EP0789427A2 - Circuitboard connector - Google Patents

Circuitboard connector Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0789427A2
EP0789427A2 EP97101361A EP97101361A EP0789427A2 EP 0789427 A2 EP0789427 A2 EP 0789427A2 EP 97101361 A EP97101361 A EP 97101361A EP 97101361 A EP97101361 A EP 97101361A EP 0789427 A2 EP0789427 A2 EP 0789427A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
circuit board
board connector
printed circuit
contact elements
channels
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP97101361A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0789427B1 (en
EP0789427A3 (en
Inventor
Jaques Longueville
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
TE Connectivity Solutions GmbH
Original Assignee
Siemens AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Siemens AG filed Critical Siemens AG
Publication of EP0789427A2 publication Critical patent/EP0789427A2/en
Publication of EP0789427A3 publication Critical patent/EP0789427A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0789427B1 publication Critical patent/EP0789427B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R12/00Structural associations of a plurality of mutually-insulated electrical connecting elements, specially adapted for printed circuits, e.g. printed circuit boards [PCB], flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures, e.g. terminal strips, terminal blocks; Coupling devices specially adapted for printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures; Terminals specially adapted for contact with, or insertion into, printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables, or like generally planar structures
    • H01R12/70Coupling devices
    • H01R12/71Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures
    • H01R12/712Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures co-operating with the surface of the printed circuit or with a coupling device exclusively provided on the surface of the printed circuit
    • H01R12/714Coupling devices for rigid printing circuits or like structures co-operating with the surface of the printed circuit or with a coupling device exclusively provided on the surface of the printed circuit with contacts abutting directly the printed circuit; Button contacts therefore provided on the printed circuit

