Electrical plug comprising an electrical circuit

Abstract

Embodiments of an electrical plug may include an electrical circuit having an input-side interface with at least one input-side contact point for connecting at least one signal conductor of at least one electrical lead. In some embodiments the electrical circuit has an output-side interface with at least one output-side contact point. The electrical circuit may have a transmission option from the input-side interface to the output-side interface for controlling impedance, and the design of the input-side interface in some embodiments may differ from the design of the output-side interface.

Claims

1. An electrical plug-in connector comprising: a housing having a longitudinal axis, and an electrical circuit permanently and inaccessibly installed within the housing, the electrical circuit having an input-side interface with at least one input-side contact point for connecting the electrical circuit to at least one signal conductor of at least one electrical line, the electrical circuit further having an output-side interface with at least one output-side contact point, and wherein the electrical circuit has a transmission option for control of an impedance from the input-side interface to the output-side interface, and wherein the input-side interface has a first configuration and the output-side interface has a second configuration which differs from the first configuration; the input-side interface having an input-side contact area which runs orthogonally in relation to the longitudinal axis and makes contact with the input-side contact point; the output-side interface having an output-side contact area which runs orthogonally in relation to the longitudinal axis and makes contact with the output-side contact point; the input-side contact area and the output-side contact area being spaced apart from one another in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, the input-side contact area and the output-side contact area being oriented opposite one another with respect to the direction parallel to the longitudinal axis.

2. An electrical plug-in connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical circuit comprises at least one of: (i) a printed circuit board, and (ii) a two-sided printed circuit board, and (iii) a multilayer printed circuit board with more than two printed circuit board layers, and (iv) a multichip module, (v) a system-in-package, and (vi) a system-on-chip, and (viii) an integrated circuit.

3. An electrical plug-in connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the contact points of the electrical circuit comprise at least one of: (a) flat contacts, and (b) sliding contacts, and (c) solder areas, and (d) spring contacts, and (e) plug-in contacts.

4. An electrical plug-in connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plug-in connector is of two-part design having a first part and a second part and wherein the electrical circuit is arranged on the first part of the plug-in connector or on the second part of the plug-in connector, and wherein the first part of the plug-in connector can be connected to the second part of the plug-in connector in a materially bonded manner, an interlocking manner and/or a force-fitting manner.

5. An electrical plug-in connector as claimed in claim 4, wherein the electrical circuit is arranged on the first part or the second part of the plug-in connector in such a way that the electrical circuit is positioned between the first part of the plug-in connector and the second part of the plug-in connector when the first part and the second part of the plug-in connector are connected to one another.

6. An electrical plug-in connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plug-in connector has a receptacle for the electrical circuit and a closure element for closing an access opening of the receptacle.

7. An electrical plug-in connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the input-side contact points of the input-side interface have a first pitch and the output-side contact points of the output-side interface have a second pitch.

8. An electrical plug-in connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input-side interface is designed in line with a first plug-in connector standard and the output-side interface is designed in line with a second plug-in connector standard.

9. An electrical plug-in connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission option provides reflection-free signal transmission between the at least one electrical line and a second electrical plug-in connector and/or between the at least one electrical line and one of the first part and the second part of the plug-in connector and/or between the input-side interface and the output-side interface.

10. An electrical plug-in connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical line comprises a constituent part of a second printed circuit board and the at least one signal conductor of the second printed circuit board is connected to the at least one input-side contact point via at least one contact line.

11. An electrical plug-in connector as claimed in claim 10, wherein the transmission option matches different signal propagation times between the signal conductors of the second printed circuit board and the input-side contact points of the electrical circuit to one another on the basis of different lengths of the contact lines.

12. An electrical plug-in connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one electrical component is integrated into the electrical circuit, and wherein a thermally conductive layer is present immediately adjacent at least one of the electrical components, and wherein the thermally conductive layer comprises an electrically insulating polymer carrier material.

