Module interface

Abstract

The invention relates to a module interface with a device-side connector provided on an electronic module with a number of contact elements. They are designed to form a plug-type connection with several corresponding plug-type connectors with different numbers of contact elements.

Claims

1. A module interface comprised of a sole device-side plug-type connector provided on an electronic module with a number of contact elements that are designed to form a plug-type connection with each of several corresponding plug-type connectors with differing numbers of contact elements, wherein a subset of contact elements of the sole device-side plug-type connector is used to connect each of the various corresponding plug-type connectors, and wherein the electronic module constitutes a component part of a safety system.

2. The module interface according to claim 1, characterized in that the functionality of the module interface and/or of the electronic module is changed by connecting a different, second set of corresponding plug-type connectors to the sole device-side plug-type connector.

3. The module interface according to claim 1, characterized in that the sole device-side plug-type connector is a socket and that the corresponding plug-type connectors are designed as plugs (22a, 22b).

4. The module interface according to claim 1, characterized in that the contact elements of each of the various corresponding plug-type connectors are put into contact with various contact elements of the sole device-side plug-type connector.

5. The module interface according to claim 4, characterized in that the sole device-side plug-type connector is designed to connect a five-contact corresponding plug-type connector and an eight-contact corresponding plug-type connector and that the sole device-side plug-type connector has five contact elements to connect the five-contact corresponding plug-type connector and a further eight contact elements to connect the eight-contact corresponding plug-type connector.

6. The module interface according to claim 1, characterized in that the sole device-side plug-type connector constitutes a connection module (10, 11) that can be connected to the electronic module.

7. The module interface according to claim 6, characterized in that the connection module (10, 11) can be put into contact with a circuit board (18) of the electronic module.

8. The module interface according to claim 6, characterized in that the connection module (10, 11) is a unit that can be exchanged on the electronic module.

9. The module interface according to claim 1, characterized in that the corresponding plug-type connector or each corresponding plug-type connector constitutes a connection module (10, 11) that can be put into contact with an electronic module.

10. The module interface according to claim 1, characterized in that the plug-type connector or each plug-type connector is a component of a connection module (10, 11) for connecting a cable (14).

11. The module interface according to claim 10, characterized in that the connection module (10, 11) has a cable connection in the form of a cable plug (24) or a cable socket (27).

12. The module interface according to claim 10, characterized in that the number of contact elements of the cable plug (24) or of the cable socket (27) of the cable connection corresponds to the number of contact elements of the corresponding plug-type connector.

13. The module interface according to claim 12, characterized in that the cable plug (24) or the cable socket (27) of the cable connection, on the one hand, and of the corresponding plug-type connectors, on the other hand, have the same connection patterns of contact elements and that each contact element of the cable plug (24) or the cable socket (27) of the cable connection is directly connected to a line (20) of a contact element of the corresponding plug-type connector.

14. The module interface according to claim 12, characterized in that the cable plug (24) or the cable socket (27) of the cable connection, on the one hand, and the corresponding plug-type connector, on the other hand, have differing connection patterns of contact elements and that conversion units are provided in the connection module (10, 11) via which the connection pattern of the cable plug (24) or the cable socket (27) of the cable connection is converted to the connection pattern of the corresponding plug-type connector.

15. The module interface according to claim 14, characterized in that the conversion units have a board (29).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be explained with the aid of the drawings below. The following are shown in the figures:

(2) FIG. 1: First variant of an example of the module arrangement as per the invention.

(3) FIG. 2: Second variant of the module arrangement in accordance with FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3: Third variant of the module arrangement in accordance with FIG. 1.

(5) FIG. 4: Schematic diagram of the electrical connections of the individual connection modules of the module arrangement in accordance with FIG. 1.

(6) FIG. 5: Schematic diagram of the electrical connections of the individual connection modules of the module arrangement in accordance with FIG. 2.

(7) FIG. 6: Schematic diagram of a combination plug-type connector of the module interface as per the invention on a circuit board.

(8) FIG. 7: Second view of the arrangement in accordance with FIG. 6.

(9) FIG. 8: Assignment of a first cable connection module to the combination plug-type connector of FIGS. 6 and 7 in a first view.

(10) FIG. 9: Assignment of a first cable connection module to the combination plug-type connector of FIGS. 6 and 7 in a second view.

