Electrical plug connector

Abstract

An electrical plug connector (10) including a housing (12); at least one input-side contact (14, 16, 18); at least one output-side contact (20, 22, 24); and an electrical circuit (30) arranged inside the housing (12). The electrical circuit (30) has a sensor device (32), a control device (34) and a communication interface (38). The sensor device (32) is designed to detect an electrical operating parameter; and the control device (34) is designed to generate output data on the basis of the electrical operating parameter and to output said data by a communication interface (38). A method for operating a system having an electrical plug connector (10) is provided in which the plug connector (10) includes a sensor device (32) for detecting an electrical operating parameter.

Claims

1. A system comprising: an electrical plug connector (10) including: a housing (12), at least one input-side contact (14, 16, 18), at least one output-side contact (20, 22, 24), and an electrical circuit (30) arranged inside the housing (12), the electrical circuit (30) has a sensor (32), a controller (34), a memory (36), and a communication interface (38), the sensor (32) is configured to detect an electrical operating parameter; the controller (34) is configured to generate output data based on the electrical operating parameter and to output said data by a communication interface (38); and a cable (40) having a first cable end (41) and a second cable end (41), at least one of the first (41) cable end or the second cable end (41) is connected to the output-side contact (20, 22, 24) of the electrical plug connector (10), and a value of a cable parameter of said cable (40), identification data for at least one of the plug connector (10) or the connected cable (40), and additional information directed to at least one of installation conditions that influence a heat dissipation capacity, or ambient temperature parameters of electromagnetic compatibility are stored in the memory (36).

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of production parameters or identification data about the cable (40) connected to the plug connector (10) are stored in the memory (36).

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the memory is configured to store an insulation resistance between individual conductors of the cable (40), and said insulation resistance is measured at least one of during production or at a later time.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cable (40) is configured for conducting or transmitting at least one of electrical power, current, voltage, signals or optical signals.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cable (40) comprises a plurality of lines, which are formed equivalently or for different transmission modes.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein parameters relating to a load-bearing capacity of the connected cable (40) are stored in the memory (36).

7. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein data of a characteristic curve are stored in the memory (36), in order to determine a load-bearing capacity of the connected cable (40) based on a detected temperature.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein data concerning a heat dissipation capability of a cable insulation of the cable (40) connected to the plug connector (10) are stored on the memory (36).

9. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein additional information is stored on the memory (36) directed to at least one of installation conditions that influence a heat dissipation capacity, an ambient temperature parameters of electromagnetic compatibility, or identification data for at least one of the plug connector (10) or the connected cable (40).

10. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein additional information is stored on the memory (36) directed to individual limit values of the cable (40).

11. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a threshold value is stored on the memory (36) in order to compare detected operating parameters with the threshold value and to output an alarm if the threshold value is exceeded or undershot.

12. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor (32) is configured to at least one of detect an insulation resistance between conductors connected to the plug connector (10) as an electrical operating parameter or determine a line resistance between the ends (41, 41) of the cable (40) as an electrical operating parameter.

13. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one input-side contact (14, 16, 18) or the at least one output-side contact (20, 22, 24) are configured to measure continuously at least one of voltages or current strengths in order to at least one of communicate or store for later output detected values thereof for continuous state monitoring of at least one of an electrical connection or data connection, to detect a deteriorating cable quality.

14. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of the electrical plug connectors (10) are provided, which communicate with one another directly or indirectly by an external controller (50) or indirectly by an element that is comprised by the external controller (50).

15. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller (34) of the electrical plug connector (10) is configured to generate output data based on detected operating parameters, and the communication interface (38) is designed to transmit the output data to an external controller (50).

16. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller (34) is configured to generate memory data based on the detected electrical operating parameter and to store said memory data on the memory (36).

17. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the memory (36) is configured to store at least one of detected electrical operating parameters or output data; and data stored by the memory (36) is readable via the communication interface (38).

18. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of a) characteristic values relating to a line resistance of the cable depending on a temperature are stored on the memory (36), or b) data of a characteristic curve by which a load-bearing capacity of the cable is determinable based on a detected temperature is stored on the memory.

19. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein cable parameters that allow determination of a further cable parameter are stored on the memory (36).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of the electrical plug connector; an

(3) FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of the system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(4) With reference to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of the electrical plug connector is explained.

(5) In the first exemplary embodiment, the electrical plug connector 10 has a housing 12 in which there are arranged input-side contacts 14, 16, 18 and output-side contacts 20, 22, 24.

(6) The plug connector 10 further comprises an electrical circuit 30, which in this example is also disposed in the housing 12.