13. An electrical plug-in connector as claimed in claim 12, wherein the electrically insulating polymer carrier material comprises a resin.

14. An electrical plug-in connector as claimed in claim 12, wherein the resin comprises at least one of, a synthetic resin and an epoxy resin.

15. An electrical plug-in connector as claimed in claim 12, wherein the thermally conductive layer further comprises at least one of, aluminum oxide and boron nitride.

16. An electrical plug-in connector comprising: a housing, and an electrical circuit within the housing, the electrical circuit having an input-side interface with at least one input-side contact point for connecting at least one signal conductor of at least one electrical line, the electrical circuit further having an output-side interface with at least one output-side contact point, and wherein the electrical circuit has a transmission option for control of an impedance from the input-side interface to the output-side interface, and wherein the input-side interface has a first configuration and the output-side interface has a second configuration which differs from the first configuration, wherein the plug-in connector has a receptacle for the electrical circuit and a closure element for closing an access opening of the receptacle, and wherein the housing of the plug-in connector has a longitudinal axis, and wherein the input-side interface and the output-side interface of the electrical circuit each have a respective contact area which runs orthogonally in relation to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the plug-in connector further comprises a shielding means which can be electrically connected to a ground conductor of the at least one electrical line and wherein, the closure element is at least partially formed from an electrically conductive material, and wherein the closure element makes electrical contact with the shielding means when the closure element closes the access opening of the receptacle.

17. An electrical plug-in connector comprising: a housing, and an electrical circuit permanently and inaccessibly installed within the housing, the electrical circuit having an input-side interface with at least one input-side contact point for connecting at least one signal conductor of at least one electrical line, the electrical circuit further having an output-side interface with at least one output-side contact point, and wherein the electrical circuit has a transmission option for control of an impedance from the input-side interface to the output-side interface, and wherein the input-side interface has a first configuration and the output-side interface has a second configuration which differs from the first configuration, wherein the plug-in connector has a receptacle for the electrical circuit and a closure element for closing an access opening of the receptacle, and wherein the housing of the plug-in connector has a longitudinal axis, and wherein the input-side interface and the output-side interface of the electrical circuit each have a respective contact area which runs orthogonally in relation to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the plug-in connector further comprises a shielding means which can be electrically connected to a ground conductor of the at least one electrical line and wherein, the closure element is at least partially formed from an electrically conductive material, and wherein the closure element makes electrical contact with the shielding means when the closure element closes the access opening of the receptacle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference symbols in the figures of the drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 schematically shows a plug-in connector according to the invention with an inserted electrical circuit in a design as a printed circuit board and also with a closure element which closes an access opening to a receptacle for the printed circuit board;

(3) FIG. 2 schematically shows the plug-in connector of FIG. 1 without the printed circuit board and with a raised closure element;

(4) FIG. 3 schematically shows a three-dimensional illustration of the closure element of FIGS. 1 and 2 with a seal and an electrically conductive attachment;

(5) FIG. 4 schematically shows a plug-in connector according to the invention in line with a second embodiment with a fixed closure element;

(6) FIG. 5 schematically shows a plug-in connector according to the invention in line with a third embodiment;

(7) FIG. 6 schematically shows an example of a first circuit diagram of a plug-in connector according to the invention;

(8) FIG. 7 schematically shows an example of a second circuit diagram of a plug-in connector according to the invention;

(9) FIG. 8 schematically shows an example of a third circuit diagram of a plug-in connector according to the invention;

(10) FIG. 9 schematically shows an exemplary change in pitch between an input-side interface and an output-side interface of a plug-in connector;

(11) FIG. 10 schematically shows a plug-in connector designed as a printed circuit board plug-in connector;

(12) FIG. 11 schematically shows a two-part plug-in connector; and

(13) FIG. 12 schematically shows an illustration of a printed circuit board with an encircling metallization and two printed circuit board layers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(14) FIG. 1 illustrates a section through a plug-in connector 2. The plug-in connector 2 has a printed circuit board 3. The plug-in connector 2 further has a longitudinal axis L which runs along an insertion direction, indicated by a double-headed arrow in FIG. 1.

