EP1249895B1 - Electrical connector - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a connector.

An electrical connector often comprises two components, in particular a spring and a pin header. The pin header is also referred to as a male connector.

These components are rigid components, which are each connected in particular to a housing part or even have a housing-forming function. Therefore, the components when plugging and unplugging, ie when connecting and disconnecting, must be moved relatively close to each other. The deviation from the ideal position when connecting or when releasing the connector is sometimes limited by a guide. This guide is integrated in housing parts or the like. In manual operation of the connector, so connect or disconnect the connector by using the hand by the operator, this has to be done accordingly accurately.

Exceeding the permissible positional deviation when connecting or when releasing the connector has the consequence that plugging and pulling forces are increased, in particular due to friction. Thus, an increased abrasion of the guide elements, a deformation of the contact parts, the contact pins and / or the contact springs is effected, wherein the deformation of the contact parts can lead to the destruction of the connector.

In the prior art, the components of the connector are housed in different housing parts. If a connector is not centered, then the connector parts can be easily damaged by tilting when disconnecting or plugging the connection. This effect is all the more dangerous, the greater the distance between connected by the connector printed circuit boards.

From the U.S. 4,993,965 , which will provide as the closest prior art, a plug connection is known, comprising a first connector part which is rigidly connected to a first part, and a second connector part which is rigidly connected to a second part, wherein in electrical connection electrical connections effectively become.

The invention is therefore the object of developing a connector that is inexpensive to produce and has low wear during opening and closing.

According to the invention the object is achieved in the connector according to the features specified in claim 1.

Essential features of the invention in the connector are that it comprises a first connector part which is rigidly connected to a first part, and a second connector part which is rigidly connected to a second part, wherein the second connector part rotatable about a second pivot point mounted component, wherein during and after the merging of the two connector parts for making the connection, a first pivot point is effective, around which the first connector part is rotatable in the component, and wherein said first pivot further merging its relative position and / or its relative Distance to the first or second part changes, and wherein the further merging after the effective date of the first pivot point electrical connections between the first and second connector part are effective.

The advantage here is that a low wear during opening, so separating, and closing, so plugging, is present. The operation of the connector is improved by the partially flexible design. The components of the connector are housed in different housing parts. If the connector is not centered, the connector parts are not damaged by tilting when disconnecting or plugging the connection, since the partially flexible design with the pivot points causes a compensation of the deviations advantageous. This effect is given even at a large distance connected by the connector circuit boards.

It is also essential in the invention that one or both connector parts are rotatable and / or elastic. In conjunction with the integrally formed on the connector guides which are produced by a suitable shaping of the insulating body of the connector parts and cause catching and pre-positioning of the connector parts, these connector parts align with each other. The alignment of the connector parts is improved by their elasticity or rotatability, so that a greater positional deviation when closing and opening the connector is allowed.

Another advantage is that assembly and part tolerances are absorbed by the partially elastic design of the connector in cooperation with the first and second fulcrum. The forces that arise in the plugged state, are thus lower, whereby the material, contacts, insulators, solder joints are spared.

• Sie erlaubt eine große Abweichung der Parallelität der Leiterplatten beim Stecken und Ziehen der Leiterplatten und im gesteckten Zustand.
• Sie erlaubt einen Versatz der Federleiste und Stiftleiste in Querrichtung.
• Sie erlaubt eine Verdrehung der Federleiste und Stiftleiste rechtwinklig zur Steckrichtung

The described connector according to the invention thus has the following advantages:

• It allows a large deviation of the parallelism of the printed circuit boards during insertion and removal of the printed circuit boards and in the inserted state.
• It allows a displacement of the spring strip and pin header in the transverse direction.
• It allows a rotation of the spring strip and pin header at right angles to the direction of insertion

Thus, damage to the parts of the connector can be prevented. In addition, larger tolerances of the components involved are allowed, such as tolerances of the housing parts or circuit board and / or a positional tolerance of the components on the circuit board and mounting tolerance of the circuit board in the housing.

