CONNECTOR FRAME, TERMINAL CONNECTOR FRAME, TERMINAL CONNECTOR AND CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A connector frame for a connector assembly for an electric connection of a device in a connector-to-counter-connector configuration, including: at least one connector frame opening, in which the connector frame opening is configured to receive at least one terminal connector frame and/or at least one terminal connector by a form-fit and/or force-fit connection.

Claims

1. A connector frame for a connector assembly for an electric connection of a device in a connector-to-counter-connector configuration, comprising: at least one connector frame opening; wherein the connector frame opening is configured to receive at least one terminal connector frame and/or at least one terminal connector by a form-fit and/or force-fit connection.

2. The connector frame of claim 1, wherein the connector frame includes at least two connector frame openings, each of which provides a largest extension of the opening in the frame plane as length, and wherein the at least two connector frame openings are arranged in parallel to each other with their respective lengths at least partially facing each other.

3. The connector frame of claim 1, wherein the connector frame includes at least one oblong hole configured such that the connector frame is attachable to the device and such that a relative position of the connector frame is adjustable with respect to the device.

4. The connector frame of claim 1, wherein the connector frame includes at least one pressure relief member.

5. The connector frame of claim 1, wherein the connector frame includes at least one sealing member enclosing the at least one connector frame opening and/or the at least one pressure relief member.

6. A terminal connector frame for a connector assembly for an electric connection of a device in a connector-to-counter-connector configuration, comprising: at least one terminal connector and/or at least one terminal connector frame opening configured to receive at least one terminal connector by a form-fit and/or force-fit connection; wherein the connector-to-counter-connector configuration is configured to be received by a connector frame, which includes at least one connector frame opening, wherein the connector frame opening is configured to receive at least one terminal connector frame and/or at least one terminal connector by the form-fit and/or force-fit connection.

7. The terminal connector frame of claim 6, wherein the terminal connector frame includes at least one terminal assembly to provide at least one terminal connector with at least one electric terminal configured to electrically connect at least one counter-connector with a device in a connector-to-counter-connector configuration by a device contact terminal portion of the at least one electric terminal.

8. The terminal connector frame of claim 7, wherein the at least one terminal assembly includes at least one mold portion with the at least one electric terminal mold in the mold portion.

9. The terminal connector frame of claim 7, wherein the device contact terminal portion of the at least one electric terminal of the at least one terminal assembly includes an exposed end of the at least one terminal assembly configured to be in contact with an electric contact of the device in an electric connection of a device in a connector-to-counter-connector configuration having at least two turning points to deflect the extension of the electric terminal at least once from a main direction, in which the electric terminal extends in a contact direction.

10. A terminal connector for a connector frame and/or a terminal connector frame, comprising: at least one connection member to connect the terminal connector to the connector frame or the terminal connector frame by a form-fit and/or a force-fit connection; wherein the connector frame opening includes at least one connector frame opening and is configured to receive at least one terminal connector frame and/or at least one terminal connector by a form-fit and/or force-fit connection, and wherein the terminal connector frame includes at least one terminal connector and/or at least one terminal connector frame opening configured to receive at least one terminal connector by a form-fit and/or force-fit connection, wherein the connector-to-counter-connector configuration is configured to be received by a connector frame, which includes at least one connector frame opening, wherein the connector frame opening is configured to receive at least one terminal connector frame and/or at least one terminal connector by the form-fit and/or force-fit connection.

11. The terminal connector of claim 10, wherein the terminal connector includes the at least one terminal assembly, and wherein the at least one terminal assembly provides at least one terminal connector with at least one electric terminal configured to electrically connect at least one counter-connector with a device in a connector-to-counter-connector configuration by a device contact terminal portion of the at least one electric terminal.

12. A connector assembly for an electric connection of a device in a connector-to-counter-connector configuration, comprising: at least one connector frame having at least one connector frame opening, wherein the connector frame opening is configured to receive at least one terminal connector frame and/or at least one terminal connector by a form-fit and/or force-fit connection; at least one terminal connector frame having at least one terminal connector and/or at least one terminal connector frame opening configured to receive at least one terminal connector by a form-fit and/or force-fit connection, wherein the connector-to-counter-connector configuration is configured to be received by a connector frame, which includes at least one connector frame opening, wherein the connector frame opening is configured to receive at least one terminal connector frame and/or at least one terminal connector by the form-fit and/or force-fit connection; and/or at least one terminal connector including at least one terminal assembly, and wherein the at least one terminal assembly provides at least one terminal connector with at least one electric terminal configured to electrically connect at least one counter-connector with a device in a connector-to-counter-connector configuration by a device contact terminal portion of the at least one electric terminal, received in a connector frame opening by a form-fit and/or force-fit connection.

