Modular connector for circuit boards

Abstract

A plug connector, in particular a modular plug connector, is provided for mounting on a circuit board. The plug connector can be assembled from a plurality of plug connector modules, wherein each plug connector module comprises at least one part. The plug connector modules have an insertion side and a connection side, wherein the insertion side can either be installed on the circuit board or else it contacts a connection side of a mating connector module. The plug connector modules can be connected by at least one connector. This makes it possible also to install modular plug connectors on a printed circuit board.

Claims

1. A modular plug connector for mounting on a printed circuit board, the modular plug connector comprising: a plurality of individual plug connector modules, at least one of the plurality of individual plug connector modules including a fixing device on an underside thereof to secure the modular plug connector to the printed circuit board; and at least one elongated module connector, wherein the plug connector modules are configured to be locked together in a linear arrangement by the at least one elongated module connector such that adjacent plug connector modules are prevented from rotating or translating about a transverse plane relative to each other; each plug connector module has a protruding guide for interfacing with the elongated module connector, the protruding guides being arranged end to end to form an elongated linear guide element when the plug connector modules are locked together in the linear arrangement; and the elongated module connector has a guide recess correspondingly shaped to the protruding guide of each plug connector module to insertably receive the elongated linear guide element.

2. The modular plug connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one elongated module connector is configured to be mounted on each plug connector module.

3. The modular plug connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one elongated module connector is made from a stable material.

4. The modular plug connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one elongated module connector has a length which is longer than a length of each plug connector module.

5. The modular plug connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein each plug connector module has two guides, wherein one guide is arranged on a first side and one guide is arranged on a second side opposite the first side.

6. The modular plug connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixing device is suitable for locking and/or screwing and/or soldering onto a perforated surface of the printed circuit board.

7. The modular plug connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the plug connector modules has at least one contact element recess for receiving a contact element.

8. The modular plug connector as claimed in claim 7, wherein with at least one contact element received in the contact element recess, the plug connector module is suitable for the transmission of power and/or signals and/or data.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) An exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings and will be explained in more detail in the following. Shown are:

(2) FIG. 1 a perspective drawing of a modular plug connector for a printed circuit board,

(3) FIG. 2 a perspective drawing of a plug connector module,

(4) FIG. 3 a perspective drawing of another plug connector module,

(5) FIG. 4 a perspective drawing of a connector,

(6) FIG. 5 a perspective drawing of a modular mating connector and

(7) FIG. 6 a perspective detail of the mating connector.

(8) The figures in some cases contain simplified, schematic representations. In part, for the same but possibly not identical elements, identical reference numerals are used. Different views of the same elements might be shown to different scales.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) FIG. 1 shows a perspective drawing of a modular plug connector 1 according to an embodiment of the invention for plugging onto a circuit board, which includes connector modules 2. In this case, the plug connector modules 2, which are each designed in two parts, are shown separated into their two halves. For use of the connector 1, the two housings of the connector modules 2 must be plugged into each other and locked together.

(10) Each of the two halves of the connector 1 of the illustrated embodiment consists of eight individual connector modules 2. The connector modules 2, for the sake of clarity only one of which is labeled with a reference symbol in FIG. 1, include five connector modules 2 for transmitting power, data and signals and three connector modules 2 for secure contacting.

(11) The connector modules 2 each have a first side (top side) and a second side (underside) opposite the first side. The underside is the side of the connector module 2 which is closest to a circuit board after assembly. The top side is therefore the side opposite the underside and therefore the side farthest away from the printed circuit board.

(12) Each connector module 2 has at least one second recess 7. This second recess 7 is used for receiving at least one contact element. The nature of the second recess 7 is oriented towards the area of application of the connector module 2. Of these, there are connector modules 2 for the transmission of power and/or signals and/or data. The area of application is defined by the contact elements used. For example, in FIG. 1 different connector modules 2 with different second recesses 7, 7′ are shown, wherein for the sake of clarity only a second recess 7 or 7′ is labeled.

(13) The eight connector modules 2 are fixedly connected to each other by way of two connectors 3. One connector 3 is arranged on the top side of the connector modules 2. The second connector 3 is arranged on the underside. The two connectors 3 are fixedly locked to the connector modules 2. For this, the connector modules 2 have appropriate guides 4, which are shown more clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3. The connectors 3 each have a first recess 5, shown in FIG. 4, which represents a negative version of the guides 4. The connectors 3 thus fit flush into the connector modules 2 and connect them securely to each other.

(14) The guides 4 are so-called dovetail guides, which in their contour resemble a dovetail in the broadest sense. This design for the guides 4 guarantees a high degree of stability and, at the same time, secure locking.

