DE102017011473B4 - USB connector for vertical mounting and USB connection system - Google Patents

Abstract

USB connection (10) for vertical mounting on a printed circuit board (12), having: a USB socket (14) which can be mounted perpendicular to the printed circuit board (12); a coding element (28) arranged on the USB socket (14), the coding element (28) is designed to be connected to a complementarily coded USB connector; and at least one fastening device (32) which is designed to fasten the coding element (28) to the printed circuit board (12).

Description

The invention relates to a USB connection for vertical mounting on a printed circuit board and a USB connection system.

End devices can be connected to previously known USB ports either directly or via suitable connection means. In principle, any USB plug that is compatible with the USB socket of the USB connection can be connected to the USB socket. For example, a USB Type-C plug can be connected to a USB Type-C socket. In certain applications, however, it is desirable if only certain end devices can be connected to a USB port in order to avoid the "wrong" end device being connected to a USB port. The provision of a USB connection, which is arranged vertically on a printed circuit board, is particularly challenging. Due to the vertical arrangement, increased physical forces can act on the connection between the USB socket and the circuit board. This may cause the connection between the USB jack and the circuit board to deteriorate, resulting in a USB port malfunction.

Furthermore, the DE 10 2004 019 032 A1 an electrical circuit board connector consisting of a one-piece housing, which is designed as a socket and plug part, with at least one contact element to be fastened on a circuit board and with at least one coding and positioning element arranged between the contact elements in the plug part, which acts as a coding and Fastening element can be formed and can be connected to the circuit board.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a USB connection which enables an association between the end device and the USB connection and which has increased stability and durability.

This object is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

• eine senkrecht zur Leiterplatte montierbare USB-Buchse;
• ein an der USB-Buchse angeordnetes Kodierelement; und
• zumindest eine Befestigungsvorrichtung, welche dazu ausgelegt ist, das Kodierelement an der Leiterplatte zu befestigen.

One aspect of the invention relates to a USB port for vertical mounting on a printed circuit board, having:

• a USB socket that can be mounted perpendicular to the PCB;
• an encoding element arranged on the USB socket; and
• at least one fastening device, which is designed to fasten the coding element to the printed circuit board.

The printed circuit board can span a mounting level on which the USB socket is preferably arranged vertically. In particular, a connection direction of the USB socket can be arranged perpendicularly to the mounting plane or to the printed circuit board. The connection direction means the direction in which a USB connector compatible with the USB jack is inserted into the USB jack to connect the USB connector to the USB jack.

The coding element is designed to be connected to a complementarily coded plug and in particular to a complementarily coded USB plug. The USB socket can be connected to the USB plug by plugging the complementarily coded USB plug into the coding element, which is preferably done in the direction of the connection direction.

The coding element preferably has a bushing, the bushing accommodating the USB socket at least in sections along the connection direction. In particular, the coding element can have a housing, with the bushing being arranged in the housing. In the context of the present disclosure, a mounted state of the USB connection is understood to mean a state in which the USB socket is arranged on the printed circuit board and in particular in which the USB socket is mounted perpendicularly on the printed circuit board. In the installed state, the USB socket preferably extends along the connection direction. The bushing arranged in the housing preferably also extends along the connection direction. In particular, the feedthrough is designed in such a way that in the installed state the feedthrough encloses the USB socket at least in sections along the direction of connection. Furthermore, the feedthrough can be designed in such a way that the USB socket and the feedthrough end flush against the direction of connection. In other words, the leadthrough is designed in such a way that, in the installed state, the leadthrough and the USB socket end at the same height opposite to the direction of connection.

Because the bushing encloses the USB socket at least in sections, the USB socket is largely force-free. In this way, physical forces acting through a USB plug plugged into the USB socket are absorbed by the coding element and transmitted to the circuit board. The forces therefore do not act or only to a reduced extent on an (electrical) connection between between the USB socket and the circuit board. The longevity of the USB connection is thus extended. Furthermore, only suitable devices can be connected to the USB port.