13. The connector assembly of claim 12, wherein the connector assembly includes the device to be electrically connected to a counter-connector, and wherein the connector frame is attached to the device, which may be by at least one screw passing through the at least one oblong hole of the connector frame and the device, with at least one device contact terminal portion of an electric terminal provided by the at least one terminal connector or the at least one terminal connector frame being in contact with an electric contact of the device by such attachment.

14. The connector assembly of claim 13, wherein the device includes several electric contact configurations in a device portion assigned to the at least one terminal connector or the at least one terminal connector frame to allow an electrical connection of different terminal assemblies in the device portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] FIG. 1 shows a schematic front view of a connector frame according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

[0051] FIG. 2 shows a schematic front view of a connector strip assembly comprising a connector frame according to FIG. 1, exemplary terminal connector frames and terminal connectors according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

[0052] FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a connector assembly with a connector strip assembly according to FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0053] FIG. 1 shows a schematic front view of a connector frame 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The connector frame 10 comprises a first connector frame opening 11 and a second connector frame opening 12. Each of the first connector frame opening 11 and the second connector frame opening 12 provides a substantially rectangular shape with a length 11, 12 as the largest extension in the frame plane. The frame plane is the plane comprising the first connector frame opening 11 and the second connector frame opening 12 and intended to face a device 80 (FIG. 3) when assembled to such device. The first connector frame opening 11 and the second connector frame opening 12 are arranged to form two rows with the lengths 11, 12 facing each other. In the exemplary embodiment, the length 12 of the second connector frame opening 12 is slightly smaller than the length 11 of the first connector frame opening 11 and arranged to not extend beyond the first connector frame opening 11 in a longitudinal direction L. Accordingly, the second connector frame opening 12 does not require further space in the longitudinal direction L in addition to the space in the longitudinal direction L already required for the first connector frame opening 11. Therefore, the connector frame 10 is provided in a compact configuration with respect to its dimensions in the longitudinal direction L. In alternative embodiments, the first and second connector frame openings 11, 12 may be arranged differently or only one connector frame opening or more than two connector frame openings may be comprised by the connector frame 10 according to specific application constraints. The same applies for the shape of the connector frame 10, which is of a substantially rectangular shape to support a compact configuration in the given exemplary embodiment, but may be of a different shape in alternative embodiments to account for different application requirements.

[0054] The connector frame 10 further comprises oblong holes 13 disposed at two outer periphery portions of the connector frame 10 opposed two each other in the longitudinal direction L. Here, each of the outer periphery portions comprises three oblong holes 13 arranged in a row perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L with the outer oblong holes 13 in such row are disposed in corner portions of the connector frame 10. In alternative embodiments, the number and arrangement of the oblong holes 13 and/or rows may be different. For example, only one oblong hole 13 or only one oblong hole 13 per row or only one row at all may be comprised by the connector frame 10. As another variant, the connector frame may only provide oblong holes 13 in the corner portions. Further, the rows of oblong holes 13 may extend alternatively or in addition in the longitudinal direction L. The oblong holes 13 are configured to allow adaption of the relative position of the connector frame 10 when assembling the connector frame 10 to a counter-part, here to the device 80 as described later. The adaption of the relative position allows to compensate for tolerances and/or to assemble the connector frame 10 to different devices and/or in different positions.

[0055] Additionally, the connector frame 10 comprises a pressure relief member 14. The pressure relief member 14 is a safety feature configured to break open when high pressure is applied. In the exemplary embodiment, the pressure relief member 14 is a pressure relief burst disc. Here, the pressure relief member 14 is arranged between the first connector frame opening 11 and the second connector frame opening 12. Here, the pressure relief member 14 is a burst disc with 1.5 mm in thickness and 7 mm in diameter. The pressure relief member 14 is press fitted inside a corresponding hole in the connector frame 10 with a diameter of 5.95 mm. This pressure relief member 14 is of the material 50 VMQ 570. The pressure relief member 14 will break open or burst off if the pressure inside a connector 100 (FIG. 3) increases more than 2.5 bars. The change in pressure inside the connector 100 may be due to temperature changes caused by heat emitted by electronic components on the printed circuit board as a device 80 (FIG. 3).