(15) Instead of the printed circuit board 3, any desired electrical circuit can be provided in principle, for example in the form of a multichip module, a system-in-package, a system-on-chip and/or any desired integrated circuit, that is to say, for example, even an individual microchip or ASIC. For reasons of simplification, the invention will be described with reference to a printed circuit board 3 in the exemplary embodiment, but this can be understood to be a black box for any desired electrical circuit.

(16) The plug-in connector 2 has a housing 4 which is formed from a non-conductive material, for example from a plastic, in the present exemplary embodiment. The housing 4 serves, amongst other things, to receive an electrical line 5 which is designed in the exemplary embodiment as cable 5 which is held in the housing 4 of the plug-in connector 2 by means of a holding device 6. The cable 5 is an electrically shielded cable 5 with a ground conductor which is designed as an external conductor 7, in particular as a shielding braid 7, which is electrically conductively connected to a shielding means 8 for the plug-in connector 2. The external conductor 7 carries a defined electrical potential, in particular a ground potential, which is suitable for forming a shielding. The shielding braid 7 is clamped between the shielding means 8 and the housing 4 of the plug-in connector 2. The shielding means 8 preferably runs completely around the inner regions of the plug-in connector 2 in order to fully electromagnetically shield the plug-in connector 2.

(17) As can be seen in FIG. 1, signal conductors 10, which are designed as cable internal conductors 10 of the cable 5 in the exemplary embodiment, are electrically connected at their ends which face the printed circuit board 3 to input-side contacts 9. The plug-in connector 2 has output-side contacts 11 which are electrically connected to plug-in connector internal conductors 12. In the exemplary embodiment, three contacts 9, 11 are provided in each case. The number can be arbitrary in the present case.

(18) The plug-in connector 2 has a receptacle 13 for the printed circuit board 3, which receptacle is designed as a slot-like or rectangular recess 13 between the input-side contacts 9 and the output-side contacts 11. The receptacle 13 has an access opening 14 through which the printed circuit board 3 can be inserted. A closure element 15 is provided for closing the access opening 14.

(19) The printed circuit board 3 has an input-side interface 30 with input-side contact points 16 in order to connect the three cable internal conductors 10 by means of the input-side contacts 9. The printed circuit board 3 further has an output-side interface 31 with output-side contact points 16 in order to connect the three plug-in connector internal conductors 12 via the output-side contacts 11. In the present case, the contact points 16, 16 are designed as flat contacts or solder areas and, when the printed circuit board 3 is in the inserted situation (as illustrated), make contact with the input-side contacts 9 and the output-side contacts 11.

(20) In this case, the inserted printed circuit board 3 is positioned between the input-side contacts 9 and the output-side contacts 11. In order to ensure a robust and particularly reliable contact-connection and also simple insertion and removal of the printed circuit board 3, the contacts 9, 11 of the plug-in connector 2 are embodied as spring contacts 9, 11 in the present case. Owing to the use of the spring contacts 9, 11, a large tolerance range can be compensated for and the printed circuit board 3 can be inserted in a simple manner at the same time.

(21) In principle, the printed circuit board 3 can also be connected to the contacts 9, 11 in a permanent manner, for example in a materially bonded manner, by soldering, or in a force-fitting/interlocking manner by crimping, by means of its contact points 16, 16. It is not absolutely necessary for the printed circuit board 3 to be removable from the plug-in connector 2 for the purposes of the invention. In particular, the receptacle 13 and the closure element 15 can then be dispensed with too. Furthermore, the contacts 9, 11 can be dispensed with and the contact points 16, 16 can also be directly connected to the signal conductor or conductors 10 or plug-in connector internal conductor or conductors 12.

