Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R12/00—Structural 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
  • H01R12/70—Coupling devices
  • H01R12/77—Coupling devices for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures
  • H01R12/78—Coupling devices for flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures connecting to other flexible printed circuits, flat or ribbon cables or like structures

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a connector for connecting two ribbon cables and a connector system.
• Ribbon cables find an ever broader field of application in many areas of technology, since they can be used to easily form pre-formed cable sets that can be easily and quickly installed during assembly.
• One area of application of these ribbon conductors is increasingly the automotive industry, since the use of many electronic components in the vehicle increases the resulting current flows.
• the larger one needed for a larger current flow Conductor cross-section can be adjusted for ribbon cables by the width of the conductor track.
• spring elements When connecting two ribbon conductors, spring elements are used, among other things, which are arranged in such a way that they apply the normal contact force necessary for the contact between the two ribbon conductors.
• FR-A-1 236 251 a connector for connecting two ribbon conductors is known, each ribbon conductor being fixed to a holder which has a spring element over which the ribbon conductor is stretched. With this connector, however, the stripped ribbon conductors are each open with their contact surface on their respective holder.
• 1 shows the contact resistance between two conductor tracks as a function of the applied contact normal force for a flexible ribbon conductor with a thickness of 200 ⁇ m.
• the contact resistance is constant from a contact normal force of approximately 2 N and is no longer lower. It can be concluded from this that a normal contact force of ⁇ 2 N minimizes the contact resistance between two conductor tracks.
• 2 shows the plastic deformation of conductor tracks with a thickness of 100 ⁇ m and 200 ⁇ m, which results when a test ball with a diameter of 2 mm is pressed onto the stripped bare copper conductor track with a certain test force. As can be seen from the two measurement curves shown, there is a detectable plastic deformation with a ball diameter of 2 mm only from a force of approx.
• the object of the present invention is to create a connection between two ribbon conductors which meet the above requirements of the normal contact force and which at the same time have a single have a simple and inexpensive structure and enable a simple connection between the two conductors.
• the connector for connecting two ribbon conductors has at least one spring element which applies the normal contact force required for connecting the two ribbon conductors, the spring element making contact with both ribbon conductors and establishing the electrical connection between the two ribbon conductors. Due to the fact that the spring element contacts both spring elements directly, the necessary normal contact force can be set in a simple manner by the design of the spring element.
• the spring element is firmly connected to the first ribbon conductor, for example it can be firmly soldered to the first ribbon conductor.
• the first ribbon conductor is preferably arranged on a printed circuit board, the ribbon conductor forming the conductor tracks of the circuit board.
• the plug connector can have a receptacle for a plug-in unit, on which the second ribbon conductor is fixed. This slot with the ribbon cable attached to it is in inserted the connector so that the spring element can contact the conductor tracks of the second ribbon conductor when it is inserted into the connector.
• the receptacle preferably has channels separated from one another by ribs, in each of which a spring element is arranged. With this arrangement, the spring elements used for the electrical connection can be arranged in the receptacle in a simple manner.
• the spring element preferably has a free end which is bent in the direction of insertion of the insert.
• the spring element touches the stripped contact surface of the second ribbon conductor.
• the insert in the insertion direction can have an elevation in front of the spring element, which forms a stop for the spring element.
• this increase forms a protection for the spring element in the receptacle when the insert is not inserted, since this, when the connector is arranged on the printed circuit board with the ribbon conductor, is more difficult to access from the outside and therefore cannot be bent or damaged.
• the insert again has a rib-shaped structure, into which the spring element engages and contacts the second flat ribbon conductor fixed on the insert. Due to this rib-shaped structure, the spring element is when the plug-in is inserted into the connector managed and a successful contact between the spring element and the second ribbon conductor ensured.
• the rib structure also protects the contact area of the second flat conductor from improper damage by an operator if the insert is not yet in the connector and the contact area of the second flat conductor would otherwise be freely accessible and unprotected.
• the object of the invention is further achieved by a connector system for connecting two ribbon conductors, which has a first holder on which the first ribbon conductor is fixed, a second holder on which the second ribbon conductor is fixed, which has a spring element which for the Connection of the two ribbon conductors applies the necessary normal contact force.
• the first holder has a cami structure, the first flat ribbon conductor being placed around webs of the comb structure which engage between ribs formed on the second mount and thus connect the two flat ribbon conductors to one another. This arrangement ensures a safe and simple connection of the individual conductor tracks with the necessary normal contact force.
• the at least one spring element is preferably arranged in at least one recess formed in the second holder.
• the second ribbon conductor can be arranged between the spring element arranged in the recess and the ribs, so that the spring element presses the second ribbon conductor against the ribs.
• the ribbon conductors lying around the webs of the comb structure each engage between two ribs and contact the ribbon cable, which is pressed from below by the spring element against the ribs. In this way, non-slip simple contacting of the ribbon cable is achieved.
• a conductor track of the first ribbon conductor is preferably located around each web of the cam structure, a shoulder being formed between the webs for guiding the respective conductor tracks.
• the latter In order to fix the first ribbon cable in the first holder, the latter has a transverse web running transversely to the conductor tracks and a hinge which can be folded from a pre-locking position into an end locking position and which at the same time locks the end of the ribbon cable in the end locking position.
• the stripped end of the ribbon cable can simply be placed around the webs of the comb structure and at the same time a strain relief for the cable can be achieved, which is caused by the fact that the cable is fixed between the beam and the hinge.
• a spring element is provided between two ribs of the second holder, each of which presses a conductor track of the second ribbon conductor in the direction of the first ribbon conductor placed around the webs. In this way, the optimum contact normal force is achieved for each individual conductor track.