[0056] The connector frame 10 further comprises a sealing member 15 enclosing the first connector frame opening 11, the second connector frame opening 12 and the pressure relief member 14. The sealing member 15 is configured to be pressed against an abutment portion of a counter-part, e.g. a housing of another component, to seal an area within the enclosure by the sealing member 15 from an outside thereof and vice versa. In alternative embodiments, a plurality of sealing members may be provided to allow an individual enclosure of the first connector frame opening 11, the second connector frame opening 12 and/or the pressure relief member 14 or combinations thereof.

[0057] FIG. 2 shows a schematic front view of a connector strip assembly 1 comprising a connector frame 10 according to FIG. 1, exemplary terminal connector frames 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and terminal connectors 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, 62, 63 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0058] The terminal connector frames 20, 30, 40, 50 are accommodated in the first connector frame opening 11 in a row in the longitudinal direction L by snap-fits (not shown) to be received by corresponding recesses (not shown) of the connector frame 10 in the periphery of the first connector frame opening 11 to form a form-fit connection. Similarly, the terminal connector frame 60 is accommodated in the second connector frame opening 12 by a form-fit connection. The form-fit connection members of the terminal connector frames 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 are configured to correspond to each other to allow the terminal connector frames 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 to be arranged in an exchanged order or in another connector frame. Therefore, also the first connector frame opening 11 and the second connector frame opening 12 comprise corresponding form-fit members, here recesses, and the same dimension in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L to allow such different arrangements. Further, the dimensions of the terminal connector frames 20, 30, 40, 50 are the same in the longitudinal direction L. In alternative embodiments, the terminal connector frames 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and/or the first connector frame opening 11 and second connector frame opening 12 may provide at least partially different connection members and/or dimensions to prevent at least one of the exemplary terminal connector frames 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 to be arranged in any position. In other embodiments, the connection members may alternatively or in addition form a force-fit connection. The described configuration may achieve better tolerances of connector pins at a printed circuit board side for soldering.

[0059] In other embodiments, the terminal connector frames 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and terminal connectors 21, 31, 41, 51 accommodated in the first connector frame opening 11 in a row in the longitudinal direction L may be further secured in the connector frame 10 by over molding. Similarly, the terminal connector frame 60 accommodated in the second connector frame opening 12 by the form-fit connection may be further secured by over molding.

[0060] Each of the terminal connector frames 20, 30, 40, 50 accommodated in the first connector frame opening 11 comprises one terminal connector frame opening (not shown as occupied by the and terminal connectors 21, 31, 41, 51) to receive a respective one of the terminal connectors 21, 31, 41, 51 by a form-fit connection as described with respect to the form-fit connection of the terminal connector frames 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 to the connector frame openings 11, 12. In the exemplary embodiment, a 7-pin terminal connector 21 is received in the terminal connector frame opening of the terminal connector frame 20, inline 4-pin terminal connectors 31 and 51, respectively, are received in the terminal connector frame openings of the terminal connector frames 30 and 50, respectively, and a 3-pin terminal connector 41 is received in the terminal connector frame opening of the terminal connector frame 40. As the terminal connectors 31, 41, 51 are substantially of the same size with only differing in the number of pins, the terminal frame openings of the terminal connector frames 30, 40, 50 are configured the same, to allow to arrange the terminal connectors 31, 41, 51 in a different order without necessarily exchanging the terminal connector frames 30, 40, 50. In alternative embodiments, the terminal connector frame openings of the terminal connector frames 30, 40, 50 may be configured to only receive terminal connectors with the same pin configuration. In the present embodiment, the terminal connector frames 20, 30, 40, 50 connected to the connector frame 10 close the first connector frame opening 11. In alternative embodiments, when a connector frame opening is not closed by respective terminal connector frames for a given application, respective gaps in such connector frame opening may be closed by filler plates or filler plugs.

[0061] The second connector frame opening 12 accommodates the terminal connector frame 60 with three terminal connector frame openings to receive the terminal connectors 61, 62, 63. In alternative embodiments, the number of terminal connector frame openings may be different and/or the second terminal connector frame 12 may accommodate the terminal connectors 61, 62, 63 or combinations thereof by more than one terminal connector frame. In the present embodiment, the terminal connector frame 60 accommodates two 6-pin terminal connectors 61, 63 and a 4-pin terminal connector 62.

[0062] Each of the terminal connectors 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, 62, 63 comprises electric terminals corresponding to the number of pins represented by the rectangles within each of the terminal connectors 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, 62, 63. In FIG. 2, an exemplary electric terminal 61a2 is indicated.