(11) FIG. 10: Diagram of the cable connection module of FIGS. 8 and 9 connected to the combination plug-type connector.

(12) FIG. 11: Plan view of the front side of a second cable connection module.

(13) FIG. 12: Plan view of the rear side of the second cable connection module.

(14) FIG. 13: Diagram of the second cable connection module connected to the combination plug-type connector.

(15) FIG. 14: Diagram of conversion units of the second cable connection module in a first view.

(16) FIG. 15: Plan view of conversion units of the second cable connection module in a second view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(17) FIGS. 1 and 3 show three variants of a module arrangement 1 as application examples for the module interface as per the invention. The module arrangement 1 constitutes in the instant case a safety system, specifically a locking safety system, that has a locking module 2 as a base module. In the arrangement of FIG. 1, a right-hand handle module 3 is arranged on the right-hand side of the locking module 2. In the arrangement of FIG. 2, a left-hand handle module 3 is arranged on the left-hand side of the same locking module 2. The handle module 3, 3 has a door handle 4 in both cases.

(18) The locking module 2 and the handle module 3, 3 form a functional unit that ensures that a protective door or the like is kept closed. The door handle 4 can be held in the closed position with spring force in principle and unlocked via magnetic force. In the instant case, the door handle 4 is kept in the closed position via magnetic force that is generated via magnets arranged in the locking module 2 and unlocked via spring force.

(19) The module arrangement 1 of FIGS. 1 to 3 has, moreover, a control module 5 as a first functional module and a bus module 6 as a second functional module. The control module 5 constitutes a control unit and has several buttons 7 as control elements. The locking module 2 itself has an emergency stop button 8 and other buttons 9a, 9b for operation of the safety system. The bus module 6 serves to connect to the safety system to an external bus system.

(20) The module arrangement 1 of FIGS. 1 to 3 can, in general, also be expanded to the effect that it will have several locking modules 2 with handle modules 3, 3 or also more functional modules such as bus modules 6 or control modules 5.

(21) The electrical connection between the base module and the functional module is brought about by the connection modules 10, 11.

(22) A connection module 10, 11 of this type is used for assembly to the base module or a functional module in a recess 12 in its housing 2a, 5a, 6a. When the connection module 10, 11 is used, it makes electrical contact with a circuit board, which is not shown, in the base module or in the functional module. Bus lines of a data-bus system that forms an internal bus system of the safety system and that operates independently of external bus systems are laid in the circuit board. The data-bus system can, in particular, be designed in the form of a CAN bus. Each connection module 10, 11 has a contact interface to make contact with the circuit boards.

(23) The connection modules 10, 11 form a modular system. The modules of the module arrangement 1 can be connected via the connection modules 10, 11 (FIGS. 1 and 2) in a direct fashion or through cables 13, 14 (FIG. 3).

(24) It is advantageous when the modules of the safety system are fastened to a profile rail 15, which is shown in FIG. 3.

(25) The locking module 2 has, as the base module of the module arrangement 1, two connection modules 10, 11 on opposite sides that are rotationally invariant in terms of their electrical connections with regard to a rotation of the locking module 2 by 180. This means that the locking module 2 forms completely identical connection interfaces to the control module 5 and to the bus module 6 both in a first rotary position (shown in FIG. 1) and in a second rotary position rotated by 180 with regard to that (shown in FIG. 2), and it can therefore be connected in an identical manner in both rotary positions to the control module 5 and the bus module 6 without additional bus circuits. This means, in turn, that one and the same locking module 2 can be used to both connect the right-hand handle module 3 (FIG. 1) and to connect the left-hand handle module 3 (FIG. 2). In the first case (FIG. 1), a receptacle 16 of the locking module 2 opens on the right-hand side to accommodate the right-hand handle module 3. In the second case (FIG. 2), the receptacle 16 opens on the left-hand side to accommodate the left-hand handle module 3.

(26) The rotational invariance of the electrical connections of the connection modules 10, 11 of the locking module 2 is obtained with the connection arrangements shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

(27) FIGS. 4 and 5 schematically show the locking module 2 with two plug modules 10a, 10b as the connection module 10, 11, and the control module 5 and the bus module 6, each with a socket module 11a, 11b, as connection modules 10, 11. Alternatively, the locking module 2 can also be equipped with two sockets 11a, 11b. Plug modules 10a, 10b would then be provided in a corresponding fashion in the control module 5 and in the bus module 6.