In particular, in addition, a floating attachment of a part of the connector is avoided, whereby the ground contact is simplified.

In a preferred embodiment, the first part and the second part are each a housing part or each rigidly connected to a housing part and / or connectable. The advantage here is that the invention is applicable to a variety of devices, such as power plugs, electronic appliances of any kind, computers, stereos, industrial electronics used devices, converters and the like. It is essential only that the first part is connected to a first housing part and the second part is connected to a second housing part. The two housing parts, for example, each moved to one another by hand. The connector is designed such that it compensates for the deviations from the ideal position when moving towards each other or Voneinanderwegbewegen and both no damage to the components occurs as well as no increased wear and / or wear.

In a preferred embodiment, the first part and the second part are each a printed circuit board. The advantage here is that the invention can be used in devices that have electronic circuits or circuit boards for cost-effective connection. In particular, in a device in which a first electronic components comprehensive circuit board and a second electronic components comprehensive circuit board are present, are prevented by deviations from the ideal position forces prevented by the invention or at least kept so small, so that the circuit boards, such as circuit boards sensitive solder joints, are protected and no destruction or damage occur.

In a preferred embodiment, one or more components made of elastic material are designed to intercept, absorb and / or compensate for positional deviations of the printed circuit boards. The advantage here is that the inventive compensation of deviations by the elastic design of components is still further improved, in particular, even larger deviations are compensated and / or trappable.

In a preferred embodiment, a first connector part which is electrically and mechanically connectable to a first circuit board as the first part, and a second connector part which is electrically and mechanically connectable with a second circuit board as the second part, wherein the first connector part is a spring bar with embedded contact springs includes, and wherein the second connector part includes a relative to the associated circuit board about a pivot rotatable guide bar as a rotatably mounted component, wherein the guide bar is rotatable relative to the spring bar about a first pivot point, which is effective only when merging the first and second connector part. The advantage here is that the fulcrum when merging is effective, so is effective even when reducing the relative distance of the housing parts and / or circuit boards.

In a preferred embodiment, the spring bar is rotatably mounted in the guide bar. The advantage here is that the rotatable mounting can be produced by suitable shaping. For example, by forming the guide rail with at its, the spring bar facing the end protruding material which cooperates with a present in the spring strip cavity for receiving the guide bar, wherein the cavity is shaped such that the protruding material is guided on it and thus during the insertion or removal of the guide rail of the pivot point is effective, in particular at different locations of the cavity. For example, a cavity having a rectangular cross section is advantageously usable.

In a preferred embodiment, the guide bar is rotatable about an axis parallel to the printed circuit boards. The advantage here is that in a cost effective manner, a second pivot point is available.

In a preferred embodiment, a pin carrier having contact pins with solder areas is connected to the second circuit board. The advantage here is that a cost-effective attachment method is usable to produce electrical connections.

In a preferred embodiment, the second connector part comprises a spring strip which is rigidly connected to a printed circuit board or a housing part and in which a pin holder comprising a contact pins can be inserted. The advantage here is that

In a preferred embodiment, the spring strip comprises contact pins which can be plugged through the associated printed circuit board into a further spring strip which is rigidly connected to a further printed circuit board, in particular an option printed circuit board. The advantage here is that even more circuit boards are electrically connected in a cost effective manner and with the advantages mentioned.