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a circuit board connector according to the preamble of claim 1, i.e. a printed circuit board connector with contact elements for electrically connecting contacts of at least two electrical printed circuit boards, and with holding devices holding the contact elements in their intended position within the printed circuit board connector.
  • circuit board connectors The increasing complexity of the circuit boards to be connected requires the use of increasingly high-pole circuit board connectors.
  • quality requirements i.e. among other things, the strength and reliability of the electrical connections that can be made using the circuit board connector (high contact forces).
  • the holding devices holding the contact elements in their intended position within the circuit board connector, the circuit board connector housing and the connections between the holding devices and the contact elements and between the holding devices and the circuit board connector housing exerted a not inconsiderable force, which requires a correspondingly stable design of these elements.
  • the present invention is therefore based on the object of developing a circuit board connector according to the preamble of claim 1 in such a way that it can be made small and / or with a high contact element density even with a high-pole design and / or with training to achieve particularly high contact forces.
  • the contact elements and the holding devices are designed and / or arranged such that forces exerted on the holding devices by and / or via the contact elements at least partially cancel one another in the region of the holding device.
  • a circuit board connector was thus created which, even with a high-pole design and / or with training to achieve particularly high contact forces, can be produced small and / or with a high contact element density.
  • the circuit board connector described in more detail below which represents a circuit board connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, is designated in FIG. 1 by reference number 10. It is arranged (clamped) between two parallel circuit boards 1 and 2 in the connection position shown in FIG. 1 and is held in this position by means of screws 3 and 4.
  • a first contact strip element 5 is provided between the printed circuit board connector 10 and the first (according to FIG. 1) printed circuit board 1
  • a second contact strip element 6 is provided between the printed circuit board connector 10 and the second (according to FIG. 1 lower) printed circuit board 2.
  • the housing of the circuit board connector 10 consists of a lower part 11 and two upper parts 12 and 13 (see Figure 1).
  • the housing or the components forming the housing are designed to be electrically conductive, i.e. preferably made of metal or metal-containing material.
  • Channels 14 are formed within the housing of the circuit board connector 10.
  • the channels have an arcuate course as shown in FIG. 1. In the connection position shown in FIG. 1, the channels run essentially continuously from the surface of the first printed circuit board 1 to the surface of the second printed circuit board 2.
  • an elongated contact element 15 runs at a distance from the channel walls, through which a contact spot (surface contact) provided on the surface of the first printed circuit board 1 can be electrically connected to a contact spot (surface contact) provided on the surface of the second printed circuit board 2.
  • the contact elements 15 are designed to be elastically bendable at least at their ends.
  • the outer ends of the contact elements protrude from the channels 14 on both sides thereof.
  • the end sections of the contact elements are pressed back into the respective channels together with the clamping of the circuit board connector between the first and the second electrical circuit board.
  • the end sections of the contact elements exert a pressing force on the contact patches to be contacted on the surfaces of the circuit board in the connecting position of the circuit board connector and thereby ensure high contact forces, ie for a firm and reliable circuit board connection, from circuit board surface to circuit board surface.
  • the electrical connection of the printed circuit boards exclusively via surface contacts helps, since there is no or at least no significant overlap of the elements causing the electrical connection in the direction of current flow, to reduce reflections at the connection points and thereby enables a considerable restriction of signal distortions; it also enables a simpler and more stable construction of the printed circuit boards in the connection area (no connection holes for pressing an electrical connector into the printed circuit board).
  • the contact elements 15 are completely surrounded by the walls of the channels 14 over their entire length.
  • the contact elements 15 are held approximately in the middle between the channel ends (at the boundary between the lower part 11 and the upper parts 12 and 13 of the housing of the printed circuit board connector) by a holding element 16.
  • the holding elements 16 are firmly connected to the respective contact elements 15.
  • the holding elements 16 have dimensions which exceed the internal dimensions of the respective channels 14. They are inserted into corresponding recesses between the lower part 11 and the upper parts 12, 13 of the housing of the printed circuit board connector in such a way that they are immovably connected to the printed circuit board connector in the assembled state thereof.
  • the holding elements 16 have (partly in cooperation with the contact elements 15 held by them) several functions: Firstly, they are intended to prevent the contact elements 15 from coming into contact with the electrically conductive channel walls. Furthermore, they are intended to prevent the contact elements from being displaceable along the respective channels. Finally, they should also have a defined movement of the contact elements within the channels (for example a movement parallel to a channel wall that determines the impedance, in particular when inserting the circuit board connector into its connecting position) and exclude other movements, for example by means of a corresponding cross-sectional design or the like, especially of the contact elements.
  • the contact elements 15 are arranged essentially symmetrically with respect to the holding elements 16, at least in the immediate vicinity thereof, or are arranged such that the forces exerted by or via the contact elements 15 on the holding elements 16 have an essentially symmetrical course with respect to the holding elements, at least in the immediate vicinity thereof to have. This makes it possible for forces exerted by or via the contact elements 15 on the holding elements 16 to at least partially cancel one another in the region of the holding elements 16.
  • the holding elements 16 themselves, the printed circuit board connector housing, the connection between the holding elements and the contact elements, and in particular the anchoring of the holding elements in the printed circuit board connector housing, can thus have only a relatively low stability without problems and can accordingly be made small.
  • the circuit board connector according to the invention can therefore be made relatively small (with the contact elements or rows of contact elements closely lined up and, if appropriate, with nesting thereof) and / or have a very high contact density.
  • contact strip elements 5, 6 are provided between the circuit board connector and the electrical circuit boards. These contact strip elements are designed to be electrically conductive and serve to establish an electrical connection between the ground contacts of the printed circuit boards to be connected to one another.
  • no separate contact elements 15 are provided for connecting the ground contacts.
  • the electrical connection between the ground contacts The respective electrical circuit boards are rather made by otherwise establishing a continuous electrical connection path, namely a connection path that extends from the ground contacts of the first circuit board 1 via the assigned first (electrically conductive) contact strip element 5, the (electrically conductive) housing of the circuit board connector, and that of the second electrical circuit board 2 assigned second (electrically conductive) contact strip element 6 runs to the ground contacts of the second electrical circuit board 2.
  • Such a ground connection has various advantages. On the one hand, the number of contact elements 15 to be provided in the circuit board connector can be reduced considerably under certain circumstances, and on the other hand, the grounding of the housing of the circuit board connector has the positive effect that the contact elements 15 running completely within the channels 14 are perfectly shielded from one another over their entire length, and the risk of cross-talk or other mutual interference is reduced to a minimum.
  • the contact strip elements 5, 6 have resilient contact blades upwards and downwards; at the points where contact pads of the printed circuit boards are to be connected to the contact elements 15 of the printed circuit board connector, the contact strip elements have corresponding recesses. Especially in the immediate vicinity of such recesses, i.e. However, a multiplicity of ground contacts that can be contacted by the contact strip elements can be provided around the channel openings.
  • FIGS. 2A and 2B Two of the possible embodiments of such contact strip elements are shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B; to illustrate the operation of such contact strip elements
  • FIG. 2C shows the contact strip element shown in FIG. 2B in a state clamped between two surfaces to be electrically connected to one another.
  • the aforementioned contact strip elements 5, 6 are components of a two-part mounting frame that can accommodate the circuit board connector; more precisely, the first contact strip element forms an upper side of a half-shell-shaped first mounting frame half and the second contact strip element forms an underside of a half-shell-shaped second mounting frame half.
  • the respective contact strip elements also have extensions which form side elements of the mounting frame halves, but which no longer have to have a structure as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, but can be structured in any other way.
  • Spring tabs 7 are provided on the side parts of the respective mounting frame halves and can latch with corresponding cutouts in the housing of the circuit board connector, as shown in FIG. 1, the lower mounting frame half with the upper parts 12, 13 of the circuit board connector housing as shown in FIG. 1 can latch, and wherein the upper mounting frame half as shown in Figure 1 can snap to the lower part 11 of the circuit board connector housing.
  • the multi-part design of the printed circuit board connector housing serves for simple assembly of the connector:
  • the contact elements 15 with the holding elements 16 attached to them are first introduced into the lower part 11 of the printed circuit board connector housing, more precisely into the channel parts provided in this section so that the holding elements 16 come to lie in corresponding recesses on the upper side of the lower part 11 of the printed circuit board connector housing.
  • the two upper parts 12, 13 of the printed circuit board connector housing are placed on the lower part attached, these parts initially only lying loosely on top of each other.
  • the upper parts are placed on the lower part by an inclined positioning movement. More precisely, the upper part 12 on the left as shown in the figure is put on by a movement from top right to bottom left, and the top part 13 on the right as shown in the figure is put on by a movement from top left to bottom right.
  • the extent of the inclined movement depends on the shape of the contact elements.
  • the upper parts are pushed over the upper half of the contact elements as shown in the figure so that the contact elements do not touch the channel walls at all or only slightly, that is, essentially parallel to the course of the contact elements in the area to be covered. In this way, damage to the channel walls and / or the contact elements during assembly can be largely avoided.
  • the lower part has an elevation, as shown in the figure, with two opposite slopes, along which the upper parts can be guided (can slide downwards) when placed on the lower part.
  • the bevels clearly recognizable in the figure have a course, which runs essentially parallel to the course of the contact element sections to be covered by the assigned upper part. However, the bevels do not have to run straight as shown in the figure, but can (preferably closely following the shape of the contact elements) also have any other shape (for example step-like or curved).
  • the guide bevels can be provided with straight or oblique or curved guide elements running on their surface, for example rail-like or groove-like guide elements, in which corresponding counterparts of the upper parts can engage.
  • the design of the components of a multi-part electrical connector described above can be used not only in the described type of printed circuit board connector, but quite generally in any type of electrical connector; such a design reliably enables simple and force-free assembly of connector components with simultaneous fastening of the contact elements of the electrical connector.
  • the printed circuit board connector When engaged with the mounting frame, the printed circuit board connector is prepared for establishing a connection with printed circuit boards to be connected to one another.
  • connection is made by fastening means such as screws 3, 4, of which several are arranged one behind the other as shown in FIG. 1 and which come alternately from above and from below.
  • the alternate fastening from opposite sides of the arrangement allows the provision of a high density of fasteners, which in turn makes it possible to reliably connect even small circuit board connectors to the circuit boards to be connected to one another.
  • connection of the elements by means of screws can be realized in a wide variety of ways (screwing into the circuit board connector housing, screwing with nuts, screwing together of several screw elements, etc.).
  • circuit board connector is clamped as evenly as possible between the circuit boards to be connected to one another with the additional interposition of the contact strip elements, because on the one hand this results in uniformly good connections and on the other hand the resulting force distribution occurs the contact elements for improved force compensation in the area of the holding elements 16.
  • circuit board connector and the fastening means may also be desirable to design or select the circuit board connector and the fastening means or to determine the use of these elements in such a way that the connection between the circuit board connector and the first circuit board and the connection between the circuit board connector and the second circuit board are identical at the same time Extent.
  • the aforementioned force compensation can already be brought into the connecting position and when the circuit board connector is introduced also when loosening the PCB connector from this position.
  • the present description referred to a printed circuit board connector for the transmission of asymmetrical signals (one inner conductor and one common outer conductor).
  • the circuit board connector described can also be used for the transmission of symmetrical signals (two inner conductors), if necessary by appropriate modification.
  • an impedance value of the circuit board connector can be set by setting (and maintaining) a distance between the inner conductor and an impedance-determining side wall of the channel.
  • an impedance value of the circuit board connector can be set by adjusting (and maintaining) a distance between the two (inner) conductors and adjusting a distance between the two inner conductors and an impedance-determining side wall of the channel.
  • the channels 14, the contact elements 15 and the holding elements 16 are to be designed in such a way that the elastic movement of the contact elements 15 occurring when the circuit board connector is inserted into its connecting position and / or when the latter is released Channels 14 are only possible in directions which (such as a movement parallel to an impedance-determining wall) do not result in a change in impedance value.

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  • Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
  • Diaphragms For Electromechanical Transducers (AREA)

Abstract

The connector has contact elements (15) for electrically connecting contacts of at least two electric circuit boards (1,2). Holding devices (16) hold the contact elements (15) in their correct position inside the connector (10). The contact elements (15) and the holding devices (16) are formed and/or arranged such that forces exerted on the holding devices (16) by and/or via the contact elements (15) at least partly increase in the region of the holding device. Preferably, the connector (10) is formed to electrically connect parallel circuit boards (1,2). The circuit board contacts may be surface contacts. Preferably, the contact elements (15) are elements inserted through channels (14) in the connector (10). The channels (14) are formed and dimensioned such that the ends of the contact elements are elastically pressed back in the channels to the connection point.

Description

Die vorliegende Erfindung betrifft einen Leiterplattenverbinder gemäß dem Oberbegriff des Patentanspruchs 1, d.h. einen Leiterplattenverbinder mit Kontaktelementen zum elektrischen Verbinden von Kontakten von zumindest zwei elektrischen Leiterplatten, und mit die Kontaktelemente in ihrer bestimmungsgemäßen Position innerhalb des Leiterplattenverbinders haltenden Haltevorrichtungen.The present invention relates to a circuit board connector according to the preamble of claim 1, i.e. a printed circuit board connector with contact elements for electrically connecting contacts of at least two electrical printed circuit boards, and with holding devices holding the contact elements in their intended position within the printed circuit board connector.