(22) The printed circuit board 3 can have conductor tracks, vias (not illustrated here) and electrical components 17. An individual transmission option from the input-side contacts 9 to the output-side contacts 11 or between the contact points 16, 16 can be ensured in this way. The transmission options are manifold. Therefore, for example, signal amplification operations, impedance matching operations, linearization operations through to automatic compensation with respect to the currently installed cable length and programmable circuits can be provided. Provision can also be made for the printed circuit board 3 to have only conductor tracks and/or vias, this rendering possible variable and rapidly exchangeable pinning or rewiring of the plug-in connector 2.

(23) In the exemplary embodiment, the housing 4 of the plug-in connector 2 has a mechanical encoding arrangement by way of which the plug-in connector 2, which is embodied as a plug in the present case, can be inserted, for example, into a socket (not illustrated). In principle, the plug-in connector 2 can be a plug, a socket, a coupling or an adapter. In particular, the plug-in connector 2 can also be embodied as a printed circuit board plug-in connector or can be received in a device housing. For further contact-connection, the plug-in connector 2 can have contact sleeves 18, which are electrically connected to the plug-in connector internal conductors 12, in its front region.

(24) The closure element 15 is preferably formed substantially from plastic or from a non-conductive material and has an electrically conductive attachment 19 in the form of a contact spring attachment 19. In this case, the attachment 19 makes electrical contact with the shielding means 8 of the plug-in connector 2 and therefore ensures a closed electromagnetic shielding. The closure element 15 comprises a seal 20 for mechanically sealing off the access opening 14.

(25) Furthermore, a contact element 21 is provided on the closure element 15, which contact element, in the manner of an additional contact spring, electrically connects the electrically conductive attachment 19 of the closure element 15 to a circuit shielding, in the present case a printed circuit board shielding 22, in the form of a metallized surface of the printed circuit board 3. Furthermore, a further contact element 23, which is embodied in a similar manner and additionally makes contact with the printed circuit board shielding 22 of the printed circuit board 3, is provided at the lower end of the receptacle 13. Electrical contact-connection ideally on all sides and over a large surface area of the shieldings 8, 19, 22 is advantageous in principle.

(26) It goes without saying that one contact element or all of the contact elements 21, 23 can also be provided on the printed circuit board 3 or on the printed circuit board shielding 22.

(27) Furthermore, a printed circuit board shielding 22 can also be realized without an electrical contact-connection to the attachment 19 necessarily being provided by means of the contact element.

(28) The printed circuit board 3, and in particular its sectioned construction, is illustrated merely by way of example and in a highly abstract manner. The printed circuit board 3 can be a one-sided printed circuit board, a two-sided printed circuit board or a multilayer printed circuit board 3 with more than two printed circuit board layers 26. A printed circuit board 3 with two printed circuit board layers 26 is illustrated on an enlarged scale in FIG. 12 which will be described later.

(29) The illustrated plug-in connector 2 can advantageously be set up for transmitting electrical signals in line with a USB standard.

(30) FIG. 2 once again illustrates the plug-in connector 2 described in FIG. 1, wherein the printed circuit board 3 has been removed. Furthermore, the closure element 15 is not inserted into the access opening 14. In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, provision is made for the input-side contacts 9 and the output-side contacts 11 to not be in electrical contact when the printed circuit board 3 is removed. This is a solution which is preferred in respect of construction since it is easy to realize an arrangement of this kind. It may also be advantageous to implement reliable DC-isolation of electrical circuits within the plug-in connector 2 by removing the printed circuit board 3. The provision of a printed circuit board 3 which ensures only reliable DC-isolation between some or all of the contacts 9, 11 can also be understood to lie within the meaning of the invention. Accordingly, the printed circuit board 3 would have a transmission option or a transmission function of zero between at least one input-side contact 9 and at least one output-side contact 11. The printed circuit board 3 can therefore also serve as a securing elementeither in the inserted or removed state depending on the embodiment.

(31) In one embodiment, provision can also be made for the relaxed length of the springs, when the contacts 9, 11 are designed as springs, or the distances between the contacts 9, 11 to be selected in such a way that the input-side contacts 9 and the output-side contacts 11 make contact with one another even when a printed circuit board 3 is not inserted.