Further advantageous embodiments will be apparent from the dependent claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

pivot point

2

Contact pins with soldering areas

3

pin carrier

4

circuit board

5

guide rail

6

Female connector

7

Contact springs with soldering areas

21

Broadening of the body of the spring bar

22

Rejuvenation of the body of the spring bar

23

Chamber for spring strip in the guide frame

24

Agility pin-pen

26

Contact point spring in longitudinal direction

27

Introduction aid to spring

28

Introduction aid in the main body of the spring strip

31

Lower housing part

32

Upper housing part

33

Lateral offset of the housing parts

34

Offset of the connector

35

Angular offset of the connector

36

Angular offset, bending of the contact pins

37

Angular offset of the housing parts

41

coding

42

Fixing shoe (part for fixing the guide bar)

43

mounting hole

44

Female connector (instead of soldered male connector)

45

Female connector with spread solder terminals

46

Female connector on option PCB

47

long pins for option board

48

Option PCB

51

pivot point

52

pivot point

53

circuit board

54

Plug part, firmly connected to the printed circuit board 53

55

connecting piece

56

Plug part, firmly connected to the printed circuit board 57

57

circuit board

• In der Figur 1 ist der allgemeine Aufbau der Steckverbindung schematisch gezeigt.
• In der Figur 2a und 2b ist die Beweglichkeit bei seitlichem Abweichen der Kontaktstifte 2 mit Lötbereichen von der Ideallage gezeigt..
• In der Figur 3 sind verschiedenartige Abweichungen veranschaulicht, die das untere Gehäuseteil 31 und das obere Gehäuseteil 32 zueinander aufweisen können.
• In der Figur 4a ist ein weiteres erfindungsgemäßes Ausführungsbeispiel gezeigt, bei dem die Kontaktstifte in der Federleiste 6 Abweichungen von der Ideallage haben dürfen.
• In der Figur 4b ist ein weiteres erfindungsgemäßes Ausführungsbeispiel gezeigt, bei dem eine Optionsleiterplatte anschließbar ist.
• Figur 5a, 5b und 5c zeigen das allgemeinere Prinzip der Erfindung, gemäß dem der Fachmann weitere Ausführungsbeispiele herstellen kann.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to figures:

• In the FIG. 1 the general structure of the connector is shown schematically.
• In the FIG. 2a and 2 B the mobility is shown at lateral deviation of the contact pins 2 with soldering areas of the ideal position.
• In the FIG. 3 various deviations are illustrated, which may have the lower housing part 31 and the upper housing part 32 to each other.
• In the FIG. 4a another embodiment of the invention is shown, in which the pins in the spring strip 6 may have deviations from the ideal position.
• In the FIG. 4b a further embodiment of the invention is shown, in which an option board is connectable.
• FIGS. 5a, 5b and 5c show the more general principle of the invention, according to which the skilled person can produce further embodiments.

In the FIG. 5a comprises the connector according to the invention as the first connector part, the plug part 54 which is rigidly connected to the circuit board 53, and the second connector part, the plug part 56 which is rigidly connected to a circuit board 57. The second connector part, so plug part 56th

When and after the merge of the connector, so when moving toward each other of the circuit board 53 and circuit board 57, the plug member 56 comes into contact with an intermediate piece 55, the pivot point 52 is effective, by the corresponding shape of the male part 56 and the associated cavity of the intermediate piece 55th is formed. Relative to each other plug part 56 and intermediate piece 55 are rotatable. This rotation is present during the further movement toward each other, so the fulcrum 52 is slidable in position, in particular its distance to the circuit board 53 decreases when moving toward each other.

The intermediate piece is rotatably mounted in the plug part 54. The distance of the fulcrum 1 to the circuit board 53 when moving toward each other remains constant.

By the two fulcrums 51 and 52 and a translational offset, especially in parallel to the planes of the circuit board direction, trappable, as in the FIG. 5b shown. Pure twists are of course also trappable, as in the FIG. 5c shown.

The electrical connections are in the FIGS. 5a to 5c Not shown. Contact pins or - sockets are in a simple manner, for example according to the embodiments according to Figure 1 to 4 executable.

According to FIG. 5 Thus, the invention encompasses plug connections which have two pivot points, namely pivot point 1 and pivot point 2. The advantage can be seen in the effect of translatory and / or rotational offset, as in FIG FIG. 5b and FIG. 5c is shown.

In the FIG. 1 the general structure of the connector according to the invention is shown schematically. In the left half is a transverse view and in the right half a side view is shown.