Derartige Leiterplattenverbinder sind in einer großen Vielzahl bekannt.A large number of such circuit board connectors are known.

Die fortschreitende Komplexität der zu verbindenden Leiterplatten macht den Einsatz von immer hochpoligeren Leiterplattenverbindern erforderlich. Darüber hinaus steigen auch die Anforderungen an die Qualität, d.h. unter anderem auch an die Festigkeit und Zuverlässigkeit der durch die Leiterplattenverbinder herstellbaren elektrischen Verbindungen (hohe Kontaktkräfte).The increasing complexity of the circuit boards to be connected requires the use of increasingly high-pole circuit board connectors. In addition, the quality requirements, i.e. among other things, the strength and reliability of the electrical connections that can be made using the circuit board connector (high contact forces).

Während des Inkontaktbringens von Leiterplattenverbindern, die den genannten Erfordernissen gerecht werden, mit den miteinander zu verbindenden Leiterplatten und in der Verbindungsstellung derselben wird auf die die Kontaktelemente in ihrer bestimmungsgemäßen Position innerhalb des Leiterplattenverbinders haltenden Haltevorrichtungen, das Leiterplattenverbindergehäuse und die Verbindungen zwischen den Haltevorrichtungen und den Kontaktelementen sowie zwischen den Haltevorrichtungen und dem Leiterplattenverbindergehäuse eine nicht unerhebliche Kraft ausgeübt, die eine entsprechend stabile Ausbildung dieser Elemente erfordert.During the contacting of circuit board connectors, which meet the requirements mentioned, with the circuit boards to be connected to one another and in the connecting position thereof, the holding devices holding the contact elements in their intended position within the circuit board connector, the circuit board connector housing and the connections between the holding devices and the contact elements and between the holding devices and the circuit board connector housing exerted a not inconsiderable force, which requires a correspondingly stable design of these elements.

Eine besonders stabile Ausbildung der genannten Elemente hat jedoch eine Größenzunahme derselben zur Folge und steht damit dem weiteren Wunsch entgegen, die Leiterplattenverbinder möglichst klein zu halten bzw. mit einer möglichst hohen Kontaktelementdichte herstellen zu können.A particularly stable design of the elements mentioned, however, results in an increase in the size of the elements and thus stands against the further wish to keep the circuit board connector as small as possible or to be able to manufacture it with the highest possible contact element density.

Der vorliegenden Erfindung liegt daher die Aufgabe zugrunde, einen Leiterplattenverbinder gemäß dem Oberbegriff des Patentanspruchs 1 derart weiterzubilden, daß dieser auch bei hochpoliger Ausführung und/oder bei Ausbildung zur Erzielung von besonders hohen Kontaktkräften klein und/oder mit hoher Kontaktelementdichte herstellbar ist.The present invention is therefore based on the object of developing a circuit board connector according to the preamble of claim 1 in such a way that it can be made small and / or with a high contact element density even with a high-pole design and / or with training to achieve particularly high contact forces.

Diese Aufgabe wird erfindungsgemäß durch die im kennzeichnenden Teil des Patentanspruchs 1 beanspruchten Merkmale gelöst.This object is achieved by the features claimed in the characterizing part of patent claim 1.

Demnach ist vorgesehen, daß die Kontaktelemente und die Haltevorrichtungen derart ausgebildet und/oder angeordnet sind, daß durch und/oder über die Kontaktelemente auf die Haltevorrichtungen ausgeübte Kräfte einander im Bereich der Haltevorrichtung zumindest teilweise aufheben.Accordingly, it is provided that the contact elements and the holding devices are designed and / or arranged such that forces exerted on the holding devices by and / or via the contact elements at least partially cancel one another in the region of the holding device.

Das Vorsehen einer teilweisen Aufhebung der Kräfte an den Haltevorrichtungen (beispielsweise durch eine zumindest teilweise symmetrische Ausbildung der Kontaktelemente bezüglich der Haltevorrichtungen) hat unmittelbar zur Folge, daß die resultierenden Kräfte im Bereich der Haltevorrichtungen erheblich niedriger sind, so daß die Stabilität und damit auch die Größe der Haltevorrichtungen, des Leiterplattenverbindergehäuses und der Verbindungen zwischen den Haltevorrichtungen und den Kontaktelementen sowie zwischen den Haltevorrichtungen und dem Leiterplattenverbindergehäuse deutlich reduzierbar sind.The provision of a partial cancellation of the forces on the holding devices (for example by an at least partially symmetrical configuration of the contact elements with respect to the holding devices) has the direct consequence that the resulting forces in the area of the holding devices are considerably lower, so that the stability and thus also the size the holding devices, the printed circuit board connector housing and the connections between the holding devices and the contact elements and between the holding devices and the printed circuit board connector housing can be reduced significantly.

Es wurde damit also ein Leiterplattenverbinder geschaffen, der auch bei hochpoliger Ausführung und/oder bei Ausbildung zur Erzielung von besonders hohen Kontaktkräften klein und/oder mit hoher Kontaktelementdichte herstellbar ist.A circuit board connector was thus created which, even with a high-pole design and / or with training to achieve particularly high contact forces, can be produced small and / or with a high contact element density.

Vorteilhafte Weiterbildungen der Erfindung sind Gegenstand der Unteransprüche.Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

Die Erfindung wird nachfolgend anhand eines Ausführungsbeispiels unter Bezugnahme auf die Zeichnung näher erläutert. Es zeigen

Figur 1
eine Schnittansicht eines zwei Leiterplatten verbindenden Leiterplattenverbinders gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,
Figur 2A
ein Ausführungsbeispiel eines Kontaktstreifenelements im nicht kontaktierten Zustand,
Figur 2B
ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel eines Kontaktstreifenelements im nicht kontaktierten Zustand, und
Figur 2C
das in Figur 2B gezeigte Kontaktstreifenelement in einem zwischen zwei elektrisch zu verbindenden Flächen eingeklemmten Zustand.
The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawing. Show it
Figure 1
2 shows a sectional view of a printed circuit board connector connecting two printed circuit boards according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention,
Figure 2A
an embodiment of a contact strip element in the non-contacted state,
Figure 2B
a further embodiment of a contact strip element in the non-contacted state, and
Figure 2C
the contact strip element shown in Figure 2B in a state clamped between two electrically connectable surfaces.

Der im folgenden näher beschriebene Leiterplattenverbinder, welcher einen Leiterplattenverbinder gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung darstellt, ist in der Figur 1 mit dem Bezugszeichen 10 bezeichnet. Er ist in der in der Figur 1 gezeigten Verbindungsstellung zwischen zwei parallelen Leiterplatten 1 und 2 angeordnet (eingeklemmt) und wird mittels Schrauben 3 und 4 in dieser Position gehalten. Zwischen dem Leiterplattenverbinder 10 und der ersten (gemäß der Figur 1 oberen) Leiterplatte 1 ist ein erstes Kontaktstreifenelement 5 vorgesehen, und zwischen dem Leiterplattenverbinder 10 und der zweiten (gemäß der Figur 1 unteren) Leiterplatte 2 ist ein zweites Kontaktstreifenelement 6 vorgesehen.The circuit board connector described in more detail below, which represents a circuit board connector according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, is designated in FIG. 1 by reference number 10. It is arranged (clamped) between two parallel circuit boards 1 and 2 in the connection position shown in FIG. 1 and is held in this position by means of screws 3 and 4. A first contact strip element 5 is provided between the printed circuit board connector 10 and the first (according to FIG. 1) printed circuit board 1, and a second contact strip element 6 is provided between the printed circuit board connector 10 and the second (according to FIG. 1 lower) printed circuit board 2.