The coding element is preferably designed in such a way that it accepts a complementarily coded plug and in particular a complementarily coded USB plug. For this purpose, the coding element can preferably have a coding that can engage with a complementary coding of a USB connector. The coding can preferably be arranged on the housing of the coding element.

The coding element can preferably be arranged in at least one of two different orientations on the USB socket. In particular, the feedthrough can be designed in such a way that the feedthrough can be arranged in a first orientation and in a second orientation on the USB socket. The second orientation is rotated 180° around the connection direction, and in particular rotated around the USB socket, compared to the first orientation relative to the USB socket. Because the coding element can be arranged in two different orientations on the USB socket, the number of possible codings can be increased in a simple manner.

The coding element is preferably arranged on the printed circuit board in such a way that it cannot rotate. In other words, in the installed state, the coding element cannot be twisted relative to the printed circuit board. On the one hand, the at least one fastening device can be designed in such a way as to prevent the coding element from twisting relative to the printed circuit board in the installed state. The at least one fastening device is preferably designed as a holding bracket, which is or can be connected to the circuit board by means of soldering and in particular by means of reflow soldering. In particular, the coding element can have a projection, the projection being provided on the housing of the coding element. The protrusion is configured to engage the fastener and in particular the headband. The coding element is thus securely fastened to the printed circuit board by the retaining clip.

The coding element preferably has at least one positioning element, the at least one positioning element being designed to engage in a corresponding receptacle provided on the printed circuit board. The at least one positioning element can preferably be formed on a housing underside of the coding element. The underside of the housing is arranged opposite the printed circuit board in the assembled state. The at least one positioning element can be cylindrical, for example, and can extend in the direction of the connection direction, starting from the underside of the housing of the coding element. The engagement of the at least one positioning element in the corresponding receptacle arranged on the printed circuit board prevents the coding element from rotating about the connection direction in the installed state.

The coding element preferably has a first positioning element and a second positioning element, the first positioning element and the second positioning element being formed on the underside of the housing of the coding element. As described above, the first positioning element and the second positioning element can be formed cylindrically and extend from the bottom of the housing in the direction of the connection direction. The first positioning element and the second positioning element can each engage in a corresponding receptacle provided on the printed circuit board. By using a first positioning element and a second positioning element, a rotation of the coding element relative to the circuit board around the connection direction can be prevented in the installed state.

Preferably, the first positioning element and the second positioning element each have a first cylindrical section and a second cylindrical section. Starting from the underside of the housing of the coding element, the first cylindrical section first extends in the direction of the connection direction. Starting from the first cylindrical section, the second cylindrical section extends in the direction of the connection direction.

The first cylindrical section preferably has a larger diameter than the second cylindrical section. The receptacle provided on the printed circuit board for the first positioning element and the second positioning element can be designed as a cylindrical recess. The cylindrical recess may have a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the second cylindrical section and smaller than the diameter of the first cylindrical section. It is thus possible that in the mounted state the first cylindrical section rests on the printed circuit board or on the mounting plane and the second cylindrical section engages in the receptacle provided on the printed circuit board and in particular in the cylindrical recess.

Thus, on the one hand, twisting of the coding element in relation to the printed circuit board around the connection direction can be prevented. For the On the other hand, the tilting stability of the coding element on the printed circuit board is increased, since the first cylindrical section of the first positioning element and the first cylindrical section of the second positioning element rest on the printed circuit board in the assembled state.

The coding element preferably has at least one base, which rests on the printed circuit board when the USB connection is in a mounted state. The at least one base is preferably formed on the underside of the housing of the coding element, with the at least one base extending from the underside of the housing of the coding element in the direction of the connection direction or in the direction of the circuit board and/or the mounting level when installed. The coding element preferably has a first base and a second base, which extend from the underside of the housing of the coding element in the direction of the connection direction. The first foot under the second foot may be formed such that the first foot under the second foot extends toward the connecting direction by the same length as the first cylindrical portion. In other words, the first cylindrical section has the same length in the connection direction as the first base and the second base have in the connection direction.

