Abstract
Provided is a plug connector to which a multicore cable having at least two or more individual conductors can be connected, wherein the plug connector has at least one signal transmitter for contactless signal transmission, wherein the plug connector has a microchip, wherein the microchip can be electrically connected to the individual conductors and is electrically connected to the at least one signal transmitter. Also provided is a system including a plug connector and a mating connector, each of which having at least one signal transmitter, wherein the respective signal transmitters are aligned parallel to each other when mated.
Claims
1. A plug connector, to which a multicore cable having at least two or more individual conductors can be connected, wherein the plug connector has at least one signal transmitter for contactless signal transmission, wherein the plug connector has a microchip, wherein the microchip can be electrically connected to the individual conductors and is electrically connected to the at least one signal transmitter.
2. The plug connector according to claim 1, wherein the plug connector has two signal transmitters.
3. The plug connector according to claim 2, wherein one signal transmitter is in the form of a ring-shaped capacitor and the other signal transmitter is in the form of a circular capacitor plate.
4. The plug connector according to claim 3, wherein the ring-shaped capacitor and the circular capacitor plate have an equally large surface.
5. The plug connector according to claim 1, wherein the plug connector has a plug connector housing, wherein a mating side and a wiring side are formed at its end faces, and the signal transmitters are completely enclosed by the mating side of the housing.
6. The plug connector according to claim 1, wherein the signal transmitter is aligned on the mating side parallel to the end face of the plug connector.
7. The plug connector according to claim 1, wherein the plug connector has an insulating body having at least one conductor channel which is electrically connected on one side to the microchip and which can be electrically connected on the other side to a conductor of the connected cable.
8. The plug connector according to claim 8, wherein the at least one conductor channel is produced using MID technology.
9. The plug connector according to claim 1, wherein a spring element, is arranged in the plug connector housing in such a way that the spring force of the spring element presses the insulating body axially in the mating direction of the plug connector.
10. A system comprising a plug connector and a mating connector, each of which having at least one signal transmitters, wherein the respective signal transmitters are aligned parallel to each other when mated.
11. The system comprising a plug connector and a mating connector according to claim 10, wherein the signal transmitters are spaced 1.1 millimetres (mm) or less apart from each other when mated.
12. The system comprising a plug connector and a mating connector according to claim 1, wherein the plug connector and/or the mating connector is embodied according claim 1.
13. The system comprising a plug connector and a mating connector according to claim 1, wherein the plug connector and the mating connector are connected to one other by a push-pull locking mechanism.
14. The plug connector according to claim 9, wherein the spring element is a helical spring.
Description
EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0033] Embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and shall be described in further detail below.
[0034] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a system comprising a plug connector and a mating connector,
[0035] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view with an exploded drawing of the mating connector,
[0036] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view with an exploded drawing of the plug connector,
[0037] FIG. 4 shows a perspective cross-sectional view of the system comprising a plug connector and a mating connector,
[0038] FIG. 5 shows a plan view of an insulating body of the plug connector and/or of the mating connector onto the upper side and onto the underside,
[0039] FIG. 6 shows a side view of the insulating body of the plug connector and/or the mating connector,
[0040] FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of a plug connector according to the invention, and specifically a perspective view of a mating portion of the plug connector,
[0041] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the mating portion of the plug connector with cable strain relief,
[0042] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of another plug connector and/or mating connector with a cable connected thereto,
[0043] FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of a plug connector according to the invention, and specifically a view of the two sides of a circuit board,
[0044] FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of components forming an insulating body of the plug connector,
[0045] FIG. 12 shows a side view of the insulating bodies of the plug connector and the mating connector,
[0046] FIG. 13 shows a perspective view with an exploded drawing of the third embodiment of the plug connector,
[0047] FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of an insulating body of a fourth embodiment,
[0048] FIG. 15 shows a partial view, from a different perspective, of the insulating body in FIG. 14, comprising two signal transmission means,
[0049] FIG. 16 shows a side view of two insulating bodies facing each other, in accordance with the fourth embodiment,
[0050] FIG. 17 shows a view of the plug connector and mating connector of the fourth embodiment,
[0051] FIG. 18 shows a perspective view of an insulating body according to a fifth embodiment,
[0052] FIG. 19 shows a perspective view of another insulating body in the fifth embodiment;
[0053] FIG. 20 shows a side view of two insulating bodies facing each other, in accordance with the fifth embodiment,
[0054] FIG. 21 shows a view of the plug connector and the mating connector of the fifth embodiment,
[0055] FIGS. 22-24 show partial views of an insulating body according to the fourth or fifth embodiment,
[0056] FIG. 25 shows a perspective view of an insulating body according to the fifth embodiment, with a cable connector attached thereto,
[0057] FIG. 26 shows a perspective view of an insulating body according to the fourth embodiment, with a cable connector and a cable connected thereto,
[0058] FIGS. 27 and 28 show views illustrating embedding of the insulating body of the fourth embodiment,
[0059] FIGS. 29, 30 and 31 show perspective views of the plug connector and the mating connector of the fourth embodiment, and
[0060] FIGS. 32 and 33 show perspective yews of the plug connector and the mating connector of the fifth embodiment.
