Electrical distributor device, signal transmission system and method of making an electrical distributor device

Abstract

Embodiments of a high-frequency electrical distributor device may have an input end with a connector of a first connector type, and an output end with at least two connectors of at least one second connector type which is different from the first connector type. Embodiments may further include a distributor region between the connector at the input end and the connector at the output end. The connector at the input end has at least two differential contact element pairs. The distributor region distributes the contact element pairs of the connector at the input end to the connectors at the output end.

Claims

1. An electrical distributor device for high-frequency technology, said distributor device, comprising: an input-side connector of a first connector type; at least two output-side connectors, the output-side connectors each being of at least one second connector type, the second connector type being a connector type which is different from the first connector type; and a distributor region arranged between the input-side connector and the output-side connectors; wherein the input-side connector is multipolar and has at least two differential contact element pairs, and wherein the distributor region divides the contact element pairs of the input-side connector between the output-side connectors such that each of the output-side connectors has at least one respective differential contact element pair and wherein the input-side connector and each of the output-side connectors have respective outer conductor parts and wherein the distributor region electrically connects an outer conductor part of the input-side connector to outer conductor parts of the output-side connectors.

2. A distributor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distributor region divides the contact element pairs between two of the output-side connectors.

3. A distributor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the contact element pairs of the input-side connector are arranged in a parallel arrangement.

4. A distributor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input-side connector includes at least one shielding plate for electromagnetically shielding the differential contact element pairs from one another.

5. A distributor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distributor region has a metallic housing portion which is electrically connected to the outer conductor part of the input-side connector.

6. A distributor device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the metallic housing portion of the distributor region is integral with the outer conductor part of the input-side connector.

7. A distributor device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the distributor region has at least one electrical cable which is fixed in the metallic housing portion and which extends to one of the output-side connectors.

8. A distributor device as claimed in claim 7, wherein each electrical cable includes inner conductors and the distributor region connects the contact element pairs of the input-side connector to the inner conductors of a respectively assigned one of the electrical cables.

9. A distributor device as claimed in claim 7, wherein each electrical cable further includes an outer conductor and the distributor region includes at least one support sleeve which electrically and mechanically contacts an outer conductor of the respectively assigned one of the electrical cables.

10. A distributor device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the distributor region connects the contact element pairs of the input-side connector to inner conductor parts of respectively assigned ones of the output-side connectors.

11. A distributor device as claimed in claim 5, wherein at least one of the output-side connectors is attached directly to the metallic housing portion of the distributor region.

12. A distributor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the input-side connector has a high-speed data interface.

13. A distributor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the output-side connectors has an H-MTD interface, preferably a two-pole H-MTD interface, for accommodation in a modular connector.

14. A distributor device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distributor region includes at least one shielding plate for electromagnetically shielding the differential contact element pairs from one another.

15. A method for making a high-frequency electrical distributor device, said method comprising the steps of: providing an input-side connector of a first connector type having at least two differential contact element pairs; providing at least two output-side connectors, at least one of the output-side connectors being of a second connector type that is different from the first connector type; connecting contact elements of the output-side connectors to contact elements of the input-side connector via a distributor region, the distributor region being arranged between the input-side connector and the output-side connector such that contact element pairs of the input-side connector are divided between the output-side connectors such that each of the output-side connectors has at least one respective differential contact element pair; wherein the input-side connector and each of the output-side connectors have respective outer conductor parts and wherein the distributor region electrically connects an outer conductor part of the input-side connector to outer conductor parts of the output-side connectors.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the output-side connectors are connected to the input-side connector via respective electrical cables.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said connecting step comprises the steps of: crimping a support sleeve onto an outer conductor of each of the electrical cables; stripping front ends of individual inner conductors of the electrical cables; electrically connecting the individual inner conductors to respective contact elements of the common input-side connector; inserting the contact elements into a common insulating part of the input-side connector; fitting an outer conductor part to the input-side connector, the outer conductor part extending, in an axial direction, at least between the contact elements and the support sleeves and electrically contacting the outer conductors of the electrical cables.