(32) FIG. 3 shows the closure element 15 of FIGS. 1 and 2 on an enlarged scale and in a three-dimensional illustration. In this case, the closure element 15 is formed substantially from a non-conductive material and comprises the above-described seal 20. In order to ensure adequate electromagnetic shielding, the conductive attachment 19 is preferably formed from a metal sheet and pushed or mounted onto the closure element 15. Lateral contact springs 24 are provided in this case, as a result of which reliable electrical contact-connection to the external conductor 7 of the cable 5 or to the shielding means 8 for the plug-in connector 2 can be ensured even when large tolerances are to be compensated for.

(33) In this preferred embodiment, the contact springs 24 are preferably arranged in a manner annularly encircling the closure element 15. However, in a simplified design, a single contact-connection or a single contact spring 24 can also suffice.

(34) FIG. 4 illustrates a second embodiment of a plug-in connector 2 according to the invention. Features which have already been described in a preceding exemplary embodiment are not explained in detail once again below. This applies to all of the following FIGS.

(35) The exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4 differs from the previous exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 substantially in that the closure element 15 is formed in a simplified design as a sheet metal element or entirely of metal. The closure element 15 is connected to the shielding means 8 of the plug-in connector 2 in an interlocking and force-fitting manner by, for example, a screw connection. The closure element 15 is preferably arranged in a recessed manner in the inserted state in the housing 4 of the plug-in connector 2. As an alternative, a coplanar design or a design in which the closure element 15 protrudes out of the housing 4 (cf, for example, FIG. 1) is also possible.

(36) FIG. 5 shows a third exemplary embodiment of a plug-in connector 2 according to the invention. In this case, the plug-in connector 2 is designed as a coupling. In terms of design, the contact sleeve or the contact sleeves 18 of the front region of the plug-in connector 2 is or are arranged in relation to the printed circuit board 3 in such a way that a corresponding plug is able to make direct contact on the output-side contact points 16 of the printed circuit board 3. Therefore, in this case, the output-side contact 11 is dispensed with or corresponds to the contact sleeve 18.

(37) It is also possible for the output-side contact points 16 of the electrical circuit or of the printed circuit board 3 to be designed to make direct contact with the second plug-in connector. The output-side contact points 16 can then be designed, for example, as contact sleeves 18 or in the form of any desired further type of contact. Therefore, the output-side interface 31 can at the same time form the interface of the plug-in connector 2 for making contact with the second plug-in connector.

(38) FIGS. 6 to 8 illustrate simplified circuit diagrams in order to illustrate three exemplary variants of the plug-in connector 2 or in order to show examples of the different transmission options from the at least one input-side contact 9 to the at least one output-side contact 11. In this case, the input-side part of the plug-in connector 2 with the cable internal conductors 10 and the output-side part of the plug-in connector 2 with the plug-in connector internal conductors 12 and also the printed circuit board 3 are illustrated in each case. The electrical contact-connection of the contacts 9, 11 of the plug-in connector 2 and of the contact points 16, 16 of the printed circuit board 3 are depicted only highly schematically.

(39) FIGS. 6 to 8 illustrate the input-side interface 30 and the output-side interface 31 in an identical manner. However, in reality, the interfaces 30, 31 differ from one another (amongst other things in respect of the geometry, for example a different pitch and/or by way of the type of material used).

(40) In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 6, the printed circuit board 3 functions merely to pass on or to directly contact-connect the cable internal conductors 10 to the plug-in connector internal conductors 12. To this end, the printed circuit board 3 can have only vias in the simplest case. The printed circuit board 3 and the transmission option then function as a so-called dummy element.

(41) FIG. 7 illustrates a design similar to FIG. 6, in which the printed circuit board 3 once again serves only for contact-connection between the cable internal conductors 10 and the plug-in connector internal conductors 12, without further influencing the signals. However, this embodiment is concerned with a crossover connection, that is to say a cross-connection of signals and therefore pinning of a plug-in connector which differs from FIG. 6.

