circuit 14 is closed by the first component B1, i.e. by the body 1, and the RFID chip 13 is activated.

In the example shown, the open circuit 14 with the two contact points KS spaced apart from one another is formed by an electrically conductive design of the component body BK, in this example the handle console 3. The handle console 3 is made of metal for this purpose, for example. The RFID chip 13 is arranged in and/or on this component body BK, in this example on the handle console 3, and is coupled in an electrically conductive manner. Alternatively, the open circuit 14 can be formed, for example, by conductor tracks arranged on and/or in the second component B2, in particular in its component body BK, which are connected to the RFID chip 13.

The respective contact point KS is formed by the contact base section 11 adjacent to the respective connection formation 7, in particular by a surface of the respective contact base section 11 intended to rest on the front side of the body 1 and only in corresponding contact when the joint is correctly formed.

In a process for assembling the component arrangement B, the joint connection of the two components B1, B2, in this example the handle, unit 2 with the body 1. As a result, the two contact points KS make electrically conductive contact with the first component B1, ie the body 1, whereby the circuit 14 for activating the RFID chip 13 is closed and the RFID chip 13 is activated and is therefore capable of transmitting.

A signal from the activated RFID chip 13 is read out, for example, as an acknowledgement of the correctly produced joint connection, in particular read out automatically. It is intended, for example, that this acknowledgement is recorded electronically by a production system and, for example, processed automatically.

In the example described, the correct mechanical locking of the handle unit 2 into the body 1, in particular the complete formation of the positive connection, can be ensured by the activation of the RFID chip 13. 2 shows this correct locking, ie the assembled grab handle unit 2, in which the grab handle console 3 is completely mounted at both mounting points. This means that the locking elements are also completely locked at both mounting points. In this case, the circuit 14 is completely closed, since the contact points KS are connected via the body 1.

The contact points KS of the grab handle console 3 and a respective contact area KB of the body 1, which is electrically conductively contacted by the respective contact point KS of the grab handle console 3 when the locking connection is correctly formed, are designed such that they are not electrically conductively contacted with one another when not or not correctly assembled, ie when the locking connection is not or not correctly formed, ie in particular they do not lie against one another, as in 1 shown.

As described above, the RFID chip 13 is connected to the conductor tracks of the grab handle console 3, which form the circuit 14 of the grab handle unit 2, or, as shown in this example, is electrically coupled to the grab handle console 3 forming the circuit 14. By closing the circuit 14 with a correctly formed locking connection over the body 1, the RFID chip 13 is activated and thus put into the transmitting state. Correct installation can thus be confirmed by the RFID chip 13, since the RFID chip 13 is only capable of transmitting when the grab handle unit 2 is correctly installed on the body 1, i.e. with a correctly formed locking connection, and the circuit 14 is thereby closed.

1 shows the state of incomplete assembly. The circuit 14 is not closed and the RFID chip 13 is therefore not capable of transmitting. As described, the handle unit 2 and the body 1 are designed in such a way that the closing of the circuit 14 through the body 1 is only possible when the locking connection is complete, ie when the locking connection is correctly formed.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 10 2020 005 606 A1 [0002]
• DE 10 2020 000 494 A1 [0003]

Claims (9)

Component arrangement (B), comprising a first component (B1) and a second component (B2), wherein the second component (B2) has an RFID chip (13) which can only be activated and thus transmitted by a correctly formed joining connection between the two components (B1, B2), wherein the first component (B1) is a body (1) for a vehicle and the second component (B2) is a grab handle unit (2). characterized in that the second component (B2) has an open circuit (14) for activating the RFID chip (13) through two spaced-apart contact points (KS), and the first component (B1) is made of an electrically conductive material, wherein the two components (B1, B2) are designed in such a way that only through the correctly formed joint connection between the two components (B1, B2) the two contact points (KS) of the second component (B2) make electrically conductive contact with the first component (B1), thereby closing the circuit (14) through the first component (B1) and activating the RFID chip (13). Component arrangement (B) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the open circuit (14) with the two spaced-apart contact points (KS) is formed by an electrically conductive component body (BK) of the second component (B2), wherein the RFID chip (13) is arranged in and/or on this component body (BK). Component arrangement (B) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the joining connection is a positive connection of the two components (B1, B2) with one another. Component arrangement (B) according to claim 3 , characterized in that the joining connection is a latching connection, wherein the two components (B1, B2) have mutually corresponding latching elements for forming the latching connection. Component arrangement (B) according to claim 4 , characterized in that the first component (B1) designed as a body (1) has two spaced-apart latching openings (6) and the component body (BK) designed as a handle bracket (3) of the second component (B2) designed as a handle unit (2) has two corresponding connecting formations (7) with latching lugs (8). Component arrangement (B) according to claim 5 , characterized in that the respective contact point (KS) is formed by a contact base section (11) of the component body (BK) designed as a handle console (3) of the second component (B2) designed as a handle unit (2), which contact base section adjoins the respective connection formation (7), which only rests on the first component (B1) designed as a body (1) when the joint is correctly formed. Method for assembling the component arrangement (B) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the joining connection of the two components (B1, B2) is produced, whereby the two contact points (KS) of the second component (B2) contact the first component (B1) in an electrically conductive manner and thereby the circuit (14) for activating the RFID chip (13) is closed by the first component (B1) and the RFID chip (13) is activated and is thereby capable of transmitting. procedure according to claim 7 , characterized in that a signal from the activated RFID chip (13) is automatically read out as an acknowledgement of the correctly established joint connection. procedure according to claim 8 , characterized in that the acknowledgement is recorded electronically by a production system and processed automatically.

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