Thus, in the installed state, the coding element rests against or on the printed circuit board with the first cylindrical section of the first positioning element, with the first cylindrical section of the second positioning element, the first foot and the second foot. The first positioning element and the second positioning element prevent the coding element from twisting relative to the printed circuit board. The first foot, the second foot, the resting of the first cylindrical section of the first positioning element on the printed circuit board and the resting of the first cylindrical section of the second positioning element on the printed circuit board prevent the coding element from tilting. Consequently, the coding element can thus be securely and stably mounted on the circuit board.

The coding element preferably has a control opening for checking a connection existing between the USB socket and the printed circuit board. The connection can be an electrically conductive connection which electrically connects a contact arranged in the USB socket to the printed circuit board. A USB plug plugged into the USB socket can be electrically connected to the printed circuit board via the contacting. The inspection opening can be formed on the underside of the housing of the coding element. Furthermore, the coding element can be designed in such a way that when the coding element is viewed from above, the connection can be seen through the inspection opening. The connection can preferably be recorded and checked by means of a camera system.

The USB connection preferably includes an assembly aid for assembling the USB connection on the printed circuit board. The assembly aid can be designed to be connected to the coding element. In particular, the assembly aid can be arranged on a housing top side of the coding element. The side of the coding element that is arranged opposite the bottom side of the housing of the coding element is to be regarded as the top side of the housing of the coding element.

To mount the USB connection on the circuit board, the mounting aid can be connected to the coding element. Furthermore, the coding element can be arranged on the USB socket. The assembly aid connected to the coding element and the USB socket arranged in the coding element are then preferably arranged vertically on the printed circuit board. Furthermore, the at least one fastening device is arranged on the coding element. The at least one fastening device and the USB socket are then connected to the printed circuit board. The at least one fastening device can be connected to the printed circuit board and the USB socket can be connected to the printed circuit board by means of soldering and in particular by means of reflow soldering.

• eine Leiterplatte; und
• einen wie obenstehend beschriebenen an der Leiterplatte montierten USB-Anschluss.

One aspect of the invention relates to a USB connection system, having:

• a circuit board; and
• a USB connector mounted on the circuit board as described above.

character list

• 1 zeigt dabei eine perspektivische Ansicht einer senkrecht zu einer Leiterplatte angeordneten USB-Buchse entsprechend einer Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung.
• 2 zeigt dabei eine Draufsicht auf eine senkrecht zu einer Leiterplatte angeordnete USB-Buchse entsprechend einer Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung.
• 3 zeigt eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Kodierelements entsprechend einer Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung.
• 4 zeigt einen montierten USB-Anschluss entsprechend einer Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung.
• 5 zeigt eine Querschnittsansicht eines montierten USB-Anschluss entsprechend einer Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung.
• 6 zeigt eine Draufsicht eines montierten USB-Anschlusses entsprechend einer Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung.
• 7 zeigt einen montierten USB Anschluss mit einer angeordneten Montagehilfe entsprechend einer Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung.

A preferred embodiment of the USB connection is explained below by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures, with the reference symbols being used uniformly in all figures.

• 1 shows a perspective view of a USB socket arranged perpendicular to a circuit board according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• 2 shows a plan view of a USB socket arranged perpendicularly to a printed circuit board according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• 3 12 shows a perspective view of a coding element according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• 4 Figure 12 shows an assembled USB connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• 5 12 shows a cross-sectional view of an assembled USB connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• 6 Figure 12 shows a top view of an assembled USB connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• 7 shows a mounted USB connector with an arranged mounting aid according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the following figures, the same features are identified throughout with the same reference symbols.