[0061] The Figures contain partly simplified, schematic views. In some cases, identical reference signs are used for elements that are the same, but not necessarily identical. Different views of the same elements may be drawn to different scales.
FIRST EMBODIMENT
[0062] FIG. 1 shows a plug connector 1 which is connected to (mated with) a matching mating connector 2 for signal transmission. The plug connector and mating connector shown here are provided for contactless signal transmission. Signals are transmitted here by substantially capacitive means, although inductive components may always play a role as well, of course. However, the latter play an insignificant role here, if any. The invention explicitly avoids the signal transmission means having any antenna function, so as to ensure, infer alia, that the signals/data are secure against eavesdropping.
[0063] In FIG. 2, an exploded drawing of mating connector 2 can be seen. Mating connector 2 consists of an insulating body, a housing 4, a cable outlet 5 and a screw-on sleeve 6. The mating region of mating connector 2 is sealed by a sealing ring 7. Insulating body 3 is permanently pressed in the direction of the mating portion with the aid of a helical spring 8 which rests against cable outlet 5. This ensures that the end face of insulating body 3 relevant for signal transmission is disposed close to the mating region of mating connector 2. Screw-on sleeve 6 is fixed to housing 4 with the aid of fixing plate 9.
[0064] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view with an exploded drawing of plug connector 1. Parts having the same function are marked here with the same reference signs as in mating connector 2. Here, too, insulating body 3 is pressed in the mating direction by a helical spring 8. Housing 4 of plug connector 1 has an external thread which cooperates with an internal thread of screw-on sleeve 6 of mating connector 2 in such a way that the plugs (plug connector 1 and mating connector 2) are connected to each other and that the end faces of the respective insulating body 3 are aligned approximately parallel to each other and at a defined distance from each other.
[0065] The function of helical spring 8 can be seen well in cross-sectional FIG. 4. The two insulating bodies 3 are pressed towards the mating region of the respective plug 1, 2 as far as a stop member.
[0066] FIG. 5 shows the top side and the underside of insulating body 3, which is installed in the same way in plug connector 1 and in mating connector 2. Insulating body 3 has a plurality of individual conductor channels 12 which are realised using MID technology. This allows channels 12 to be guided in a very flexible manner, thus resulting in a small component (insulating body 3). Some conductor channels end at a place 11 which is provided for attachment of a microchip 10. Incoming or outgoing data signals can be processed in any way by microchip 10. Microchip 10 is able to pass on incoming signals using a multiplexing technique.
[0067] The positions adopted by the respective insulating body 3 of plugs 1, 2 when mated can be seen in FIG. 6. The end faces of insulating bodies 3 facing in the mating direction are aligned parallel to each other and are spaced 1 mm apart from each other. Extensive testing has shown that such spacing is ideal for capacitive data transmission. The conductors of a multicore cable may be connected to the opposite end face of insulating body 3. This is not shown, however, for presentation reasons.
SECOND EMBODIMENT
[0068] FIGS. 7 to 9 show an alternative embodiment of a plug 1′, 2′ according to the invention. Two signal transmission means 13, 14 are incorporated in the end face of insulating body 3′. One signal transmission means 13 is ring-shaped and the other signal transmission means 14 is in the form of a circular plate. Both signal transmission means 13, 14 have the same surface dimensions and a connection member 15 projecting perpendicularly to the basic shape. Connection member 15 is bent over a fixing surface 16 in insulating body 3′ in order to fix antennae 13, 14 in place.