(7) The plug connector 10 further comprises a sensor device 32, a control device 34, a memory device 36, a localization device 37, and a communication interface 38.

(8) In further exemplary embodiments, other devices can be comprised, in particular some of these devices 32, 34, 36, 37, 38 can be absent and/or combined in other ways.

(9) In the exemplary embodiment, the sensor device 32, the control device 34, the memory device 36, the localization device 37 and the communication interface 38 are comprised by the electrical circuit 30. In particular, they can be arranged on a circuit board and/or on a common component.

(10) In further exemplary embodiments, the devices 32, 34, 36, 37, 38 are not, or not entirely, comprised by the electrical circuit 30. They can further be at least partially arranged outside the housing 12.

(11) In the exemplary embodiment, each of the output-side contacts 20, 22, 24 is connected to a corresponding line 42, 44, 46 of a cable 40 connected to the plug connector 10. In the exemplary embodiment, these are electrical lines 42, 44, 46 for transmitting data and/or electrical power. In the exemplary embodiment, one end 41 of the cable 40 is connected to the plug connector 10.

(12) The output-side contacts 20, 22, 24 are connected to the electrical circuit 30. These connections are shown only schematically in FIG. 1. Other circuits and connections can be provided, in particular parallel and/or series circuits.

(13) The input-side contacts 14, 16, 18 are also connected to the electrical circuit 30. These connections are also shown only schematically in FIG. 1; other circuits and connections can also be provided here, in particular parallel and/or series circuits.

(14) The plug connector 12 is designed to assign the lines 42, 44, 46 to the input-side contacts 14, 16, 18 in a manner known per se. For example, the cable 40 can be connected to a device (not shown) by means of the plug connector 10 and/or a plurality of cables 40 can be connected to each other.

(15) In the exemplary embodiment, the lines 42, 44, 46 are electrically conductive and are designed to transmit electrical power and/or data signals.

(16) In further exemplary embodiments, it can be provided that at least individual ones of the lines 42, 44, 46 are designed only for the transmission of either electrical power or electrical data signals. Furthermore, at least one line 42, 44, 46 can be designed for optical transmission of data, in particular a light guide or an optical fiber.

(17) In the exemplary embodiment, the memory device 36 comprises a non-volatile data memory. This can be controlled by the control device 34 to store data there and/or to retrieve stored data. Data stored on the memory device 36 can further be edited and/or erased.

(18) In the exemplary embodiment, it is further provided that a data connection 52 to an external unit 50 can be established at least temporarily via the communication interface 38. This connection can be established in various ways known per se, for example by means of Bluetooth, near-field communication/RFID, G5 or another mobile radio network, WLAN or via another standard, in particular via radio signal transmission.

(19) In further exemplary embodiments, a wired data connection 52 can be established between the communication interface 38 and the external unit 50. In particular, it can also be provided that the data connection 52 can be established by means of at least one of the lines 42, 44, 46 connected to the output-side contacts 20, 22, 24; in particular, a signal for transmitting data can be superimposed on a current flow for transmitting power.

(20) In the exemplary embodiment, it is further provided that the localization device 37 is suitable for detecting information regarding the localization of the plug connector 10. This can be done in various ways, such as by GPS, 5G, or by another method. The detected information about the localization of the plug connector 10 can relate to an absolute position within a coordinate system, for example a global coordinate system, or it can relate to a relative position relative to an initial position, for example relative to a central control unit.

(21) In another exemplary embodiment, the plug connector 10 further comprises an output unit (not shown). This may, for example, be formed as a display unit and may comprise, for example, a display and/or a lighting element. For example, a light-emitting diode (LED) can be comprised, the lighting state of which can be controlled by the control device 34. In particular, a light parameter can be controlled, such as a brightness, a light color or a flashing frequency.

(22) With reference to FIG. 2, an exemplary embodiment of the system is explained. In particular, the exemplary embodiment of the electrical plug connector explained above is taken as a starting point.

(23) In this exemplary embodiment, it is provided that the cable 40 is connected at a first end 41 to a first plug connector 10 and at a second end 41 to a second plug connector 10. The various plug connectors 10, 10 and their connections to the cable 40 are formed substantially as described above with reference to FIG. 1. From the two plug connectors 10, 10, data connections 51, 52 to the external unit 50 can also be established.

(24) With reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, an example of the method is explained. In particular, the above explanations with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are taken as a starting point.

(25) In the exemplary embodiment of the method, when the cable 40 is used to transmit electrical power and/or data, an electrical operating parameter is detected by means of the sensor device 32.