18. A method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising the step of: providing the input-side connector with at least one shielding plate between the differential contact element pairs to electromagnetically shield the differential contact element pairs of the input-side connector from each other.

19. A high-frequency signal transmission system, comprising: an electrical distributor device having an input-side connector according to a first connector type and at least two output-side connectors according to a second connector type, the second connector type being different from the first connector type, the output-side connectors including at least a first output-side connector and a second output-side connector; a first electrical assembly to which the input-side connector is connected; a second electrical assembly to which the which the first output-side connector is connected; and at least one third electrical assembly to which the which the second output-side connector is connected; wherein at least two electrical signals from the first electrical assembly are divided, via the electrical distributor device, between the second electrical assembly and at least the third electrical assembly; and wherein the input-side connector is multipolar and has at least two differential contact element pairs for differential transmission of the at least two electrical signals, the at least two differential contact element pairs being divided between the first output-side and the second output-side connector by a distributor region, the distributor region being arranged between the input-side connector and the output-side connectors, such that each of the output-side connectors has at least one respective differential contact element pair; wherein the input-side connector and each of the output-side connectors have respective outer conductor parts and wherein the distributor region electrically connects an outer conductor part of the input-side connector to outer conductor parts of the output-side connectors.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the figures of the drawings, elements that are functionally identical are denoted by the same reference labels.

(2) In the drawings, which are shown in schematic form:

(3) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an electrical distribution device having an input-side connector, a distributor region and two output-side connectors;

(4) FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the distributor device of FIG. 1 taken according to the sectional plane II represented in FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the distributor device of FIG. 1 taken according to the sectional plane III represented in FIG. 2;

(6) FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the distributor device of FIG. 1 taken according to the sectional plane IV represented in FIG. 2;

(7) FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the distributor device of FIG. 1 taken according to the sectional plane V represented in FIG. 2;

(8) FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the distributor device of FIG. 1 taken according to the sectional plane VI represented in FIG. 2;

(9) FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the distributor device of FIG. 1 taken according to the sectional plane VII represented in FIG. 2;

(10) FIG. 8 is a pictorial illustration of removing the sheaths from a pair of electrical cables;

(11) FIG. 9 is a pictorial illustration of a step of the assembly method according to the invention following the fitting of a support sleeve onto the respective cables;

(12) FIG. 10 is a pictorial illustration of a further step of a method according to the invention following the stripping of the front ends of the inner conductors of the cables;

(13) FIG. 11 is a pictorial illustration of a further step of a method according to the invention following the crimping of the inner conductors of the cables contact elements of the input-side connector;

(14) FIG. 12 is a pictorial illustration of a further step of a method according to the invention following the insertion of the contact elements into a common insulating part;

(15) FIG. 13 is a pictorial illustration of a further step of a method according to the invention following the fitting of an outer conductor part; and

(16) FIG. 14 is a schematic illustration of a signal transmission system according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(17) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an electrical distributor device 1 for high-frequency technology. The electrical distributor device 1 has an input-side connector 2 according to a first connector type, two output-side connectors 3 according to a second connector type that is different from the first connector type, and a distributor region 4 arranged between the input-side connector 2 and the output-side connectors 3. In principle, the output-side connectors 2 may also be realized differently, for example according to a second connector type and a third connector type.

(18) Even if, in the exemplary embodiment, only two output-side connectors 3 are provided, in principle any number of output-side connectors 3 may be provided, for example also three, four, five, six or even more output-side connectors 3.

(19) The specific connector types used are also not important according to the invention. Purely by way of example, in the exemplary embodiments the input-side connector 2 is realized as an HSD connector, or has an HSD interface. Likewise by way of example, the output-side connectors 3 have an H-MTD interface, in this case a two-pole H-MTD interface for accommodation in a modular connector (not represented).