[0069] Plug 1′, 2′ has a conductor board 17 which has recesses 18. Insulating body 3′ has latching arms 17, which latch into recesses 18 in conductor board 17 in order to fix the latter to insulating body 3′.
[0070] A microchip 10, which is in electrical contact with signal transmission means 13, 14 and the conductors 20 connected thereto, is attached to the conductor board. Conductor board 17 has solder pads 19, so called, for providing a soldered connection with conductors 20 of a (multicore) cable 21.
[0071] Plug 1′, 2′ also has a fixing element 25. Fixing element 25 is connected on one side to conductor board 17. Clamping lugs 24 and a tongue 23 disposed therebetween are provided for that purpose on the fixing element, and the tongue engages with a recess 22 in conductor board 17.
[0072] The other side of fixing element 25 consists of a ring member 26 having fixing arms 27 which project radially therefrom and which are slightly bent at the ends and which are pressed onto the cable sheath of connected cable 21 in order to relieve the strain on the cable. The fixing element also serves as continuation of the sheath on the connected cable.
[0073] The housing of plug 1′, 2′ may be designed in different ways. The shape of the housing is not relevant for the invention, so only screw fitting 28 is shown in FIG. 9.
THIRD EMBODIMENT
[0074] An elementary component of a third variant of plug connector 1 according to the invention can be seen in FIG. 10. The component is a circular circuit board 29.
[0075] As is well known, circuit boards consist of electrically insulating material with conductive strips bonded thereto (strip line). Fibre-reinforced plastic is commonly used as the insulating material. The conductive strips are mostly etched from a thin layer of copper. The components are soldered onto solder pads, so called.
[0076] The first side 29a of circuit board 29 comprises the signal transmission elements, which as described above are formed from a layer of copper. The second side 29b of circuit board 29 has an attachment point 30 for the microchip 10 that has already been mentioned several times in the foregoing. Solder pads 31, clamping points 31, or electrical contacting points 31 for insulation-displacement connectors 32 are also provided here. It is here that insulation-displacement connectors 32 are electrically contacted and mechanically fixed.
[0077] The components which collectively form the insulating body of plug connector 1 can be seen in FIG. 11. A cable manager substantially composed of a cylindrical plastic part can be seen. Retaining channels 34 are provided here, in which conductors 20 of the connected cable 21 can be clamped. There is also a ring-shaped contacting element 35 which has recesses into which insulation-displacement connectors 32 are inserted.
[0078] Cable manager 33 has fixing arms 36 with window-like apertures which cooperate with fixing webs 37 of contacting element 35 in such a way that these components 33, 34 are fixed to one another. Insulation-displacement connectors 32 and associated conductive strips of circuit board 29 (not shown) provide electrical contact between conductors 20 and microchip 10.
[0079] The combination of components shown in FIG. 11 forms insulating body 39 of plug connector 1″ and can be found with identical construction in the plug connector and also in the associated mating connector. FIG. 12 shows how the circuit boards of the plug connector and mating connector, including signal transmission means 13, 14, are oriented in relation to each other. They are aligned parallel to each other, and the distance between them is approximately 1 millimetre.
[0080] FIG. 12 shows the complete exploded drawing of the third plug connector variant 1″. On the cable side, plug connector 1″ consists of a screw head 40. A combined sealing and strain relief element 41 is positioned in screw head 40. A wave spring 42 is arranged between the sealing and strain relief element 41 and insulating body 29 and performs substantially the same function as helical spring 8, described above, of the first two embodiments of plug connector 1, 1′. A double screw head 43, the one thread 44 of which is provided on the mating side, can be joined to screw head 40. The opposite thread 45 is provided for fixing to a mating connector.
FOURTH AND FIFTH EMBODIMENT
[0081] FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of an insulating body 3 according to a fourth embodiment of the invention. Insulating body 3 is in the form of a flexible circuit board which is folded back on itself and to that extent has a shape in the side view (see FIG. 16) that is substantially like a “T”. Solder pads 19 of insulating body 3 can also be seen in FIG. 14.
[0082] FIG. 15 shows a partial view, from a different perspective, of the insulating body in FIG. 14, comprising two signal transmission means.