(42) Therefore, the plug-in connection 2 can be functionally changed by exchanging the printed circuit boards 3.

(43) In principle, any desired unbraiding options of the input-side and output-side interfaces 30, 31 are possible. Any desired pin assignments or plug-in connector standards can be adapted using the electrical circuit or printed circuit board 3, wherein impedance control by appropriate circuit components of the electrical circuit or of the printed circuit board 3 is possible at the same time. For example, a changeover can be made from a type of transmission or stranding with a star quad to a parallel type of transmission (parallel pair).

(44) FIG. 8 shows a further exemplary embodiment in which an electronics system 25illustrated as a black boxof the printed circuit board 3 electrically influences one or more or all of the signals when they are passed on from the input-side contacts 9 to the output-side contacts 11.

(45) The invention can also be used in order to avoid or to replace a fanned-out region within a conventional plug-in connector or in order to adapt an input-side interface 30 and an output-side interface 31 in an impedance-controlled manner. The so-called pitch, that is to say a center-to-center distance of the contact points 16, 16, usually has to be modified within a plug-in connector. In this case, the cable internal conductors 10 are frequently fanned out, that is to say the pitch is widened, in order to achieve the correct size ratios for the plug-in connection. A fanning-out operation of this kind can be clearly seen in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5.

(46) The cable internal conductors 10 are usually fanned out such that their ends assume a position in such a way that a corresponding end of a plug-in connector internal conductor 12 is assigned to each end of a cable internal conductor 10 and the ends which are assigned to one another run coaxially in relation to one another.

(47) FIG. 9 shows a further example of interfaces 30, 31 which are different on the input side and on the output side and each have a different pitch. The printed circuit board 3, which can have for example round contact areas 30.1, 31.1 as illustrated, constitutes a type of adapter which renders possible ideally adapted transmission from an input-side interface 30, in the present case a narrow cable interface, to an output-side interface 31, in the present case a wider plug interface. Therefore, the output-side interface 31 has larger distances between the individual cores or plug-in connector internal conductors 12 in the present case. A transition of this kind is normally achieved with a fanned-out region in practice, as already mentioned, but this causes points of interference in the transmission path. However, owing to the use of a suitable electrical circuit or printed circuit board 3, the two interfaces 30, 31 can have the same impedance (for example 90 Ohms differential).

(48) For example, a printed circuit board 3 can be provided, wherein direct contact can initially be made with the printed circuit board 3 from both sides with the respective interface dimensions. A suitable design of the microstrip lines and vias of the printed circuit board 3 can then compensate for the capacitive behavior of the transition from the respective internal conductors 10, 12 to the printed circuit board 3. A reflection-free change in pitch is preferably provided.

(49) The interfaces 30, 31 of the electrical circuit or of the printed circuit board 3 each preferably form a contact area 30.1, 31.1 which runs orthogonally in relation to the longitudinal axis L of the plug-in connector 2.

(50) In FIGS. 9 and 10, the printed circuit board 3 is permanently installed in the housing 4 of the plug-in connector 2 or integrated there. However, the printed circuit board 3 can also be inserted into the plug-in connector 2 (for example into an above-described receptacle 13).

(51) FIG. 10 illustrates the plug-in connector 2 of FIG. 9 as a printed circuit board plug-in connector. As illustrated, the plug-in connector 2 is not connected to a cable 5, but rather to a further printed circuit board 32, on the input side. In this case, a plurality of electrical lines 5 or signal conductors 10 of the further printed circuit board 32 can be contacted by corresponding contact lines 33. Contact can also be made with a ground conductor of the further printed circuit board 32, possibly by at least one contact line 33. The contact lines 33 connect the signal conductors 10 to the contact points 16 of the printed circuit board 3 or to the input-side contacts 9.