1 shows a (partially assembled) USB port 10 which is arranged on a printed circuit board 12 . The USB port 10 includes a USB socket 14 arranged perpendicularly on the circuit board 12. The circuit board 12 spans a mounting plane A, to which the USB socket 14 is arranged perpendicularly. In particular, a connection direction B of the USB socket 14 is arranged perpendicularly to the printed circuit board 12 or to the mounting plane A. The connection direction B of the USB socket 14 can be regarded as the direction in which a USB plug (not shown) compatible with the USB socket 14 is inserted into the USB socket 14 to connect with the USB socket 14 .

In the context of the present disclosure, the phrase "an assembled state" refers to a state in which the USB socket 14 is connected to the circuit board 12 and, in particular, a state in which the USB socket 14 is connected to the circuit board 12 perpendicularly. 1 FIG. 1 also shows a connection socket 16, the connection socket 16 being arranged between the USB socket 14 and the printed circuit board 12 in the assembled state. The connection socket 16 thus extends in the connection direction B, starting from the USB socket 14. The connection socket 16 is designed in such a way that a contact (not shown) arranged in the USB socket 14 is electrically connected to the printed circuit board. For this purpose, the connection base 16 can have a multiplicity of contacts 18 , the multiplicity of contacts 18 being designed to be connected to the printed circuit board 12 . In particular, the plurality of contacts 18 can be connected to the circuit board 12 by means of soldering and preferably by means of reflow soldering (electrically conductive).

Furthermore, the USB socket 14 has a first fastening element 20 and a second fastening element 22 . The first fastening element 20 and the second fastening element 22 are designed in such a way that they can be connected to the circuit board 12 . The first fastening element 20 and the second fastening element 22 can be connected to the printed circuit board 12, for example, by means of soldering and preferably by means of reflow soldering. The first fastening element 20 and the second fastening element 22 preferably extend, starting from the USB socket 14, in the direction of the connection direction B.

As in 1 A first receptacle 24 and a second receptacle 26 (mostly hidden in this perspective) are shown formed in the circuit board 12 . The first receptacle 24 and the second receptacle 26 are designed to be as shown in FIG 3-7 to position coding element 28 shown against rotation, with the in the 3-7 The coding element 28 shown is designed to be arranged on the USB socket 14 .

2 shows a plan view of the in the 1 USB port 10 shown in the direction of the connection direction B looking. As in 2 shown, the first receptacle 24 and the second receptacle 26 are formed in the printed circuit board 12 . In particular, the first receptacle 24 and the second receptacle 26 can each be cylindrical and extend along the connection direction B. The first receptacle 24 and the second receptacle 26 each have a third diameter D3.

As in 3 shown, the coding element 28 has a passage 30 arranged in a housing 29 of the coding element 28, the passage 30 extending along a first direction of extension C. In the installed state of the USB connection 10, the extension direction C can correspond to the connection direction B. In other words, the extension direction C is parallel to the connection direction B. As in FIG 3 shown, the coding element 28 can be arranged on the USB socket 14 . In particular, bushing 30 is designed to enclose the USB socket 14 at least in sections in the direction of the connection direction B. As in 4 shown, the lead-through 30 and the USB socket 14 end opposite to the connection direction B at the same height. In other words, the bushing 30 and the USB socket 14 are of the same length counter to the connection direction B.

Because the bushing 30 encloses the USB socket 14 at least in sections along the connection direction B, the USB socket 14 is force-free in the installed state. Thus become physical forces acting on the coding element 28 , for example due to a complementarily coded USB connector plugged into the coding element 28 , are transmitted to the coding element 28 and not to the USB socket 14 . This results in a reduction in the physical stress on the connection between the USB socket 14 and the circuit board 12, thereby increasing the longevity and robustness of the USB connector 10.