The task of the connector is to create electrical connections between two circuit boards 4. Each of these printed circuit boards 4 is mounted in a housing part respectively. When connecting the housing parts, the plug connection should be closed. Since the operator guides the housing parts by hand, deviations of the housing parts from the ideal position are present. These deviations are intercepted by the partially flexible construction of the connector.

In a pin carrier 3 contact pins 2 are pressed with soldering areas, which are inserted into the lower circuit board 4 and soldered. The guide strip 5 is mounted via a pivot point in the pin carrier 3.

In the upper circuit board 4 contact springs 7 are introduced with soldering areas and soldered. The contact springs 7 with soldering areas are embedded in the spring strip 6.

When closing, so plugging, the contact pins 2 are introduced with soldering areas in the contact springs 7 and then give the electrical contact.

In the FIG. 2a and 2 B the mobility is shown at lateral deviation of the contact pins 2 with soldering areas of the ideal position. The broadening 21 of the main body of the spring strip is used for positioning in the guide rail.

The taper 22 of the main body of the spring bar creates a mobility for the spring bar in the guide rail. The chamber 23 for spring bar in the guide bar creates a space for mobility of the spring bar. The mobility of the contact pins 2 with soldering areas is indicated by the reference numeral 24. The contact point 26 of the spring in the longitudinal direction
makes the electrical contact. The insertion aid 27 of the spring and the insertion aid 28 in the main body of the spring strip expand the permissible range for deviations from the ideal position.

The contact spring and the interior of the spring bar are designed so that the ends of the contact pins have room for a transverse movement.
The contact spring of the spring strip is shaped so that the contact surfaces are arranged to the contact pin of the pin header in the longitudinal direction. The contact springs must absorb no forces in the transverse movement

In the FIG. 3 various deviations are illustrated, which may have the lower housing part 31 and the upper housing part 32 to each other.

In the left half of the FIG. 3 a translational offset 33, 34 of the connector and the lateral housing wall 33 is shown leading to a bend 36 of the contact pins. In the right half of the FIG. 3 is an angular offset 35 of the connector and an angular offset 37 of the housing parts shown, which leads to a rotation of the spring bar and the contact springs relative to the guide rail.

In the FIG. 4a another embodiment of the invention is shown, in which the pins in the spring strip 6 may have deviations from the ideal position. Then the spring bar 6 rotates according to FIG. 2b , The contact pins lead at its other end in the spring bar 44, which is soldered firmly into the lower circuit board. At an offset 34 and a rotation 35 according to FIG. 3 arises in the spring bar 44 of FIG. 4a turn a rotation of the pins analogous to that in the FIG. 2a shown.

In the spring bar 44, the pin carrier 3 is inserted with contact pins. The guide strip 5 is mounted on a pivot bearing in the mounting shoe 42, which includes the mounting hole 43 for a mounting screw, which fixes the mounting shoe on the circuit board and also fastened fastening shoe and circuit board in the housing part.
The coding 41 encodes different variants of the series of devices, such as converters, and prevents incorrect insertion and represents a reverse polarity protection

In the FIG. 4b a further embodiment of the invention is shown, in which an option board is connectable. The spring strip 45 with spread solder terminals allows the use of long pins 47 for connection to an option board 48. In this case, the option board 48 again carries a spring strip 46th

It is essential in the invention that one or both connector parts are rotatable and / or elastic. In conjunction with the integrally formed on the connector guides which are produced by a suitable shaping of the insulating body of the connector parts and cause catching and pre-positioning of the connector parts, these connector parts align with each other. The alignment of the connector parts improves by their elasticity or rotation, so that a larger positional deviation when closing, so plugging, and opening, so disconnecting, the connector is allowed.

Another advantage is that assembly and part tolerances are absorbed by the partially elastic design of the connector in cooperation with the first and second fulcrum. The forces that arise in the plugged state, are thus lower, whereby the material, contacts, insulators, solder joints are spared.

