Printed circuit board connector

Abstract

A pin-like printed circuit board connector is at least slightly reversibly deformable and has a pin axis. The printed circuit board connector has at least a first slit which starts at the insertion end and runs through the pin axis towards the printed circuit board connection region and by means of which at least two segments pointing in the insertion direction are formed. In particular, the printed circuit board connector can additionally have a second such slit which intersects the first slit in the pin axis, in particular at right angles, forming even four segments pointing in the insertion direction.

Claims

1.-16. (canceled)

17. A printed circuit board connector (1) for transmitting high currents between two parallel printed circuit boards (21, 22) and for providing a mutual attachment between the two parallel printed circuit boards, comprising: a pin contact with a pin axis (A); a printed circuit board connection region (111) arranged at a connection-side end (11) of the pin contact; a mating region (122) that tapers toward a mating-side end (12) of the pin contact opposite the connection-side end; a connecting section (10) arranged between the printed circuit board connection region (111) and the mating region (122); and a first slit (S1) that commences at the mating-side end (12) and extends along the pin axis (A) towards the printed circuit board connection region (111), whereby two segments (14) of the pin contact are formed that face in a mating direction.

18. The printed circuit board connector (1) as claimed in claim 17, further comprising a second slit (S2) that commences at the mating-side end (12) and extends along the pin axis (A) towards the printed circuit board connection region (111), wherein the second slit (S2) crosses the first slit (S1) in the pin axis (A), whereby four segments (14) of the pin contact are formed that face in the mating direction.

19. The printed circuit board connector as claimed in claim 18, further comprising one or more further slits that commence at the mating-side end (12) and extend along the pin axis (A) towards the printed circuit board connection region (111), whereby further segments are formed in addition to the four segments (14).

20. The printed circuit board connector (1) as claimed in claim 18, wherein the first slit (S1) and the second slit (S2) cross at right angles in the pin axis (A).

21. The printed circuit board connector (1) as claimed in claim 18, wherein the first slit (S1) and the second slit (S2) end in the connecting section (10) and do not extend past an end of the connecting section (10).

22. The printed circuit board connector (1) as claimed in claim 17, wherein the printed circuit board connector (1) is formed from an at least slightly reversibly deformable, electrically conductive material.

23. The printed circuit board connector (1) as claimed in claim 17, wherein the printed circuit board connector (1) is formed from metal.

24. The printed circuit board connector (1) as claimed in claim 17, wherein the printed circuit board connector (1) is a turned part.

25. The printed circuit board connector (1) as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first slit (S1) is provided in the printed circuit board connector (1) by means of a sawing or milling process.

26. The printed circuit board connector (1) as claimed in claim 17, wherein the printed circuit board connector (1) is formed at least in sections in a symmetrical manner, and wherein the pin axis (A) is at least in regions a symmetrical axis of the printed circuit board connector (1).

27. A system, comprising: at least a first printed circuit board (21); and at least one printed circuit board connector (22) as claimed in claim 17, wherein the at least one printed circuit board connector (1) protrudes with its printed circuit board connection region (111) through a first through-going opening (210) of the first printed circuit board (21) and is in electrical contact with the first printed circuit board (21) at a first contact region of the first printed circuit board (21) that is arranged at the first through-going opening (210).

28. The system as claimed in claim 27, wherein the at least one printed circuit board connector (1) comprises between its printed circuit board connection region (111) and its connecting section (10) a circumferential collar (13) with which the printed circuit board connector (1) is placed on the first printed circuit board (21).

29. The system as claimed in claim 27, wherein the at least one printed circuit board connector (1) is inserted with its mating region (12) through a second through-going contact opening (220) of a second printed circuit board (22) and electrically contacts this second printed circuit board at a second contact region (228) that is arranged at the second through-going contact opening.