As in the 4-7 shown, the USB connection 10 has a first fastening device 32 and a second fastening device 34 with which the coding element 28 is fastened to the printed circuit board 12 . As shown, the first fastening device 32 and the second fastening device 34 can each be designed as a retaining bracket. The retaining clip can be connected to two fastening positions 38 arranged on the printed circuit board 12 . For example, the bracket can be connected to the two mounting positions 38 by means of gluing, screwing or snapping. In particular, the retaining clip can be connected to the two fastening positions 38 by means of soldering and preferably by means of reflow soldering. Furthermore, the coding element 28 has a first projection 40 and a second projection 42 , the first projection 40 engaging with the first fastening device 32 and the second projection 42 engaging with the second fastening device 34 in the assembled state. The first fastening device 32 and the second fastening device 34 allow the coding element 28 to be securely mounted on the printed circuit board 12 .

The arrangement of the coding element 28 on the USB socket 14 makes it possible for only USB plugs (not shown) that are coded to complement the coding element 28 to be able to be connected to the USB socket 14 . For this purpose, the coding element 28 can have a suitable coding 44 which is designed to engage with a complementary coding of a USB connector.

As in 4 shown, the coding element 28 is arranged in a first orientation on the USB socket 14 . The coding element 28 can be arranged in a second orientation on the USB socket 14 by rotating it through 180° around the connection direction B. The number of possible codings can thus be increased in a simple manner.

Furthermore shows 5 a first positioning element 46 and a second positioning element 48. The first positioning element 46 and the second positioning element 48 are formed on the coding element 28. In particular, the first positioning element 46 and the second positioning element 48 extend from a housing underside 50 of the housing 29 (shown in FIG 3 ) of the coding element 28 in the direction of the extension direction C. The housing underside 50 can be viewed as the side which is arranged opposite the printed circuit board 12 in the assembled state. The first positioning element 46 is designed to be inserted into the first receptacle 24 (see FIG 1 and 2 ) of the circuit board 12 intervene. The second positioning element 48 is designed to be inserted into the second receptacle 26 (see FIG 1 and 2 ) of the circuit board 12 intervene. It is thus possible to effectively prevent the coding element 28 from rotating relative to the printed circuit board 12 in the assembled state.

Furthermore, the first positioning element 46 and the second positioning element 48 each have a first cylindrical section 52 and a second cylindrical section 54 . The first cylindrical section 52 extends from the housing underside 50 of the coding element 28 in the direction of extent C, and the second cylindrical section 54 extends, starting from the first cylindrical section 52, in the direction of the extent C. In other words, the second cylindrical section 54 is in Extension direction C after the first cylindrical portion 52 arranged. The first cylindrical portion 52 can have a first diameter D1 and the second cylindrical portion 54 can have a second diameter D2, where the second diameter D2 is smaller than the diameter D1.

As previously described, the first receptacle 24 and the second receptacle 26 may each be cylindrical and have a third diameter D3, the third diameter D3 being larger than the second diameter D2 but smaller than the first diameter D1. The first diameter D1 is preferably 2.3 mm to 3 mm, the second diameter D2 is 1.5 mm to 2 mm.

It is thus possible for the second cylindrical section 54 of the first positioning element 46 to engage in the first receptacle 24 in the assembled state and for the first cylindrical section 52 of the first positioning element 46 to rest on the printed circuit board 12 . Furthermore, the second cylindrical section 54 of the second positioning element 48 engages in the second receptacle 26 . The first cylindrical section 52 of the second positioning element 48 rests on the circuit board 12 . The coding element 28 can thus be attached to the printed circuit board 12 in a particularly stable manner.

As in 3 shown, the coding element 28 has a first base 56 and a second base, with the second base being covered according to the view. The first base 56 and the second base can extend in the direction of extension C, starting from the housing underside 50 of the coding element 28 . The first base 56 and the second base are preferably of the same length in the direction of extension C as the first cylindrical section 52 . The first base 56 and the second base enable the coding element 28 to be mounted on the circuit board 12 in a manner that prevents it from tilting. The first positioning element 46 and the second positioning element 48 are preferably arranged opposite one another. Furthermore, the first base 56 and the second base are preferably arranged opposite one another.