[0063] FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a connector assembly 100 with a connector strip assembly 1 according to FIG. 2. The cross-sectional view corresponds to a cross-section as indicated by the dotted line A-A in FIG. 2, when the connector strip 1 is assembled to the device 80 by screws 81 extending through the oblong holes 13 and the device 80. The connector assembly 100 further comprises a housing 90 with a top cover 90a and a connector housing 90b with openings for the terminal connectors 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, 62, 63 (with terminal connectors 21, 31, 41, 51 not shown according to the selected cross-sectional view) to be connected with counter-connectors 71, 72, 73.

[0064] An electric connection of the terminal connectors 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, 62, 63 will be described with respect to the terminal connector 61. The description is also applicable for the other terminal connectors 21, 31, 41, 51, 62, 63. The terminal connector 61 comprises a terminal assembly 61a with electric terminals 61a2 mold in a mold portion 61a1. The electric terminals 61a2 extend from a counter-connector terminal portion to a device contact terminal portion 61a3 in a main direction or contact direction, respectively. The counter-connector terminal portions of respective electric terminals 61a2 are exposed from the terminal connector 61 in a direction towards a counter connector 71 to be connected thereto. The counter-connector terminal end portions are to be received in respective counter-connector sockets 71a, 71b. In alternative embodiments, the counter-connector terminal portions may be configured as sockets with the counter-connector 71 providing exposed electric terminals to be received by such sockets. The device contact terminal portion 61a3 of each electric terminal 61a2 is exposed from the mold portion 61a1 and extends in an opposite direction from the terminal connector 61 with respect to the counter-connector terminal portion. When the connector strip assembly is assembled to the device 80 by attaching the connector frame 10 to the device 80 via the screws 81, the device contact terminal portions are in contact with respective device contact portions of the device 80 for electrical contact. To allow a compensation of tolerances and thermal expansions, the device contact terminal portions 61a3 provide a meander shape with meanders deflecting partially away and towards the main direction. The meanders thereby allow a length compensation in the main direction. For example, with the device contact terminal portions configured to compensate for tolerances, the device contact terminal portions 61a3 may provide in the main direction equal to an expected maximum distance between the device 80 and the mold portion 61a1, when assembled, due to tolerances. Accordingly, even if the distance is smaller within the applicable range of tolerances, the meanders allow the device contact terminal portion 61a3 to be compressed without applying significant pressure on the device 80 or breakage. The ability of the device contact terminal portion 61a3 to be compressed in the main direction also allows to compensate for thermal expansions in the main direction.

[0065] The invention has been described in with respect to exemplary embodiments. However, the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments. In particular, even though the exemplary embodiments show an assembly of terminal connectors 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, 62, 63 in terminal connector frames 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 at least some of the terminal connectors 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, 62, 63 may be integrally formed with respective terminal connector frames 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, e.g. by injection molding or over molding of a respective assembly, to be directly connected to the connector frame 10 in a respective connector frame opening 11, 12. Additionally, the connector assembly is described with respect to configuration comprising the device 80 and other components. However, the connector assembly may also be represented by the connector strip assembly 1 only as a pre-assembled module.

THE LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS IS AS FOLLOWS

[0066] 1 connector strip assembly [0067] 10 connector frame [0068] 11 first connector frame opening [0069] 12 second connector frame opening [0070] 13 oblong hole [0071] 14 pressure relief member [0072] 15 sealing member [0073] 20 terminal connector frame [0074] 21 terminal connector [0075] 30 terminal connector frame [0076] 31 terminal connector [0077] 40 terminal connector frame [0078] 41 terminal connector [0079] 50 terminal connector frame [0080] 51 terminal connector [0081] 60 terminal connector frame [0082] 61 terminal connector [0083] 61a terminal assembly [0084] 61a1 mold portion [0085] 61a2 electric terminal [0086] 61a3 device contact terminal portion [0087] 62 terminal connector [0088] 63 terminal connector [0089] 71 counter-connector [0090] 71a, 71b counter-connector socket [0091] 72 counter-connector [0092] 73 counter-connector [0093] 80 printed circuit board (device) [0094] 81 screw [0095] 90 housing [0096] 90a top cover [0097] 90b connector housing [0098] 100 connector assembly [0099] I1 length (connector frame opening 11) [0100] I2 length (connector frame opening 12) [0101] L longitudinal direction