(26) In the exemplary embodiment, the detected operating parameter comprises a voltage, a current strength, a resistance, an impedance, an inductance, a capacitance, a temperature, and/or a humidity value.

(27) In the exemplary embodiment, the detected electrical operating parameter comprises a voltage and a current strength that are transmitted via the cable 40 or that are measured via the second two lines 42, 44, 46 of the cable 40, respectively.

(28) In the exemplary embodiment, the control device 34 generates output data based on the detected operating parameter. These output data are then output using the communication interface 38, wherein said data are transmitted to the external unit 50 in this exemplary embodiment.

(29) Here, in the exemplary embodiment, it is provided that a so-called condition monitoring is carried out by means of these output data, i.e. a monitoring of the state of the cable 40, its lines 42, 44, 46, the plug connectors 10, 10, 10 and/or the entire system. The output data are therefore generated in such a way that parameters of the system and/or its individual elements that are relevant for the transmission of power and/or data can be continuously monitored.

(30) In the example, it is monitored in particular whether a detected operating parameter exceeds or undershoots a predetermined limit value. If such an event is detected, for example an unexpected voltage drop, an alarm signal is output and transmitted to the external unit 50. This can then generate a control signal by means of which a protective measure is initiated, such as a shutdown of a unit that could be damaged by the occurrence of the voltage drop.

(31) Different events can be defined, for which an alarm or warning signal is triggered and different measures can be triggered.

(32) For example, a gradual or sudden change in the line characteristics can be detected, such as when the cable 40 is damaged, when certain external conditions occur, such as a certain temperature, or when a change occurs due to aging.

(33) In the exemplary embodiment, the control device 34 is designed to generate memory data on the basis of the detected operating parameter and to store these data by means of the memory device 36. The memory data are formed here in such a way that the detected operating parameter is stored over a certain period of time and can be retrieved. This makes it possible to track and evaluate the development of the operating parameter over time, for example to determine how quickly the operating parameter changes and/or when/how often certain events occur, such as deviations from a threshold value.

(34) In the exemplary embodiment, the memory device 36 stores detected operating parameters and/or output data. In this case, data stored by the memory device 36 are readable via the communication interface 38.

(35) In the exemplary embodiment, the output data are further output automatically, for example at regular intervals or after the occurrence of certain events, and/or in response to receiving a request signal, in particular by transmitting it to the external unit 50. In the exemplary embodiment, such a request signal is generated in particular by the external unit 50 and transmitted to the plug connector 10 via the data connection.

(36) In the exemplary embodiment, the output data can be output wirelessly by means of the communication interface 38. Alternatively or additionally, in further exemplary embodiments, a wired output can be provided, for example via a line 42, 44, 46 of the connected cable 40.

(37) In the exemplary embodiment, the cable 40 further has a cable parameter and this is stored at the memory device 36. For example, a length, an electrical resistance, a maximum value for current strength, voltage, and/or power, an inductance, a capacitance, a thermal value, a material property, and/or a type designation for the cable 40 and/or individual wires 42, 44, 46 can be stored on the memory device 36.

(38) This makes it easier to determine further values based on the detected operating parameter, such as a heating of the cable 40, and it can be ensured that certain specific limit values are not exceeded or undershot.

(39) For example, the cable parameters can be determined by measurement during production of the cable and/or the plug connector. Further, a calibration step can be provided in which the cable parameters are stored on the memory device 36.

(40) In the present exemplary embodiment, it is provided that the cable parameters are stored on the memory device 36 in a manner substantially unchangeable by the user.

(41) In further exemplary embodiments, it is provided that the cable parameters can be at least partially changed subsequently, wherein, for example, the control device 34 provides an operator interface which can be accessed via the data connection 52, 52 and which allows a corresponding input. In this context, an authentication step can further be provided to ensure an authorization of the user for a corresponding write access to the memory device 36.

(42) In the exemplary embodiment, the output data comprise localization information detected by means of the localization unit 37. In the example, the localization information is formed so that when an alarm or warning signal is output, when the cable 40 fails, or due to other prompts, the cable 40 and/or the plug connector 10, 10, 10 can be easily localized, for example, to perform repairs.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(43) 10, 10, 10 plug connector 12 housing 14 input-side contact 16 input-side contact 18 input-side contact 20 output-side contact 22 output-side contact 24 output-side contact 30 circuit 32 sensor device 34 control device 36 memory device 37 localization device 38 communication interface 40 cable 41, 41 cable end 42 line 44 line 46 line 50 external unit 52, 52, 52 data connection