Das Gehäuse des Leiterplattenverbinders 10 besteht aus einem Unterteil 11 und zwei Oberteilen 12 und 13 (siehe Figur 1). Das Gehäuse bzw. die das Gehäuse bildenden Bestandteile sind elektrisch leitend ausgebildet, d.h. vorzugsweise aus Metall oder Metall enthaltendem Material hergestellt.The housing of the circuit board connector 10 consists of a lower part 11 and two upper parts 12 and 13 (see Figure 1). The housing or the components forming the housing are designed to be electrically conductive, i.e. preferably made of metal or metal-containing material.

Innerhalb des Gehäuses des Leiterplattenverbinders 10 sind Kanäle 14 ausgebildet. Die Kanäle weisen einen wie in der Figur 1 dargestellten bogenförmigen Verlauf auf. In der in der Figur 1 gezeigten Verbindungsstellung verlaufen die Kanäle im wesentlichen durchgehend von der Oberfläche der ersten Leiterplatte 1 zur Oberfläche der zweiten Leiterplatte 2.Channels 14 are formed within the housing of the circuit board connector 10. The channels have an arcuate course as shown in FIG. 1. In the connection position shown in FIG. 1, the channels run essentially continuously from the surface of the first printed circuit board 1 to the surface of the second printed circuit board 2.

Innerhalb eines jeden Kanals 14 verläuft beabstandet von den Kanalwänden ein länglich ausgebildetes Kontaktelement 15, durch welches jeweils ein auf der Oberfläche der ersten Leiterplatte 1 vorgesehener Kontaktfleck (Oberflächenkontakt) mit einem auf der Oberfläche der zweiten Leiterplatte 2 vorgesehenen Kontaktfleck (Oberflächenkontakt) elektrisch verbindbar ist. Die Kontaktelemente 15 sind zumindest an deren Enden elastisch biegbar ausgebildet.Within each channel 14, an elongated contact element 15 runs at a distance from the channel walls, through which a contact spot (surface contact) provided on the surface of the first printed circuit board 1 can be electrically connected to a contact spot (surface contact) provided on the surface of the second printed circuit board 2. The contact elements 15 are designed to be elastically bendable at least at their ends.

Solange sich der Leiterplattenverbinder nicht in der in der Figur 1 gezeigten Verbindungsstellung befindet, ragen die äußeren Enden der Kontaktelemente zu beiden Seiten der Kanäle 14 aus diesen heraus. Beim Einbringen in die in der Figur 1 gezeigte Verbindungsstellung des Leiterplattenverbinders werden die Endabschnitte der Kontaktelemente einhergehend mit dem Einklemmen des Leiterplattenverbinders zwischen die erste und die zweite elektrische Leiterplatte in die jeweiligen Kanäle zurückgedrückt. Die Endabschnitte der Kontaktelemente üben in der Verbindungsstellung des Leiterplattenverbinders eine Andruckkraft auf die zu kontaktierenden Kontaktflecken auf den Oberflächen der Leiterplatte aus und sorgen dadurch für hohe Kontaktkräfte, d.h. für eine feste und zuverlässige Leiterplattenverbindung, von Leiterplattenoberfläche zu Leiterplattenoberfläche.As long as the circuit board connector is not in the connecting position shown in FIG. 1, the outer ends of the contact elements protrude from the channels 14 on both sides thereof. When the circuit board connector is brought into the connection position shown in FIG. 1, the end sections of the contact elements are pressed back into the respective channels together with the clamping of the circuit board connector between the first and the second electrical circuit board. The end sections of the contact elements exert a pressing force on the contact patches to be contacted on the surfaces of the circuit board in the connecting position of the circuit board connector and thereby ensure high contact forces, ie for a firm and reliable circuit board connection, from circuit board surface to circuit board surface.

Die elektrische Verbindung der Leiterplatten ausschließlich über Oberflächenkontakte hilft, da keine oder wenigstens keine nennenswerte Überlappung der die elektrische Verbindung bewirkenden Elemente in Stromflußrichtung stattfindet, Reflexionen an den Verbindungsstellen zu reduzieren und ermöglicht dadurch eine erhebliche Einschränkung von Signalverzerrungen; sie ermöglicht ferner einen einfacheren und stabileren Aufbau der Leiterplatten im Anschlußbereich (keine Anschlußlöcher zum Einpressen eines elektrischen Verbinders in die Leiterplatte).The electrical connection of the printed circuit boards exclusively via surface contacts helps, since there is no or at least no significant overlap of the elements causing the electrical connection in the direction of current flow, to reduce reflections at the connection points and thereby enables a considerable restriction of signal distortions; it also enables a simpler and more stable construction of the printed circuit boards in the connection area (no connection holes for pressing an electrical connector into the printed circuit board).

In der Verbindungsstellung des Leiterplattenverbinders sind die Kontaktelemente 15 im wesentlichen über deren gesamte Länge von den Wänden der Kanäle 14 vollständig umgeben.In the connecting position of the circuit board connector, the contact elements 15 are completely surrounded by the walls of the channels 14 over their entire length.

Die Kontaktelemente 15 werden ungefähr in der Mitte zwischen den Kanalenden (an der Grenze zwischen dem Unterteil 11 und den Oberteilen 12 und 13 des Gehäuses des Leiterplattenverbinders jeweils durch ein Halteelement 16 gehalten. Die Halteelemente 16 sind mit den jeweiligen Kontaktelementen 15 fest verbunden. Die Halteelemente 16 haben Abmessungen, die die Innenabmessungen der jeweiligen Kanäle 14 überschreiten. Sie werden in entsprechende Aussparungen zwischen dem Unterteil 11 und den Oberteilen 12, 13 des Gehäuses des Leiterplattenverbinders derart eingesetzt daß sie im zusammengesetzten Zustand des Leiterplattenverbinders unverrückbar mit diesem verbunden sind.The contact elements 15 are held approximately in the middle between the channel ends (at the boundary between the lower part 11 and the upper parts 12 and 13 of the housing of the printed circuit board connector) by a holding element 16. The holding elements 16 are firmly connected to the respective contact elements 15. The holding elements 16 have dimensions which exceed the internal dimensions of the respective channels 14. They are inserted into corresponding recesses between the lower part 11 and the upper parts 12, 13 of the housing of the printed circuit board connector in such a way that they are immovably connected to the printed circuit board connector in the assembled state thereof.

Die Halteelemente 16 haben (teilweise im Zusammenwirken mit den durch diese gehaltenen Kontaktelementen 15) mehrere Funktionen: Zum einen sollen sie verhindern, daß die Kontaktelemente 15 mit den elektrisch leitenden Kanalwänden in Berührung kommen. Ferner sollen sie verhindern, daß die Kontaktelemente längs der jeweiligen Kanäle verschiebbar sind. Schließlich sollen sie aber auch eine definierte Bewegung der Kontaktelemente innerhalb der Kanäle (z.B. eine Bewegung parallel zu einer die Impedanz bestimmenden Kanalwand, insbesondere beim Einbringen des Leiterplattenverbinders in dessen Verbindungsstellung) ermöglichen und andere Bewegungen z.B. durch eine entsprechende Querschnittsgestaltung oder dergleichen vor allem der Kontaktelemente ausschließen.The holding elements 16 have (partly in cooperation with the contact elements 15 held by them) several functions: Firstly, they are intended to prevent the contact elements 15 from coming into contact with the electrically conductive channel walls. Furthermore, they are intended to prevent the contact elements from being displaceable along the respective channels. Finally, they should also have a defined movement of the contact elements within the channels (for example a movement parallel to a channel wall that determines the impedance, in particular when inserting the circuit board connector into its connecting position) and exclude other movements, for example by means of a corresponding cross-sectional design or the like, especially of the contact elements.