30. The system as claimed in claim 29, wherein the at least one printed circuit board connector (1) is at least in regions slightly elastically compressed as a result of an at least slight deformation of the segments (14) whilst applying a corresponding counterforce and presses against the second through-going contact opening (220) with the corresponding counterforce from inside in order to put the second through-going contact opening in electrical contact with the contact region (228) arranged there with a correspondingly high electrical conductivity value.

31. The system as claimed in claim 30, wherein, by virtue of the at least one printed circuit board connector (1) being able to at least slightly deform, the second printed circuit board (22) is held with its at least one through-going contact opening (220) against the printed circuit board connector (1) in such a manner that the printed circuit board connector is able to move within a predetermined tolerance range in the direction of the first printed circuit board (21) and/or in the opposite direction.

32. The system as claimed in claim 31, wherein by virtue of its first slit (S1) the at least one printed circuit board connector (1) is able to deform as said at least slightly.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and is explained in detail below.

[0030] FIG. 1a-b illustrates a printed circuit board connector in various views;

[0031] FIG. 1c illustrates a cross-sectional view of the printed circuit board connector with two printed circuit boards;

[0032] FIG. 2a-b illustrates an arrangement of the two printed circuit boards that are connected to one another via multiple printed circuit board connectors;

[0033] FIG. 2c illustrates a plan view of the arrangement from the preceding illustration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] The figures illustrate in part simplified schematic views. In part, identical reference numerals are used for similar but possibly not identical elements. Different views of similar elements may be scaled differently.

[0035] FIGS. 1a-b illustrate a printed circuit board connector 1.

[0036] The printed circuit board connector 1 is configured as a pin contact with a pin axis A indicated in FIG. 1b and is embodied from an at least slightly reversibly deformable, electrically conductive material. In the present case, the printed circuit board connector 1 is embodied from metal but it is also feasible to use another material by way of example an electrically conductive or conductively coated synthetic material.

[0037] The printed circuit board connector 1 comprises a connection-side end 11 and a mating-side end 12. It comprises a printed circuit board connection region 111 on its connection-side end 11. Lying opposite, it comprises a mating region 122 that tapers toward the mating-side end 12. The printed circuit board connector 1 comprises between the printed circuit board connection region 111 and the mating region 122 a pin-shaped connecting section 10 whose region is graphically emphasized in FIG. 1b with the aid of a curly bracket. The printed circuit board connector 1 comprises between the connecting section 10 and the printed circuit board connection region 111 a cylindrical, circumferential collar 13.

[0038] The printed circuit board connector 1 comprises two slits S1, S2, namely a first slit S1 and a second slit S2 that cross in the pin axis at a right angle and end in the connecting section 10, said slits commencing at the mating-side end 12 and extending in the direction of the printed circuit board connection region 111 along the pin axis A. As a consequence, four identical segments 14 that are particularly clearly visible in FIG. 1a are formed in the printed circuit board connector 1. Each of the four segments 14 comprises at the mating-side end 12 of the printed circuit board connector 1 a free-standing end that for the sake of clarity are not provided with separate reference numerals. The segments 14 face with their free-standing ends jointly in the mating direction of the printed circuit board connector 1.

[0039] FIG. 1c illustrates a cross-sectional view of the printed circuit board connector 1 with two printed circuit boards 21, 22, namely a first printed circuit board 21 and a second printed circuit board 22, said printed circuit boards being connected by means of said printed circuit board connector. The two printed circuit boards 21, 22 have in each case multiple through-going contact openings 210, 220.

[0040] On the one hand, the printed circuit board connector 1 is inserted with its printed circuit board connection region 111 through one of the through-going contact openings 210 of the first printed circuit board 21 and soldered to the contact region 228 (shown in FIG. 2c) that is located thereon also on the inner face. Simultaneously, it is placed with its collar 13 on the second printed circuit board 22.