(20) In the exemplary embodiments, the distributor region 4 has electrical cables 5, to each of which an output-side connector 3 is connected. However, the electrical cables 5 may also be omitted.

(21) It is provided that the input-side connector 2 is multipolar and has at least two differential contact element pairs 6, 7 (cf. in particular FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 11). In the exemplary embodiment, a first contact element pair 6 and a second contact element pair 7 are provided. In principle, however, any number of differential contact element pairs may be provided, for example three, four, five, six or even more differential contact element pairs.

(22) The distributor region 4 is designed to divide the contact element pairs 6, 7 of the input-side connector 2 between the output-side connectors 3.

(23) The contact element pairs 6, 7 of the input-side connector 2 may be arranged in a mutually crossed or parallel arrangement. In the exemplary embodiment, a parallel arrangement is shown, but this is not restrictive of the present invention. The distribution of the contact element pairs 6, 7 to the output-side connectors 3 is indicated in FIG. 1 by a dashed signal guide (inter alia, by the inner conductors 12 of the cables 5).

(24) The input-side connector 2 has an outer conductor part 8, which in a shielding manner surrounds the other internal components of the input connector 2. The outer conductor part 8 may already be part of the interface of the input-side connector 2. In principle, it may be envisaged that a plastic housing (not represented in the figures) is pushed onto the outer conductor part 8 and completes, or supplements, the provided interface of the input-side connector 2.

(25) FIG. 2 shows a section through the electrical distributor device 1 of FIG. 1, according to the sectional plane II represented in FIG. 1. FIGS. 3 to 7, for further clarification, show in a schematic and simplified form further sectional representations according to the sectional planes III to VII represented in FIG. 2.

(26) As can be seen in particular in FIGS. 2 to 5, the input-side connector 2 has a shielding plate 9 for electromagnetically shielding the differential contact element pairs 6, 7 from each other. In the present case, the shielding plate 9 extends into the distributor region 4 and preferably at least up to a region from which the shielding of the contact element pairs 6, 7 from each other is assumed by further means, for example a foil shield 10 of the respective electrical cables 5.

(27) Likewise for reasons of shielding, the distributor region 4 has a metallic housing portion 11 that is realized integrally with the outer conductor part 8 of the input-side connector 2. In principle, however, the metallic housing portion 11 may also be electrically connected only to the outer conductor part 8 of the input-side connector 2, and thus be realized separately from the outer conductor part 8. In the exemplary embodiment, the transition between the input-side connector 2 and the distributor region 4 is basically fluid.

(28) The distributor region 4 is designed to connect, preferably crimp, the contact element pairs 6, 7 of the input-side connector 2 to inner conductors 12 of a respective assigned electrical cable 5. For this purpose, the contact elements 13 of the input-side connector 2 have a corresponding crimping region 14 at their ends (in the distributor region 4) that face towards the inner conductors 12 of the cables (cf. FIGS. 2 and 11).

(29) Provided in the input-side connector 2 for support and mutual insulation there is an insulating part 15, which accommodates the contact elements 13 within it. The shielding plate 9 in this case is accommodated in the insulating part 15.

(30) A support sleeve 16 is provided in the distributor region 4 for each electrical cable 5 for the purpose of electrically contacting an outer conductor 17 of the respective electrical cable 5, in this case a braided cable shield. Thus, the distributor region 4 is designed to electrically connect the outer conductor part 8 of the input-side connector 2 to outer conductor parts of the output-side connectors 3 (not represented), when the outer conductor parts of the output-side connectors 3, in turn, have been connected to the outer conductors 17 of the electrical cables 5 respectively assigned to them (usually the case). An electrical connection between the outer conductor part 8 of the input-side connector 2, or the metallic housing portion 11, of the distributor region 4 may be effected by crimping the metallic housing portion 11, or the outer conductor part 8, to the underlying components.

(31) The invention also relates to an assembly method for manufacturing an electrical distributor device 1 for high-frequency technology, which is represented by way of example, step by step and in sections, in FIGS. 8 to 13.