(28) Each socket module 11a, 11b and each plug module 10a, 10b of the arrangement of FIGS. 4 and 5 have external connection contacts A, B, C, D, E (designated as I in each case) that are assigned to the respective connection contact A, B, C, D, E of the allocated connection module 10, 11 on the opposite side. Furthermore, each socket module 11a, 11b and each plug module 10a, 10b of the arrangement of FIGS. 4 and 5 have internal connection contacts A, B, C, D, E (designated as II in each case) that are each connected to the inner circuit board 18 of the locking module 2, control module 5 or bus module 6 as the case may be.

(29) With regard to the socket module 11a, 11b integrated into the control module 5 or the bus module 6, the internal connection contacts II and the external connection contacts I are connected via lines running in a straight line in each case, so the arrangement A, B, C, D, E of the internal connection contacts II corresponds to the arrangement A, B, C, D, E of the external connection contacts I.

(30) With regard to the plug modules 10a, 10b in the locking module 2, however, the internal connection contacts II are connected via crossed lines with the external connection contacts I, so the sequence of internal connection contacts II (A, B, C, D, E) is reversed with regard to the sequence of external connection contacts (E, D, C, B, A). Furthermore, the internal connection contacts II of the plug modules 10a, 10b are connected via crossed lines; the sequence of the connection contacts II of the plug modules 10b (A, B, C, D, E) is reversed with regard to the sequence of the connection contacts I of the plug 10a (E, D, C, B, A).

(31) Because of this wiring of the connection contacts I, II of the plug modules 10a, 10b, their connections are rotationally invariant in terms of a rotation of 180, as a comparison of FIGS. 4 and 5 shows. With regard to the arrangement in accordance with FIG. 4, the locking module 2 is in a first rotary position in which the receptacle 16 for the connection of a right-hand handle module 3 is on the right-hand side. With regard to the arrangement in accordance with FIG. 5, the locking module 2 is in a second rotary position rotated by 180 with respect to the first rotary position in which the receptacle 16 for the connection of a left-hand handle module 3 is on the left-hand side. Completely identical connections of the plug modules 10a, 10b to the socket modules 11a, 11b of the control module 5 or the bus module 6 exist in both arrangements.

(32) FIGS. 7 to 15 show embodiments of the module interfaces as per the invention or components thereof.

(33) FIGS. 6 and 7 show a combination plug-type connector 17, meaning a device-side plug-type connector as a component of the module interface as per the invention. The combination plug-type connector 17 forms a connection module 10, 11 that is integrated into an electronic module; an electronic module of that type can be a locking module 2, a control module 5 or a bus module 6, for instance, in accordance with the examples of FIGS. 1 to 5. The integration into the electronic module takes place, as FIGS. 6 and 7 show, via the connection of the combination plug-type connector 17 to a circuit board 18.

(34) The front of the combination plug-type connector 17 has several contact elements in the form of contact holes 19. Lines 20 via which the combination plug-type connector 17 is connected to contacts of the circuit board 18 run out at the back of the combination plug-type connector 17. One line 20 is assigned in each case to one contact hole 19 of the combination plug-type connector 17 here. Since the front side with the contact holes 19 is arranged to be perpendicular to the plane of the circuit board 18, the lines 20 running out at the combination plug-type connector 17 are redirected by 90 before they are led to the circuit board 18.

(35) The number of holes, meaning the number of contact holes 19 of the combination plug-type connector 17, and their arrangement, meaning the connection pattern of the contact holes 19, are designed in accordance with the invention in such a way that different corresponding plug-type connectors with various numbers of contacts and connection patterns can be connected to the contact holes 19 of the combination plug-type connector 17.

(36) FIGS. 8 and 15 show various examples of device-side plug-type connectors of that type.

(37) FIGS. 8 and 9 show a first corresponding plug-type connector as a component of a first cable connection module 21a. The corresponding plug-type connector is designed in the form of a five-pin plug 22a, meaning that the plug 22a has five contact pins 23a. The five contact pins 23a of the plug 22a can be inserted into the five central contact holes 19 of the combination plug-type connector 17 by pushing the plug 22a into the combination plug-type connector 17; the module interface as per the invention is formed because of that. FIG. 10 shows the cable connection module 21a in contact with the combination plug-type connector 17 in that way.