Die Kontaktelemente 15 sind bezüglich der Halteelemente 16 zumindest in unmittelbarer Umgebung derselben im wesentlichen symmetrisch angeordnet bzw. derart angeordnet, daß die durch die oder über die Kontaktelemente 15 auf die Halteelemente 16 ausgeübten Kräfte bezüglich der Halteelemente zumindest in unmittelbarer Umgebung derselben einen im wesentlichen symmetrischen Verlauf haben. Dadurch ist es möglich, daß durch die oder über die Kontaktelemente 15 auf die Halteelemente 16 ausgeübte Kräfte einander im Bereich der Halteelemente 16 zumindest teilweise aufheben. Die Halteelemente 16 selbst, das Leiterplattenverbindergehäuse, die Verbindung zwischen den Halteelementen und den Kontaktelementen sowie insbesondere die Verankerung der Halteelemente im Leiterplattenverbindergehäuse können dadurch problemlos eine nur relativ geringe Stabilität aufweisen und dementsprechend klein ausgebildet werden. Der erfindungsgemäße Leiterplattenverbinder kann daher (unter dichter Aneinanderreihung der Kontaktelemente bzw. Kontaktelementreihen und gegebenenfalls unter Verschachtelung derselben) relativ klein ausgebildet sein und/oder eine sehr hohe Kontaktdichte aufweisen.The contact elements 15 are arranged essentially symmetrically with respect to the holding elements 16, at least in the immediate vicinity thereof, or are arranged such that the forces exerted by or via the contact elements 15 on the holding elements 16 have an essentially symmetrical course with respect to the holding elements, at least in the immediate vicinity thereof to have. This makes it possible for forces exerted by or via the contact elements 15 on the holding elements 16 to at least partially cancel one another in the region of the holding elements 16. The holding elements 16 themselves, the printed circuit board connector housing, the connection between the holding elements and the contact elements, and in particular the anchoring of the holding elements in the printed circuit board connector housing, can thus have only a relatively low stability without problems and can accordingly be made small. The circuit board connector according to the invention can therefore be made relatively small (with the contact elements or rows of contact elements closely lined up and, if appropriate, with nesting thereof) and / or have a very high contact density.

Zwischen dem Leiterplattenverbinder und den elektrischen Leiterplatten sind, wie vorstehend bereits erwähnt, Kontaktstreifenelemente 5, 6 vorgesehen. Diese Kontaktstreifenelemente sind elektrisch leitend ausgebildet und dienen dazu, eine elektrische Verbindung zwischen den Massekontakten der miteinander zu verbindenden Leiterplatten herzustellen.As already mentioned above, contact strip elements 5, 6 are provided between the circuit board connector and the electrical circuit boards. These contact strip elements are designed to be electrically conductive and serve to establish an electrical connection between the ground contacts of the printed circuit boards to be connected to one another.

Zur Verbindung der Massekontakte sind im vorliegenden Ausführungsbeispiel jedoch keine separaten Kontaktelemente 15 vorgesehen. Die elektrische Verbindung zwischen den Massekontakten der jeweiligen elektrischen Leiterplatten erfolgt vielmehr durch anderweitiges Herstellen eines durchgehenden elektrischen Verbindungspfades, nämlich eines Verbindungspfades, der von den Massekontakten der ersten Leiterplatte 1 über das zugeordnete erste (elektrisch leitende) Kontaktstreifenelement 5, das (elektrisch leitende) Gehäuse des Leiterplattenverbinders, und das der zweiten elektrischen Leiterplatte 2 zugeordnete zweite (elektrisch leitende) Kontaktstreifenelement 6 zu den Massekontakten der zweiten elektrischen Leiterplatte 2 verläuft.In the present exemplary embodiment, however, no separate contact elements 15 are provided for connecting the ground contacts. The electrical connection between the ground contacts The respective electrical circuit boards are rather made by otherwise establishing a continuous electrical connection path, namely a connection path that extends from the ground contacts of the first circuit board 1 via the assigned first (electrically conductive) contact strip element 5, the (electrically conductive) housing of the circuit board connector, and that of the second electrical circuit board 2 assigned second (electrically conductive) contact strip element 6 runs to the ground contacts of the second electrical circuit board 2.

Eine derartige Masseverbindung hat verschiedenerlei Vorteile. Einerseits kann dadurch die Anzahl der im Leiterplattenverbinder vorzusehenden Kontaktelemente 15 unter Umständen ganz erheblich reduziert werden, und andererseits hat die Erdung des Gehäuses des Leiterplattenverbinders den positiven Effekt, daß die vollständig innerhalb der Kanäle 14 verlaufenden Kontaktelemente 15 über deren gesamte Länge perfekt gegeneinander abgeschirmt sind und die Gefahr des Nebensprechens oder anderweitiger gegenseitiger Beeinflussungen auf ein Minimum reduziert ist.Such a ground connection has various advantages. On the one hand, the number of contact elements 15 to be provided in the circuit board connector can be reduced considerably under certain circumstances, and on the other hand, the grounding of the housing of the circuit board connector has the positive effect that the contact elements 15 running completely within the channels 14 are perfectly shielded from one another over their entire length, and the risk of cross-talk or other mutual interference is reduced to a minimum.

Um eine perfekte Kontaktgabe zwischen den Massekontakten der Leiterplatten und dem Gehäuse des Leiterplattenverbinders gewährleisten zu können, weisen die Kontaktstreifenelemente 5, 6 federnde Kontaktlamellen nach oben und nach unten auf; an den Stellen, wo Kontaktflecken der Leiterplatten mit den Kontaktelementen 15 des Leiterplattenverbinders zu verbinden sind, weisen die Kontaktstreifenelemente entsprechende Aussparungen auf. Insbesondere in unmittelbarer Nachbarschaft solcher Aussparungen, d.h. um die Kanalöffnungen herum kann jedoch eine Vielzahl von durch die Kontaktstreifenelemente kontaktierbaren Massekontakten vorgesehen sein.In order to be able to guarantee perfect contact between the ground contacts of the printed circuit boards and the housing of the printed circuit board connector, the contact strip elements 5, 6 have resilient contact blades upwards and downwards; at the points where contact pads of the printed circuit boards are to be connected to the contact elements 15 of the printed circuit board connector, the contact strip elements have corresponding recesses. Especially in the immediate vicinity of such recesses, i.e. However, a multiplicity of ground contacts that can be contacted by the contact strip elements can be provided around the channel openings.

Zwei der möglichen Ausführungsformen von derartigen Kontaktstreifenelementen sind in den Figuren 2A und 2B gezeigt; zur Veranschaulichung der Wirkungsweise solcher Kontaktstreifenelemente ist in Figur 2C das in der Figur 2B gezeigte Kontaktstreifenelement in einem zwischen zwei elektrisch miteinander zu verbindenden Flächen eingespannten Zustand gezeigt.Two of the possible embodiments of such contact strip elements are shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B; to illustrate the operation of such contact strip elements FIG. 2C shows the contact strip element shown in FIG. 2B in a state clamped between two surfaces to be electrically connected to one another.