[0083] As was also the case in FIG. 7 and FIG. 10 above, signal transmission means 13, 14 are substantially ring-shaped (signal transmission means 13) or circular (signal transmission means 14), the circular signal transmission means 14 being arranged concentrically with the substantially ring-shaped signal transmission means 13. Signal transmission means 13, 14 are arranged on the side of insulating body 3 which in FIG. 14 is opposite the perpendicularly arranged end portion that can be seen in the view presented.
[0084] FIG. 16 shows a side view of two insulating bodies facing each other, in accordance with the fourth embodiment. As could already be seen in FIG. 14, insulating bodies 3 each have a shape in the side view that is substantially like a letter “T”, with the respective insulating body 3 being folded back on itself in one half of the crossbeam of the “T”. In each of the folded regions, microchip 10 is arranged, which thus lies opposite signal transmission means 13, 14.
[0085] If the side surface that can be seen on the left of FIG. 14 forms the outer surface of the insulating body and ultimately of the plug connector, signal transmission means 13, 14 and microchip 10 on the inner side of the flexible circuit board are protected against the outside world by said surface.
[0086] FIG. 17 is a view of plug connector 1″′ and mating connector 2″′ of the fourth embodiment.
[0087] Further details that can be seen FIG. 17 shall now be described with reference to FIGS. 25, 26 and 29 to 31.
[0088] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an insulating body 3 according to a fifth embodiment of the invention.
[0089] As was already the case in the fourth embodiment, insulating body 3′ is provided in the form of a flexible circuit board, insulating body 3′ shown in FIG. 18 having, instead of the folded region of the insulating body that can be seen in FIG. 14, for example, a substantially tubular region on which signal transmission means 13′ and 14′ bent in a ring shape and in the form of a strip are provided.
[0090] FIG. 18 shows a perspective view of another insulating body 3″ according to the fifth embodiment of the invention. Insulating body 3″ is substantially identical in its basic structure to insulating body 3′ shown in FIG. 18, but the signal transmission means 13″, 14″, likewise bent in a ring shape and in the form of a strip, are arranged on the inner side of the tubular part of insulating body 3″, whereas the signal transmission means 13′, 14′ of insulating body 3′ in FIG. 18 are located on the outer side of the tubular region.
[0091] FIG. 20 shows a side view of two insulating bodies 3′, 3″ facing each other, in accordance with the fifth embodiment. As can be seen from FIG. 20, insulating bodies 3′, 3″ shown in FIGS. 18 and 19 are configured to couple to each other, in the form of a male coupling member (see FIG. 18) and a female coupling member (see FIG. 19).
[0092] Signal transmission means 13′, 14′ and 13″, 14″ lie opposite one another, but without any direct contact being provided between them.
[0093] If the flexible circuit board forming insulating bodies 13′, 13″ is sufficiently thin, each of the two signal transmission means 13′, 13″, 14′, 14″ can also be arranged on the outer side or the inner side of the tubular part of insulating body 3′, 3″. If the flexible circuit board is sufficiently thin, this can also be reversed such that the female coupling member carries its signal transmission means on the outer side and the male coupling member carries its signal transmission means on the inner side.
[0094] Similarly to FIG. 16, the respective microchips 10 can be seen in FIG. 20 also, namely at the respective positions on insulating body 3′, 3″.
[0095] FIG. 21 shows a view of plug connector 1″″ and mating connector 2″″ of the fifth embodiment. Reference is made to FIGS. 25, 32 and 33 for further details.
[0096] FIGS. 22 to 24 each show partial views of an insulating body 3 according to the fourth or fifth embodiment.
[0097] Insulating body 3, which is provided in the form of a flexible circuit board, has conductive strips 46 on both sides, thus achieving space savings on the whole. To allow sufficient contacting, through holes 47 are provided so that a conductive strip 46 is connected to a corresponding conductive strip 46 on the opposite side of insulating body 3.
[0098] In FIG. 22, the attachment point 30 for microchip 10 can be seen, whereas in FIG. 23, solder pad 19 for connecting the conductors of the cable can be seen.
[0099] FIG. 25 shows a perspective view of an insulating body 3′ according to the fifth embodiment, with a cable connector 48 attached thereto.
[0100] One way of contacting solder pad 19 with the conductors of the cable (not shown here) is to attach a cable connector to those solder pads, for example, a H-Flex SMT connector, to which it is then possible to connect a mating cable connector to which the conductors of cable 21 are connected.