(32) As shown in FIG. 8, in this case the cable sheaths 18 of the respective cables 5 are first stripped, or cut off, in a desired region and pulled off forwards in the direction a first end of the corresponding cable 5.

(33) As shown in FIG. 9, the support sleeve 16 is then in each case crimped onto the exposed outer conductor 17, which is preferably a braided cable shield as represented in the exemplary embodiment.

(34) As further represented in FIG. 10, the remaining braided cable shield, or the remaining outer conductor 17, may then preferably be folded back onto the supporting sleeve 16 and, if necessary, brushed straight. Alternatively, it may also be provided that the outer conductor 17, or the braided cable shield, is cut off, starting from the supporting sleeve 16. In the exemplary embodiment, beneath its outer conductor 17 the cable 5 has a foil shield 10 that encloses the inner conductors 12, or cores, of the cables 5 that are guided in a respective dielectric 19. For reasons of shielding the differential contact element pairs 6, 7 from each other, it may be advantageous to retain the foil shield 10 in at least a partial region that overlaps, for example, with a region shielded by the shield plate 9, as represented in FIG. 2. This allows tolerances to be compensated particularly well, and a continuous shielding, and thus a crosstalk between the differential contact element pairs 6, 7, can be avoided. Finally, at least in a front region of the respective cable 5, the respective inner conductors 12 may be stripped, and if necessary the dielectrics 19 enclosing the inner conductors 12 in each case may additionally be exposed so that they partially protrude under the foil shield 10, as represented in FIG. 10. The protective and insulating effect of the dielectrics 19 can thereby be maintained over as large a region as possible.

(35) Then, as represented in FIG. 11, each inner conductor 12 of the cables 5 may be crimped with corresponding contact elements 13 of the common input-side connector 2, while simultaneously spreading, or pitching, the contact elements 13 according to the intended interface of the input connector 2.

(36) Finally, the contact elements 13 may be inserted into a common insulating part 15 of the input-side connector 2, as represented in FIG. 12. In addition in this case, at least one shielding plate 9 may be inserted, or may already be inserted, into the insulating part 15 in order to electromagnetically shield the differential contact element pairs 6, 7 of the input-side connector 2 from each other, at least starting from the region from which the foil shield 10, or the shielding by the cables 5, is no longer provided.

(37) Finally, there may be provided, at least in the region of the input connector 2, an outer conductor part 8 that extends at least between the contact elements 13 and the support sleeves 16 in the axial direction, i.e. along a longitudinal axis A (cf. FIG. 2) of the input connector, and electrically contacts respective outer conductors 17 of the cables 5. This is represented in FIG. 13. The outer conductor part 8 may be crimped with the support sleeves 16 and/or the cable sheaths 18, and be floating in the region of the contact elements 13, or in the region of the insulating part 15.

(38) Then, if necessary, a plastic housing may be fitted onto the outer conductor part 8 and latched to the outer conductor part 8. If necessary, a secondary securing means may be provided to secure the plastic housing on the outer conductor part 8 and/or to fix the contact elements 13.

(39) In a further step, the second ends of the electrical cables 5 may each be preassembled with a connector 3 on the output side. Such preassembly is known in principle, for which reason it is not discussed in greater detail here.

(40) Finally, the invention also relates to a signal transmission system 20 for high-frequency technology, which is represented by way of example in FIG. 14. The signal transmission system 20 comprises an electrical distributor device 1 as described above, a first electrical assembly 21, a second electrical assembly 22 and at least one third electrical assembly 23, wherein at least two electrical signals are divided, via the electrical distributor device 1, from the first electrical assembly 21 between the second electrical assembly 22 and at least the third electrical assembly 23.

(41) An advantageous use of the described electrical distributor device 1 may extend to a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, for transmitting and dividing high-bit-rate signals between connectors 2, 3 of different designs.

(42) 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.