Die genannten Kontaktstreifenelemente 5, 6 sind Bestandteile eines den Leiterplattenverbinder in sich aufnehmen könnenden zweiteiligen Montagerahmens; genauer gesagt bildet das erste Kontaktstreifenelement eine Oberseite einer halbschalenförmigen ersten Montagerahmenhälfte und das zweite Kontaktstreifenelement bildet eine Unterseite einer halbschalenförmigen zweiten Montagerahmenhälfte. Die jeweiligen Kontaktstreifenelemente weisen darüber hinaus Seitenelemente des Montagerahmenhälften bildende Fortsätze auf, welche jedoch nicht mehr eine wie in den Figuren 2A und 2B gezeigte Struktur aufweisen müssen, sondern beliebig anders strukturiert sein können.The aforementioned contact strip elements 5, 6 are components of a two-part mounting frame that can accommodate the circuit board connector; more precisely, the first contact strip element forms an upper side of a half-shell-shaped first mounting frame half and the second contact strip element forms an underside of a half-shell-shaped second mounting frame half. The respective contact strip elements also have extensions which form side elements of the mounting frame halves, but which no longer have to have a structure as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, but can be structured in any other way.

An den Seitenteilen der jeweiligen Montagerahmenhälften sind Federlappen 7 vorgesehen, die mit entsprechenden Aussparungen im Gehäuse des Leiterplattenverbinders verrasten können, wobei, wie in der Figur 1 gezeigt ist, die gemäß der Darstellung in der Figur 1 untere Montagerahmenhälfte mit den Oberteilen 12, 13 des Leiterplattenverbindergehäuses verrasten kann, und wobei die gemäß der Darstellung in der Figur 1 obere Montagerahmenhälfte mit dem Unterteil 11 des Leiterplattenverbindergehäuses verrasten kann.Spring tabs 7 are provided on the side parts of the respective mounting frame halves and can latch with corresponding cutouts in the housing of the circuit board connector, as shown in FIG. 1, the lower mounting frame half with the upper parts 12, 13 of the circuit board connector housing as shown in FIG. 1 can latch, and wherein the upper mounting frame half as shown in Figure 1 can snap to the lower part 11 of the circuit board connector housing.

Die wie in der Figur 1 gezeigte mehrteilige Ausbildung des Leiterplattenverbindergehäuses dient dem einfachen Zusammenbau des Verbinders: Hierzu werden zunächst in das Unterteil 11 des Leiterplattenverbindergehäuses, genauer gesagt in die in diesem Abschnitt vorgesehenen Kanalteile die Kontaktelemente 15 mit den daran befestigten Halteelementen 16 eingeführt, und zwar so, daß die Halteelemente 16 in entsprechenden Aussparungen an der Oberseite des Unterteils 11 des Leiterplattenverbindergehäuses zu liegen kommen. Nach Bestücken aller Kanäle 14 mit Kontaktelementen 15 werden auf das Unterteil die beiden Oberteile 12, 13 des Leiterplattenverbindergehäuses aufgesetzt, wobei diese Teile zunächst nur lose aufeinanderliegen.The multi-part design of the printed circuit board connector housing, as shown in FIG. 1, serves for simple assembly of the connector: For this purpose, the contact elements 15 with the holding elements 16 attached to them are first introduced into the lower part 11 of the printed circuit board connector housing, more precisely into the channel parts provided in this section so that the holding elements 16 come to lie in corresponding recesses on the upper side of the lower part 11 of the printed circuit board connector housing. After all channels 14 have been equipped with contact elements 15, the two upper parts 12, 13 of the printed circuit board connector housing are placed on the lower part attached, these parts initially only lying loosely on top of each other.

Das Aufsetzen der Oberteile auf das Unterteil erfolgt durch eine schräg verlaufende Aufsetzbewegung. Genauer gesagt wird das gemäß der Darstellung in der Figur linke Oberteil 12 durch eine Bewegung von rechts oben nach links unten aufgesetzt, und das gemäß der Darstellung in der Figur rechte Oberteil 13 wird durch eine Bewegung von links oben nach rechts unten aufgesetzt. Das Ausmaß der Schrägbewegung richtet sich nach der Form der Kontaktelemente. Das Aufschieben der Oberteile über die gemäß der Darstellung in der Figur obere Hälfte der Kontaktelemente erfolgt im Idealfall so, daß die Kontaktelemente die Kanalwände überhaupt nicht oder allenfalls nur geringfügig berühren, also im wesentlichen parallel zum Verlauf der Kontaktelemente im abzudeckenden Bereich. Auf diese Weise lassen sich Beschädigungen der Kanalwände und/oder der Kontaktelemente bei der Montage weitestgehend vermeiden. Positiv wirkt sich hierbei auch aus, daß sowohl sämtliche Kontaktelemente, auf welches das gemäß der Darstellung in der Figur linke Oberteil 12 aufgesetzt ist, als auch sämtliche Kontaktelemente, auf welches das gemäß der Darstellung in der Figur rechte Oberteil 13 aufgesetzt ist, jeweils parallel zueinander verlaufen; die verschiedenen Gruppen angehörenden (durch verschiedene Oberteile abzudeckenden) Kontaktelemente sind im vorliegenden Ausführungsbeispiel nicht parallel sondern symmetrisch zueinander ausgebildet, um eine symmetrische Kraftverteilung bezüglich der später beschriebenen Verbindung des elektrischen Verbinders mit den zu verbindenden Leiterplatte zu erzielen.The upper parts are placed on the lower part by an inclined positioning movement. More precisely, the upper part 12 on the left as shown in the figure is put on by a movement from top right to bottom left, and the top part 13 on the right as shown in the figure is put on by a movement from top left to bottom right. The extent of the inclined movement depends on the shape of the contact elements. Ideally, the upper parts are pushed over the upper half of the contact elements as shown in the figure so that the contact elements do not touch the channel walls at all or only slightly, that is, essentially parallel to the course of the contact elements in the area to be covered. In this way, damage to the channel walls and / or the contact elements during assembly can be largely avoided. It also has a positive effect that both all contact elements on which the upper part 12, which is shown on the left in the figure, are placed, and all contact elements on which the upper part 13, which is shown on the right in the figure, are placed, are each parallel to one another run; in the present exemplary embodiment, the contact elements belonging to different groups (to be covered by different top parts) are not parallel but rather symmetrical in order to achieve a symmetrical distribution of force with regard to the connection of the electrical connector to the circuit board to be connected, which will be described later.

Um die besagte schräge Aufsetzbewegung sicher gewährleisten zu können, weist das Unterteil eine wie in der Figur dargestellte Erhebung mit zwei gegenüberliegenden Schrägen auf, entlang welcher die Oberteile beim Aufsetzen auf das Unterteil führbar sind (nach unten gleiten können). Die in der Figur deutlich erkennbaren Schrägen weisen einen Verlauf auf, der im wesentlichen parallel zum Verlauf der durch das zugeordnete Oberteil jeweils abzudeckenden Kontaktelementabschnitte verläuft. Die Schrägen müssen jedoch nicht wie in der Figur dargestellt gerade verlaufen, sondern können (vorzugsweise in enger Anlehnung an die Form der Kontaktelemente) auch jede beliebige andere (beispielsweise stufenartige oder gekrümmte) Form aufweisen.In order to be able to ensure the said inclined placement movement reliably, the lower part has an elevation, as shown in the figure, with two opposite slopes, along which the upper parts can be guided (can slide downwards) when placed on the lower part. The bevels clearly recognizable in the figure have a course, which runs essentially parallel to the course of the contact element sections to be covered by the assigned upper part. However, the bevels do not have to run straight as shown in the figure, but can (preferably closely following the shape of the contact elements) also have any other shape (for example step-like or curved).