(15) In order also to ensure an equally secure connection to the circuit board to that provided between the individual connector modules 2 by the connector 3, individual connector modules 2 are each equipped with a fixing device or means 6. In FIG. 1, for example, three connector modules 2 are shown, each with one fixing device or means 6. The fixing device or means 6 in this embodiment are screws. Alternatively, bolts or other devices or means for secure fixing are conceivable.

(16) In addition to the fixing device or means 6, the entire plug connector 1 is also fixed via the contact elements received in the second recesses 7. This is carried out, for example, via the soldered joint or else via a screw fitting.

(17) FIG. 2 shows a single connector module 2. This connector module 2 is a connector module which has a guide 4 on its top side. A guide 4 is also located on the underside.

(18) FIG. 2 shows clearly the two-part design of a connector module 2, and hence the increased convenience for the engineer when fitting the second recess 7 with the contact elements, since this is now accessible from two sides.

(19) The connector module 2 shown has nine second recesses 7 for each half of the connector module 2. One contact element is inserted into each second recess 7. The two housings differ in terms of the contact elements inserted, which depending on the housing are either inserted as male or female variants. The two sides, which are joined together, are designed as a male side and a female side. The side which is used for mounting on the circuit board in this example has angled contact elements in order to ensure a secure connection. On the other hand, the side which can be connected to a mating connector or a mating connector module or else to a printed circuit board is here designed to be linear and aligned with the male side of the connector module. Even a right-angled arrangement of printed circuit boards is possible.

(20) A connector module 2, which is used only for the secure fixing of the entire plug connector 1 on the printed circuit board, is shown in FIG. 3. This connector module 2 also has one guide 4 on the top and one on the underside. This connector module 2 also has a two-part design.

(21) However, it differs from the connector module 2 of FIG. 2 in that while a male/female connection is also present in the junction region between the two halves of the connector module 2, this is in fact formed by a bolt and a second recess 7. In FIG. 2 the male/female connection comprises or consists of the received contact elements, or more precisely their male sides, and the second recesses 7 as sockets. The connector module 2 shown in FIG. 3 cannot be used to transmit power or signals or data, since it is only used for the guidance and fixing of the entire plug connector 1. Therefore, ideally at least one such connector module 2 is integrated into the plug connector 1 or, as shown in FIG. 1, more than one. The use of a plurality of such fixing connector modules 2 prevents any twisting or warping of the plug connector 1 on the printed circuit board.

(22) FIG. 4 shows a single connector 3. The connector 3 comprises or consists of a sturdy material, plastic or metal. Due to the first recess 5 the elongated body of the connector has the negative shape of the guide 4 of the connector module 2. In this exemplary embodiment the guide 4 is a dovetail guide. Thus, the first recess 5 is the corresponding mating contour thereto. The guide 4 and thus also the connector module 2 can thus be securely locked together in a stable and durable manner.

(23) The connector 3 is designed with a longer length than a connector module 2. The basic shape of the connector 3 is rectangular, the long side of the rectangle being at least twice as long as the short side. The connector 3 of FIG. 4, for example, has a length ratio of 1:5, wherein other length combinations are also conceivable.

(24) In FIGS. 5 and 6 a modular mating connector 1′ is shown which can be plugged into the modular plug connector 1, which is mounted on a printed circuit board, for example. The structure of the mating connector 1′ can be implemented in principle similarly to the plug connector 1. The mating connector 1′ also has a modular design and is composed of individual connector modules 2′, which have a two-part design and can be connected to each other via a connector.

(25) The mating connector 1′ has an insertion side S and a connection side A. In FIG. 6 a connector module 2′ of the mating connector 1′ is shown without a module housing. The contact elements 8 contained therein can be seen. In the direction of the insertion side S the contact elements 8 are each designed as compressed fins, which when plugged into a plug connector 1 surround a contact pin 8′.

(26) On the connection side A the contact elements 8 have a crimp connection area 9. To this crimp connection area, individual conductors of a connected cable (not shown) can be connected in a known manner. A cable (not shown) is connected to the mating connector 1′. The mating connector 1′ can be plugged into the plug connector 1 that is plugged onto the printed circuit board, so that the signals or currents from the cable are transmitted to the printed circuit board.

(27) To fix the mating connector 1′ to the plug connector 1, the mating connector 1′ has a locking element 10 on both of its narrow sides, which on the insertion side S is fitted with a hook, which engages in a designated undercut (not shown) of the plug connector 1 to provide a reversible locking.

(28) Even if the figures show various aspects or features of the invention in combination, it will be evident to the person skilled in the art—unless otherwise stated—that the combinations illustrated and discussed are not the only possible ones. In particular, corresponding units or feature complexes from different exemplary embodiments are mutually interchangeable.

(29) In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.