[0041] Furthermore, it is clearly apparent that on the other hand, so as to electrically connect the two printed circuit boards 21, 22, the printed circuit board connector 1 has been guided beforehand with its mating region 122 through the through-going contact opening 220 of the second printed circuit board 22 and now engages therethrough in an electrically contacting manner with a part of its connecting section 10, said part being adjacent to the mating region 122. In so doing, as the mating region 122 is inserted into the through-going contact opening 220 the respective free-standing ends of the four segments 14 are to move toward one another whilst the segments 14 deform in a slightly elastic manner. As a consequence, the segments 14 generate a corresponding counterforce with which they press against a contact material that is arranged in the through-going opening 220 and is a component of the contact region 228.

[0042] In this manner, a mechanical attachment arrangement and an electrical contacting arrangement is created between the two printed circuit boards 21, 22, wherein the electrical contacting arrangement prints a particularly high conductivity value as a result of the corresponding high contact force. The mechanical attachment arrangement has simultaneously the desired tolerance values.

[0043] By virtue of this deformation, in the plugged-in state the four segments 14 are oriented with their free-standing ends slightly toward one another. Consequently, in the plugged-in state the printed circuit board connector 1 tapers slightly toward its mating region 12. Conversely, in the plugged-in state it widens slightly in the direction of its printed circuit board connection region 111.

[0044] The second printed circuit board 22 may therefore be inserted within a predetermined tolerance range slightly deeper, but ideally not to any depth, onto the connecting region 10 of the printed circuit board connector 1. In the reverse direction, i.e. in the mating direction, the second printed circuit board 22 may also be moved away from it and/or completely pulled off it. In other words, the printed circuit board connector 1 may be inserted with its connecting region 10 still somewhat deeper into the through-going contact opening 220 of the second printed circuit board 22 or pulled back somewhat further out. As the printed circuit board connector 1 is inserted deeper in, the segments 14 move with their free-standing ends in a somewhat slightly more elastic manner with respect to one another. As the printed circuit board connector 1 is pulled out slightly, said segments move back in a somewhat more intense manner away from one another. As a consequence, a tolerance region is created within which the plug-in depth may vary. Consequently, a distance D between the two printed circuit boards 21, 22 may also vary within the thereby predetermined tolerance range while simultaneously the electrical contacting arrangement is ensured for high current strengths, for example >10 amps.

[0045] FIGS. 2a and 2b illustrate an oblique view and a lateral view of the two mutually parallel printed circuit boards 21, 22 with conductor tracks 213, 223 located thereon. The two printed circuit boards 21, 22 are mechanically and electrically connected to one another via multiple printed circuit board connectors 1, as explained above in detail with reference to the example of a printed circuit board connector 1. The electrical connection is thereby formed between two conductor tracks 213, 223 respectively.

[0046] FIG. 2c illustrates a plan view of this arrangement. It is clearly apparent how the printed circuit board connector 1 engages through the through-going contact opening 220 of the second printed circuit board 22 and protrudes with its mating-side end 12 out of the second printed circuit board 22, as a result of which it elastically contacts the corresponding conductor track 223 at the contact region 228 thereof.

[0047] Even if different aspects or features of the invention are illustrated in the figures in each case in combination, it is obvious to the person skilled in the artunless otherwise indicatedthat the illustrated and discussed combinations are not the only possible combinations. In particular, units or feature complexes of different exemplary embodiments that correspond to one another may be exchanged with one another.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0048] 1 Printed circuit board connector

[0049] 10 Connecting section

[0050] 11 Connection-side end

[0051] 111 Printed circuit board connection region

[0052] 12 Mating-side end

[0053] 122 Mating region

[0054] 13 Collar

[0055] 14 Segments

[0056] 21 First printed circuit board

[0057] 210 First through-going contact opening

[0058] 213 First conductor track

[0059] 22 Second printed circuit board

[0060] 220 Second through-going contact opening

[0061] 223 Second conductor track

[0062] 228 Second contact region

[0063] A Pin axis

[0064] D Distance between the printed circuit boards

[0065] S1, S2 First, second slit