Um eine noch genauer definierte Führung der Oberteile an den Führungsschrägen des Unterteils und damit eine noch perfektere Führung der Kontaktelemente innerhalb der Kanäle beim Aufsetzen der Oberteile auf das Unterteil zu erreichen, genauer gesagt, um auch einen seitlichen Versatz von Oberteilen und Unterteil beim Aufeinandersetzen zu verhindern, können die Führungsschrägen mit gerade oder schräg oder gekrümmt an deren Oberfläche verlaufenden, beispielsweise schienen- oder nutenartigen Führungselementen versehen sein, in welche entsprechende Gegenstücke der Oberteile eingreifen können.In order to achieve a more precisely defined guidance of the upper parts on the guide bevels of the lower part and thus an even more perfect guidance of the contact elements within the channels when the upper parts are placed on the lower part, more precisely, to also prevent lateral displacement of the upper parts and lower part when they are placed on top of one another , The guide bevels can be provided with straight or oblique or curved guide elements running on their surface, for example rail-like or groove-like guide elements, in which corresponding counterparts of the upper parts can engage.

Die vorstehend beschriebene Gestaltung der Bestandteile eines mehrteiligen elektrischen Verbinders ist nicht nur bei der beschriebenen Art von Leiterplattenverbinder, sondern ganz allgemein bei jeder Art von elektrischem Verbinder nutzbringend einsetzbar; eine derartige Gestaltung ermöglicht zuverlässig ein einfaches und kraftfreies Zusammenfügen von Verbinderbestandteilen unter gleichzeitiger Befestigung der Kontaktelemente des elektrischen Verbinders.The design of the components of a multi-part electrical connector described above can be used not only in the described type of printed circuit board connector, but quite generally in any type of electrical connector; such a design reliably enables simple and force-free assembly of connector components with simultaneous fastening of the contact elements of the electrical connector.

Das Zusammenhalten von Oberteilen und Unterteil erfolgt durch das vorstehend bereits erläuterte Verrasten der Anordnung mit den Montagerahmenhälften.The holding together of the upper parts and the lower part takes place by the above-described latching of the arrangement with the mounting frame halves.

Im mit dem Montagerahmen in Eingriff gebrachten Zustand ist der Leiterplattenverbinder zur Herstellung einer Verbindung mit miteinander zu verbindenden Leiterplatten vorbereitet.When engaged with the mounting frame, the printed circuit board connector is prepared for establishing a connection with printed circuit boards to be connected to one another.

Die Verbindung erfolgt durch Befestigungsmittel wie beispielsweise Schrauben 3, 4, von denen gemäß der Darstellung in der Figur 1 mehrere hintereinander angeordnet sind und die abwechselnd von oben und von unten kommen.The connection is made by fastening means such as screws 3, 4, of which several are arranged one behind the other as shown in FIG. 1 and which come alternately from above and from below.

Die alternierende Befestigung von einander gegenüberliegenden Seiten der Anordnung erlaubt das Vorsehen einer hohen Befestigungsmitteldichte, was es wiederum ermöglicht, auch kleine Leiterplattenverbinder mit den miteinander zu verbindenden Leiterplatten zuverlässig fest zu verbinden.The alternate fastening from opposite sides of the arrangement allows the provision of a high density of fasteners, which in turn makes it possible to reliably connect even small circuit board connectors to the circuit boards to be connected to one another.

Das Bewerkstelligen der Verbindung der Elemente durch Schrauben kann auf verschiedenste Art und Weise realisiert sein (Eindrehen in das Leiterplattenverbindergehäuse, Verschrauben mit Muttern, Ineinanderschrauben mehrerer Schaubelemente, etc.).The connection of the elements by means of screws can be realized in a wide variety of ways (screwing into the circuit board connector housing, screwing with nuts, screwing together of several screw elements, etc.).

Unabhängig von der Art der Befestigungsmittel erweist es sich als vorteilhaft, wenn der Leiterplattenverbinder zwischen den miteinander zu verbindenden Leiterplatten unter zusätzlicher Zwischenschaltung der Kontaktstreifenelemente möglichst gleichmäßig stark eingeklemmt wird, denn hierdurch erhält man einerseits gleichmäßig gute Verbindungen, und andererseits führt die sich hierbei einstellende Kraftverteilung auf die Kontaktelemente zu einer verbesserten Kraftkompensation im Bereich der Halteelemente 16.Regardless of the type of fastening means, it proves to be advantageous if the circuit board connector is clamped as evenly as possible between the circuit boards to be connected to one another with the additional interposition of the contact strip elements, because on the one hand this results in uniformly good connections and on the other hand the resulting force distribution occurs the contact elements for improved force compensation in the area of the holding elements 16.

Es kann ferner erstrebenswert sein, den Leiterplattenverbinder und die Befestigungsmittel so auszubilden bzw. auszuwählen bzw. die Verwendung dieser Elemente derart festzulegen, daß die Verbindung zwischen dem Leiterplattenverbinder und der ersten Leiterplatte und die Verbindung zwischen dem Leiterplattenverbinder und der zweiten Leiterplatte gleichzeitig und im jeweils identischen Ausmaß erfolgen. Hierdurch läßt sich die erwähnte Kraftkompensierung bereits bei Einbringen des Leiterplattenverbinders in dessen Verbindungsstellung und auch beim Lösen des Leiterplattenverbinders aus dieser Stellung realisieren.It may also be desirable to design or select the circuit board connector and the fastening means or to determine the use of these elements in such a way that the connection between the circuit board connector and the first circuit board and the connection between the circuit board connector and the second circuit board are identical at the same time Extent. As a result, the aforementioned force compensation can already be brought into the connecting position and when the circuit board connector is introduced also when loosening the PCB connector from this position.

Die vorliegende Beschreibung bezog sich auf einen Leiterplattenverbinder zur Übertragung von asymmetrischen Signalen (jeweils ein Innenleiter und ein gemeinsamer Außenleiter). Der beschriebene Leiterplattenverbinder ist - gegebenenfalls durch entsprechende Modifikation - auch für die Übertragung von symmetrischen Signalen einsetzbar (zwei Innenleiter).The present description referred to a printed circuit board connector for the transmission of asymmetrical signals (one inner conductor and one common outer conductor). The circuit board connector described can also be used for the transmission of symmetrical signals (two inner conductors), if necessary by appropriate modification.

Für den Fall der Übertragung asymmetrischer Signale, d.h. bei Vorsehen von nur einem Innenleiter ist ein Impedanzwert des Leiterplattenverbinders durch Einstellen (und Einhalten) eines Abstandes zwischen dem Innenleiter und einer impedanzbestimmenden Seitenwand des Kanals einstellbar.In the case of transmission of asymmetrical signals, i.e. if only one inner conductor is provided, an impedance value of the circuit board connector can be set by setting (and maintaining) a distance between the inner conductor and an impedance-determining side wall of the channel.

Für den Fall der übertragung symmetrischer Signale, d.h. bei Vorsehen von zwei Innenleitern ist ein Impedanzwert des Leiterplattenverbinders durch Einstellen (und Einhalten) eines Abstandes zwischen den beiden (Innen-)Leitern und Einstellen eines Abstandes zwischen den beiden Innenleitern und einer impedanzbestimmenden Seitenwand des Kanals einstellbar.In the case of transmission of symmetrical signals, i.e. If two inner conductors are provided, an impedance value of the circuit board connector can be set by adjusting (and maintaining) a distance between the two (inner) conductors and adjusting a distance between the two inner conductors and an impedance-determining side wall of the channel.