(52) In this configuration, in particular on account of the angled design, the problem of different signal propagation times due to the different lengths of the contact lines 33 occurs, and this can prove to have an interfering effect especially when transmitting high-frequency signals. This problem can be solved in a relatively simple manner by using an appropriate electrical circuit or printed circuit board 3.

(53) Owing to the use according to the invention of an electrical circuit, a transition which is suitable in an optimum manner for high-frequency technology can be provided between an input-side interface 30 and an output-side interface 31, wherein differences between the interfaces 30, 31 which would have a negative effect on the signal transmission, such as different line lengths, center-to-center distances or relative positioning of the contacts, geometry or size of the individual contacts and type of material of the individual contacts in particular, can be electrically compensated for or adapted by the appropriately designed electrical circuit.

(54) FIG. 11 illustrates a variant of the invention with a two-part plug-in connector 2. In this case, the electrical circuit or printed circuit board 3 is arranged on a first part 2.1 of the plug-in connector 2, wherein the first part 2.1 of the plug-in connector 2 can be connected to a second part 2.2 of the plug-in connector 2 in an interlocking manner or in some other way. Latching hooks, not designated in any detail, which can engage behind corresponding receptacles, not designated in any detail, are provided for this purpose.

(55) In this variant, the electrical circuit or the printed circuit board 3 can be arranged on the first part 2.1 of the plug-in connector 2 in such a way that the electrical circuit or printed circuit board 3 is positioned between the first part 2.1 of the plug-in connector 2 and the second part 2.2 of the plug-in connector 2 when the two parts 2.1, 2.2 of the plug-in connector 2 are connected to one another.

(56) As an alternative, the electrical circuit or the printed circuit board 3 can also be positioned at any desired point of the first part 2.1. However, it is possible to position the electrical circuit or the printed circuit board 3 such that they can be simultaneously used for a transition between the ends of the contacts of the second part to the ends of the contacts of the first part.

(57) A plug-in connector 2 of the above-described embodiments of FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 to 10 can also be of two-part design in principle.

(58) FIG. 12 shows a schematic sectional view of a printed circuit board 3 in an optional configuration as a printed circuit board 3 with two printed circuit board layers 26, as could be used for the present invention. Said printed circuit board can be a multilayer printed circuit board.

(59) The printed circuit board 3 according to FIG. 12 comprises, on its surfaces or side faces, a full-surface metallization 22 which is composed of copper and forms the printed circuit board shielding 22. The metallization 22 is cut out around the contact points 16, 16 in order to not short-circuit the contact points 16, 16 onto the shielding.

(60) Two printed circuit board layers 26, which are connected by means of contact-connections 27 and are at a distance from one another, are arranged within the metallization 22. The printed circuit board layers 26 of the printed circuit board 3 are connected to the contact points 16, 16 by means of vias 28. Electrical components 17 are preferably arranged on the inwardly directed sides of the printed circuit board layers 26 in each case. The vias 28 and the contact-connections 27 can also be formed in one piece.

(61) A thermally conductive layer 29 can be formed between the printed circuit board layers 26 and the electrical components 17 in a surrounding or immediately adjacent, preferably adjoining, manner.

(62) The distance between the printed circuit board layers 26 can be dependent, amongst other things, on the height and/or operating voltage of the electrical components 17 and also on the electrical insulation capacity of the thermally conductive layer 29.

(63) In order to ensure adequate electrical insulation of the thermally conductive layer 29, the thermally conductive layer 29 can contain epoxy resin. On account of the low thermal conductivity of epoxy resin, the thermally conductive layer 29 can additionally be enriched with boron nitride and/or aluminum oxide. Accordingly, the required thickness of the thermally conductive layer 29 can depend largely on the composition of said thermally conductive layer.

(64) Accordingly, synthetic resin can also be used instead of epoxy resin. This is likewise particularly suitable.

(65) While the invention has been described with reference to various preferred embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt to a particular situation or application of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed but rather, that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims, either literally or under the Doctrine of Equivalents.