6 shows a plan view of the USB connection 10 in the connection direction B. As shown, the coding element 28 has two inspection openings 58 which are designed in such a way that the connection of the connection socket 16 to the printed circuit board 12 can be checked optically. For this purpose, a camera (not shown) can be provided, with which the connection between the connection base 16 and the printed circuit board 12 and in particular the multiplicity of contacts 18 can be optically recorded. In particular, the inspection openings 58 are arranged on the underside 50 of the housing of the coding element 28 . The coding element 28 is preferably designed in such a way that the connection between the connection base 16 and the printed circuit board 12 and in particular the multiplicity of contacts 18 is visible in a top view of the coding element 28 and is not covered.

7 also shows a perspective view of the assembled USB port 10, with an assembly aid 60 being arranged on the coding element 28. The assembly aid 60 is preferably arranged on a housing top side 62 of the coding element 28 . The upper side 62 of the housing is to be understood as the side which is arranged opposite the lower side 50 of the housing. With the assembly aid 60, a composite USB port 10 can be easily arranged on the printed circuit board 12 in order to then connect the USB socket 14, the first fastening device 32 and the second fastening device 34 to the printed circuit board 12. To assemble the USB connection 10, the coding element 28 is arranged on the USB socket 14. In particular, the USB socket 14 is inserted into the bushing 30 . In this case, the assembly aid 60 can already be connected to the coding element 28 or can only be connected afterwards. The assembly aid 60 is then arranged on the printed circuit board 12 with the connected coding element 28 and the USB socket 14 arranged therein. The USB socket 14, the first fastening device 32 and the second fastening device 34 can be connected to the printed circuit board 12 by means of soldering and in particular by means of reflow soldering.

Reference List

10

USB port

12

circuit board

14

USB port

16

connector socket

18

variety of contacts

20

first fastener

22

second fastener

24

first shot

26

second recording

28

coding element

29

Housing

30

execution

32

first fastener

34

second fastener

38

mounting position

40

first lead

42

second projection

44

encoding

46

first positioning element

48

second positioning element

50

case bottom

52

first cylindrical section

54

second cylindrical section

56

first foot

58

inspection port

60

assembly aid

62

case top

A

mounting level

B

connection direction

C

direction of extension

D1

first diameter

D2

second diameter

D3

third diameter

Claims (10)

USB connection (10) for vertical mounting on a printed circuit board (12), having: a USB socket (14) which can be mounted perpendicularly to the printed circuit board (12); a coding element (28) arranged on the USB socket (14), the coding element (28) being designed to be connected to a complementarily coded USB plug; and at least one fastening device (32) which is designed to fasten the coding element (28) to the printed circuit board (12). USB connector (10) after claim 1 , wherein the coding element (28) has a bushing (30), wherein the bushing (30) accommodates the USB socket (14) at least in sections. USB connector (10) after claim 1 or 2 , wherein the coding element (28) is designed to receive a complementarily coded plug. USB connector (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the coding element (28) can be arranged in a first orientation or in a second orientation on the USB socket (14), the second orientation compared to the first orientation towards the USB socket is rotated 180°. USB connection (10) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the coding element (28) can be arranged on the printed circuit board (12) in a manner secured against rotation. USB connection (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the coding element (28) has at least one positioning element (46) which is designed to engage in a circuit board (12) provided corresponding receptacle (24). USB connection (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the coding element (28) has at least one base (56) which rests on the printed circuit board (12) when the USB connection (10) is in a mounted state. USB connection (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the coding element (28) has a control opening (58) for checking a connection between the USB socket (14) and the circuit board (12). USB connection (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one fastening device (32) is designed as a retaining clip, the retaining clip being connectable to the printed circuit board (12). USB connection system, comprising: a circuit board (12); and a circuit board mounted USB connector (10) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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