(38) The cable connection module 21a also has a cable connection for connecting a cable 14, in addition to the plug 22a for a connection to the combination plug-type connector 17. The cable connection is designed in the form of an M12 connection in this case. The cable connection is designed in the form of a combination plug-type connector 17 here. The combination plug-type connector 17 is designed, like the plug 22a of the cable connection module 21a, to have five contacts; the five contact pins 25 of the combination plug-type connector 17 have the same connection pattern, meaning the same arrangements as the contact pins 23a of the plug 22a. In this case, the contact pins 25 of the combination plug-type connector 17 are each directly connected via a line 26 to a contact pin 23a of the plug 22a.

(39) Aside from the plug 22a of the cable connection module 21a of FIGS. 8 to 10, the plug 22b of the cable connection module 21b of FIGS. 11 to 15 can also be connected to the combination plug-type connector 17 of FIGS. 6 and 7. The plug 22b of the cable connection module 21b is designed with eight contacts, meaning it has eight contact pins 23b. The eight contact pins 23b are divided up into two groups of four that are arranged with mirror symmetry with respect to the central axis of the plug 22b. When the plug 22b is inserted into the combination plug-type connector 17, the eight contact pins 23b are accordingly inserted into the external contact hole 19 of the combination plug-type connector 17.

(40) When plug 22b is put into contact with the combination plug-type connector 17, on the one hand, and plug 22a is put into contact with the combination plug-type connector 17, attached complementary contact holes 19 of the combination plug-type connector 17 are thereby used, meaning that each contact hole 19 of the combination plug-type connector 17 is only used by one plug 22a or 22b. A hardware-based, unique assignment of the contact holes 19 of the combination plug-type connector 17 to the contact pins 23b of only one of the plugs 22a, b therefore results.

(41) Accordingly, the number of contact elements of the combination plug-type connector 17 corresponds to the sum of the contact elements of the different plug variants to be connected. Since eight-contact and five-contact plug variants can therefore be connected to the combination plug-type connector 17, it has thirteen contact elements.

(42) The cable connection module 21b has, in addition to the plug 22b, a cable connection that is designed in the present case as a cable socket 27. It forms a standard M12 connection for a cable 14. This cable socket 27 has eight contact holes 19. The cable socket 27 therefore constitutes, just like the plug 22b of the cable connection module 21b, an eight-contact connection element 30. But the connection patterns of the cable socket 27 and the plug 22b, meaning the geometric arrangements of their contact elements, are different as a comparison of FIGS. 11 and 12 shows.

(43) Conversion units in the form of a board 29 supported on a holder 28 are provided for the conversion of the connection patterns. These elements are arranged in the interior of the cable connection module 21b, as FIG. 13 shows. The contact pins 23b of the plug 22b are supported on the holder 28 and led to the board 29, as FIGS. 14 and 15 show. The connection elements 30 for forming the contact holes 19 of the cable socket 27 are directly arranged on the board 29. Because of this conversion, the cable connection module 21b with the plug 22b can be directly inserted into the combination plug-type connector 17, on the one hand, since the connection pattern of the contact pins 23b of the plug 22b fits the connection pattern of the contact hole 19 of the combination plug-type connector 17. On the other hand, a cable 14 can be directly plugged into the cable socket 27 because the two connection patterns also fit one another here.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(44) (1) Module arrangement (2) Locking module (2a) Housing (3) Right-hand handle module (3) Left-hand handle module (4) Door handle (5) Control module (5a) Housing (6) Bus module (6a) Housing (7) Buttons (8) Emergency stop button (9 a, b) Buttons (10) Connection module (10 a, b) Plug module (11) Connection module (11 a, b) Socket module (12) Recess (13) Cable (14) Cable (15) Profile rail (16) Receptacle (17) Combination plug-type connector (18) Circuit board (19) Contact hole (20) Line (21a) Cable connection module (21b) Cable connection module (22a) Plug (22b) Plug (23a) Contact pin (23b) Contact pin (24) Cable plug (25) Contact pin (26) Line (27) Cable socket (28) Holder (29) Board (30) Connection element