1. 1. Es erlaubt eine große Abweichung der Parallelität in der Leiterplatten, beim Stecken und Ziehen der Leiterplatten und im gestecktem Zustand.
2. 2. Es erlaubt einen Versatz der Federleiste und Stiftleiste in Querrichtung.
3. 3. Es erlaubt eine Verdrehung der Federleiste und Stiftleiste rechtwinklig zur Steckrichtung

The system described has the following advantages:

1. 1. It allows a large deviation of the parallelism in the circuit boards, when plugging and unplugging the circuit boards and in the plugged state.
2. 2. It allows a displacement of the spring bar and pin header in the transverse direction.
3. 3. It allows a rotation of the spring strip and pin header perpendicular to the direction of insertion

Thus, damage to the parts of the connector can be prevented. In addition, larger tolerances of the components involved are allowed, such as tolerances of the housing parts or circuit board and / or a positional tolerance of the components on the circuit board and mounting tolerance of the circuit board in the housing.

In particular, in addition, a floating attachment of a part of the connector is avoided, whereby the ground contact is simplified.

Claims (10)

1. A plug-and-socket connection,
   comprising a first plug-and-socket connector part, which is rigidly connected to a first part, and a second plug-and-socket connector part, which is rigidly connected to a second part,
   the first plug-and-socket connector part comprising a female multipoint connector (6) with embedded resilient contact elements (7),
   the second plug-and-socket connector part comprising a component which is rotatably mounted about a second pivot (1,51), which component is provided as a guide bar (5) in which contact pins (2) are provided,
   with a first pivot (52) becoming effective upon and after bringing together the two plug-and-socket connector parts to produce the connection, about which pivot the first plug-and-socket connector part is rotatable in the component, and this first pivot, upon further bringing together, changing its position and/or its distance relative to the first or second part,
   and with an electrical connection between each contact pin (2) and the respective resilient contact element (7) associated therewith becoming effective upon further bringing together after the first pivot (52) has become effective.
2. A plug-and-socket connection according to Claim 1, characterised in that the first part and the second part is in each case a housing part or in each case is rigidly connected and/or connectable to a housing part.
3. A plug-and-socket connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first part and the second part are each a printed circuit board (4).
4. A plug-and-socket connection according to Claim 3, characterised in that one or more components are made of elastic material to offset, take up and/or compensate for positional deviations of the printed circuit boards.
5. A plug-and-socket connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a first plug-and-socket connector part, which can be connected electrically and mechanically to a first printed circuit board as first part, and a second plug-and-socket connector part, which can be connected electrically and mechanically to a second printed circuit board as second part,
   the first plug-and-socket connector part comprising a female multipoint connector (6) with embedded resilient contact elements (7),
   and the second plug-and-socket connector part comprising as rotatably mounted component a guide bar (5) which is rotatable relative to the associated printed circuit board about a pivot (1),
   the guide bar (5) being designed to be rotatable relative to the female multipoint connector (6) about a first pivot which does not become effective until the first and second plug-and-socket connector parts are brought together [sic].
6. A plug-and-socket connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the female multipoint connector (6) is rotatably mounted in the guide bar (5).
7. A plug-and-socket connection according to one of Claims 3 to 6, characterised in that the guide bar (5) is rotatable about an axis parallel to the printed circuit boards.
8. A plug-and-socket connection according to one of Claims 3 to 7, characterised in that a pin holder with contact pins (2) with areas of solder is connected to the second printed circuit board.
9. A plug-and-socket connection according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the second plug-and-socket connector part comprises a female multipoint connector (44) which is rigidly connected to a printed circuit board or a housing part and in which a pin holder (3) comprising contact pins can be inserted.
10. A plug-and-socket connection according to one of Claims 3 to 9, characterised in that the female multipoint connector (44) comprises contact pins which can be inserted through the printed circuit board into a further female multipoint connector (46) which is rigidly connected to a further printed circuit board (48), in particular an extra printed circuit board.

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