Damit ein einmal eingestellter Impedanzwert unter allen Umständen konstant aufrechterhalten wird, sind die Kanäle 14, die Kontaktelemente 15 und die Halteelemente 16 derart auszubilden, daß die beim Einbringen des Leiterplattenverbinders in dessen Verbindungsstellung und/oder beim Lösen derselben erfolgende elastische Bewegung der Kontaktelemente 15 innerhalb der Kanäle 14 ausschließlich in Richtungen möglich ist, welche (wie beispielsweise eine Bewegung parallel zu einer impedanzbestimmenden Wand) keine Impedanzwertveränderung zur Folge haben.So that a once set impedance value is constantly maintained under all circumstances, the channels 14, the contact elements 15 and the holding elements 16 are to be designed in such a way that the elastic movement of the contact elements 15 occurring when the circuit board connector is inserted into its connecting position and / or when the latter is released Channels 14 are only possible in directions which (such as a movement parallel to an impedance-determining wall) do not result in a change in impedance value.

Claims (11)

Leiterplattenverbinder mit Kontaktelementen (15) zum elektrischen Verbinden von Kontakten von zumindest zwei elektrischen Leiterplatten (1, 2), und mit die Kontaktelemente in ihrer bestimmungsgemäßen Position innerhalb des Leiterplattenverbinders (10) haltenden Haltevorrichtungen (16),
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß die Kontaktelemente (15) und die Haltevorrichtungen (16) derart ausgebildet und/oder angeordnet sind, daß durch und/oder über die Kontaktelemente auf die Haltevorrichtungen ausgeübte Kräfte einander im Bereich der Haltevorrichtung zumindest teilweise aufheben.
Printed circuit board connector with contact elements (15) for electrically connecting contacts of at least two electrical printed circuit boards (1, 2), and with holding devices (16) holding the contact elements in their intended position within the printed circuit board connector (10),
characterized by
that the contact elements (15) and the holding devices (16) are designed and / or arranged such that forces exerted on the holding devices by and / or via the contact elements at least partially cancel each other out in the region of the holding device.
Leiterplattenverbinder nach Anspruch 1,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß der Leiterplattenverbinder (10) zum elektrischen Verbinden paralleler Leiterplatten (1, 2) ausgebildet ist.
Printed circuit board connector according to claim 1,
characterized by
that the circuit board connector (10) is designed for the electrical connection of parallel circuit boards (1, 2).
Leiterplattenverbinder nach Anspruch 1 oder 2,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß die Kontakte der elektrischen Leiterplatten (1, 2) Oberflächenkontakte sind.
Printed circuit board connector according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized by
that the contacts of the electrical circuit boards (1, 2) are surface contacts.
Leiterplattenverbinder nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß die Kontaktelemente (15) durch Kanäle (14) innerhalb des Leiterplattenverbinders (10) geführte Elemente sind, wobei die Kontaktelemente und die Kanäle derart ausgebildet und bemessen sind, daß die Endabschnitte der Kontaktelemente in der Verbindungsstellung des Leiterplattenverbinders elastisch in die Kanäle zurückgedrückt sind.
Printed circuit board connector according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized by
that the contact elements (15) through channels (14) inside the printed circuit board connector (10) are elements, the contact elements and the channels being designed and dimensioned such that the end sections of the contact elements in the connecting position of the printed circuit board connector are elastically pressed back into the channels.
Leiterplattenverbinder nach Anspruch 4,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß die Kanäle (14) und die Kontaktelemente (15) einen gekrümmten Verlauf aufweisen.
Printed circuit board connector according to claim 4,
characterized by
that the channels (14) and the contact elements (15) have a curved course.
Leiterplattenverbinder nach Anspruch 4 oder 5,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß die Haltevorrichtungen (16) die Kontaktelemente (15) innerhalb der Kanäle (14) derart festlegen, daß die Kontaktelemente gegen ein Verschieben längs der Kanäle gesichert sind.
Printed circuit board connector according to claim 4 or 5,
characterized by
that the holding devices (16) fix the contact elements (15) within the channels (14) in such a way that the contact elements are secured against displacement along the channels.
Leiterplattenverbinder nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß der Leiterplattenverbinder (10) und die zu verbindenden Leiterplatten (1, 2) durch eine Schraubverbindung aneinander befestigbar sind.
Printed circuit board connector according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized by
that the circuit board connector (10) and the circuit boards to be connected (1, 2) can be fastened to one another by a screw connection.
Leiterplattenverbinder nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß das Gehäuse des Leiterplattenverbinders (10) aus mehreren Einzelteilen (11, 12, 13) besteht, die beim Zusammensetzen derselben derart aneinander führbar sind, daß damit einhergehend ein kraftfreies Einbringen der Kontaktelemente (15) in die Kanäle (14) bewerkstelligbar ist.
Printed circuit board connector according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized by
that the housing of the circuit board connector (10) consists of several individual parts (11, 12, 13), which can be guided together when assembling them in such a way that a force-free insertion of the contact elements (15) into the channels (14) can be achieved.
Leiterplattenverbinder nach Anspruch 8,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß die Einzelteile (11, 12, 13) durch einen Montagerahmen zusammenhaltbar sind.
Printed circuit board connector according to claim 8,
characterized by
that the individual parts (11, 12, 13) can be held together by a mounting frame.
Leiterplattenverbinder nach Anspruch 9,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß der Montagerahmen derart ausgebildet ist, daß er in der Verbindungsstellung des Leiterplattenverbinders (10) eine elektrische Verbindung des Gehäuses des Leiterplattenverbinders mit auf den miteinander zu verbindenden Leiterplatten (1, 2) vorgesehenen Massekontakten ermöglicht.
Printed circuit board connector according to claim 9,
characterized by
that the mounting frame is designed such that it in the connecting position of the circuit board connector (10) an electrical connection of the housing of the circuit board connector with ground contacts provided on the interconnectable circuit boards (1, 2).
Leiterplattenverbinder nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche,
dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß das Gehäuse des Leiterplattenverbinders (10) elektrisch leitend ausgebildet ist.
Printed circuit board connector according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized by
that the housing of the circuit board connector (10) is electrically conductive.
EP97101361A 1996-02-12 1997-01-29 Circuitboard connector Expired - Lifetime EP0789427B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19605099 1996-02-12
DE19605099 1996-02-12

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0789427A2 true EP0789427A2 (en) 1997-08-13
EP0789427A3 EP0789427A3 (en) 1999-12-15
EP0789427B1 EP0789427B1 (en) 2003-10-22

Family

ID=7785185

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP97101361A Expired - Lifetime EP0789427B1 (en) 1996-02-12 1997-01-29 Circuitboard connector

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US5893761A (en)
EP (1) EP0789427B1 (en)
JP (1) JP3943178B2 (en)
AT (1) ATE252773T1 (en)
CA (1) CA2197143C (en)
DE (1) DE59710871D1 (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0789427B1 (en) 2003-10-22
JP3943178B2 (en) 2007-07-11
DE59710871D1 (en) 2003-11-27
CA2197143C (en) 2004-08-10
ATE252773T1 (en) 2003-11-15
JPH09232051A (en) 1997-09-05
EP0789427A3 (en) 1999-12-15
US5893761A (en) 1999-04-13
CA2197143A1 (en) 1997-08-13

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