[0101] FIG. 26 shows a perspective view of an insulating body 3 according to the fourth embodiment, to which a cable connector 48, 49 with a cable 21 connected thereto is attached.
[0102] However, it is likewise possible to attach the conductors of the cable directly to the respective solder pad, the greater complexity of apparatus necessary for the production process being justified by savings in respect of the material costs of the cable connectors.
[0103] When cable 21 is attached directly or indirectly to insulating body 3, 3′, 3″ of the fourth or fifth embodiment, the cable and the insulating body can be jointly cast into a suitable material, so that a desired sealing of the entire arrangement can be achieved, thus providing protection against dampness or the like.
[0104] FIG. 27 and FIG. 28 are views illustrating embedding of the insulating body 3 of the fourth embodiment. In FIG. 27, insulating body 3 with cable connector 48 attached thereto can be seen, which is embedded in a moulding compound 50.
[0105] Insulating body 3 has retention lugs 51 which allow the end portion of insulating body 3 to be fixed in the desired manner for embedding, in particular in such a way that the insulating body is sufficiently parallel with the end surface.
[0106] It is possible in this regard to embed insulating body 3 either on one side or on both sides, and if embedded on one side, then the end portion of insulating body 3 is also the outer surface at the end face of the plug connector thus produced.
[0107] The recesses 52 which can likewise be seen in FIG. 27 result from providing respective wall projections in the mould, by means of which the end portion of insulating body 3 is pressed against the moulding surface.
[0108] The retention luges 51 of insulating body 3 can likewise be seen in FIG. 28.
[0109] As can also be seen from FIGS. 27 and 28, bayonet studs 53 are provided when forming the moulding compound.
[0110] FIGS. 29, 30 and 31 show perspective views of plug connector 1″′ and mating connector 2″′ according to the fourth embodiment. As already shown in FIGS. 27 and 28, mating connector 2″′ shown in FIG. 29 has bayonet studs 53, whereas the plug connector 1″′ shown in FIG. 30 has bayonet slots 54 on a matchingly projecting portion, into which bayonet studs 53 can engage in order to fix plug connector 1″′ and mating connector 2″′ to each other, as shown in FIG. 31.
[0111] FIG. 32 and FIG. 33 show perspective views of plug connector 1″″ and mating connector 2″″ according to the fifth embodiment.
[0112] The insulating body of plug connector 1″′ and the insulating body of mating connector 2″″ are each sealed in a suitable manner, the seal having a longitudinally extending slot in the case of plug connector 1″″, thus allowing a degree of flexibility regarding deformation to widen the ring-shaped region. In its end portion, plug connector 1″″ also has an annular projection which extends around the inner side.
[0113] As shown in FIG. 33, mating connector 2″″ accordingly an annular groove 57 at a corresponding position, with which annular projection 56 can be brought into engagement to fix plug connector 1″″ and mating connector 2″″ to each other to a certain degree.
TABLE-US-00001 List of reference signs 1 Plug connector 2 Mating connector 3 Insulating body 4 Housing 5 Cable outlet 6 Screw-on sleeve 7 Seal 8 Helical spring 9 Fixing plate 10 Microchip 11 Space for chip 10 12 Conductor channel 13 Signal transmission means 14 Signal transmission means 15 Connection member 16 Fixing surface 17 Conductor board 18 Recess 19 Solder pad 20 Conductor 21 Cable 22 Recess 23 Tongue 24 Clamping lug 25 Fixing element 26 Ring member 27 Fixing arm 28 Screw fitting 29 Circuit board 29a first side 29b second side 30 Attachment point for microchip 10 31 Solder pad, clamping point or electrical contacting point 32 Insulation-displacement connector 33 Cable manager 34 Retaining channel 35 Contacting element 36 Fixing arm 37 Fixing web 39 Insulating body 40 Screw head 41 Sealing and strain relief element 42 Wave spring 43 Double screw head 44 Thread 45 Thread 46 Conductive strip 47 Through hole 48 Cable connector 49 Cable connector 50 Sealing compound 51 Retention lug 52 Recess 53 Bayonet stud 54 Bayonet slot 55 Slot 56 Annular projection 57 Annular groove