• FIGS. 1 a and 1 b show the relationship between the contact resistance and the normal contact force when connecting two conductors and the depth of penetration of a test ball for two different conductor thicknesses as a function of the force used
• FIG. 2 shows an oblique view of a connector according to a first embodiment of the invention
• 3a and 3b show the insertion of the connector used in Fig. 2 in a pre-locking and final locking position
• FIG. 5 shows the connector system of FIG. 4 in a top view
• Fig. 6 shows a section along A-A of Fig. 5
• Fig. 7 shows a section along B-B of Fig. 5
• FIG. 8a and 8b show a holder of the connector system of FIG. 5 in an oblique view from above and obliquely below,
• FIG. 9 shows the holder from FIG. 8 without ribbon conductor
• Fig. 10 shows a section along B-B of Fig. 8b
• FIG. 11 shows a detailed view of FIG. 10, 12 shows a second holder with a ribbon conductor which is used in the connector system of FIG. 5,
• Fig. 14 shows a section along a conductor track through the holder of Fig. 12, and
• FIG. 15 shows a detailed view of FIG. 14.
• the connector 10 has a housing 14 with an opening 15 which forms a receptacle for an insert 16 (see FIGS. 3a and 3b) which can be fastened to the housing 14 of the connector 10 with a latch 17.
• the insert also has a coding 18 so that the insert is not inserted into the housing in the opposite direction.
• the insert 16 has a housing 19 made of insulating material, on the upper side of which a rib-shaped structure 20 is formed.
• the second ribbon conductor 11 is inserted with its conductor tracks 1, which are stripped at the front end, up to an end stop 22 into the housing 19 and fixed there by a holding plate 23.
• the holding plate is shown in the pre-locking position. It has locking lugs (not shown) with which it is provided on the grooves 19 in the housing 19.
• the holding plate 23 is shown in the final locking position, the conductor tracks 21 now being pressed against the rib-shaped structure 20 from below by the holding plate 23.
• the rib-shaped structure 20 at the same time forms a protection for the stripped conductor tracks, since handling by an operator does not touch the conductor tracks and can thus contaminate or damage them.
• the holding plate 23 with the housing 19 at the rear end forms a strain relief 25 for the second ribbon conductor 11.
• the insert 16 is now inserted into the housing 14 of the connector 10, one on the conductor track 26 of the first flat ribbon conductor 12 fixed spring element 27 electrically connects the first conductor 12 to the second conductor 11.
• the spring element can, for example, be soldered to the first conductor 12.
• the spring element is arranged in channels 29 of the housing 14 formed by ribs 28, the free end 30 of the spring element 27 being bent over and forming the contact surface with the flat conductor 11.
• the channel 29 designed to receive the spring element 27 is delimited at the front end by an elevation 31 which forms a stop for the spring element 27 and at the same time provides protection for the spring element when the insert 16 is not inserted.
• the necessary normal contact force can be easily adjusted by bending the spring.
• the free end 30 of the spring element 27 is normally beyond the elevation 31, so that the spring element is biased in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2.
• the spring element 27 can also have a different geometrical shape, an area of the spring element only has to protrude beyond the elevation 31 when the insert 16 is not inserted and contact the conductor tracks of the insert in the inserted state.
• FIG 4 shows an embodiment of a connector system 50 according to the invention.
• the connector system 50 connects a first ribbon conductor 51 to a second ribbon conductor 52.
• the first ribbon conductor 51 is fixed to a first holder 60
• the second ribbon conductor 52 is arranged to a second holder 80 in the housing 53 of the connector system.
• 5 shows a top view of the connector system 50.
• FIG. 6 shows a section along the line AA from FIG. 5 between two conductor tracks of the connector system.
• the first ribbon conductor 51 is placed around the first holder 60, which, as shown in FIG. 6, is inserted into the housing 53 of the connector system 50 from the left.
• the first holder 60 is shown in FIGS. 8 to 11 and has a base body 61 which has resilient arms 62 on its two sides with projections 63, with which the first holder 60 is fixed in the housing 53 of the connector system 50.
• webs 64 of a comb structure 65 are formed on the base body 61, around which the conductor is placed, as shown in FIGS. 8a and 8b.
• the webs 64 are arranged such that one conductor track of the ribbon conductor 51 can be placed around each web.
• the comb structure 65 has on its underside shoulders 66, which are designed as elongated projections, with which the conductor tracks are each guided on the webs 64.
• FIG. 10 shows a section along the line BB from FIG. 8b.
• the ribbon conductor 51 runs coming from the left between a crosspiece 67 and a cover 68 which laterally engages with the base body 61 via latching hooks (not shown).
• this cover 68 is arranged such that it can be folded over a hinge 69.
• the hinge is opened and the cover 68 is in an upper position, so that the flat ribbon conductor can be guided around the webs 64 via the transverse web 67 before the end of the flat tape conductor 51 can be fixed by a fixing element 70.
• a projection 71 of the cover 68 forms a stop which presses the fixing element 70 with the flat ribbon conductor 51 in between against the web 64 and thus firmly fixes the flat ribbon conductor in the first holder 60.
• the flat conductor 51 is stripped in the area in which it is placed around the webs 64 of the comb structure 65.
• FIG. 6 shows the section along A-A of FIG. 5 between two conductor tracks through the connector system 50.
• section B-B of FIG. 5 shows this section along a conductor track of the two ribbon conductors 51, 52.
• the conductor 51 defined by the transverse web 67 and the cover 68, which serve as strain relief, runs around the web 64 of the comb structure 65 and contacts the second ribbon conductor 52, which is placed around the second holder 80.
• the second bracket 80 is shown in FIGS. 12 to 15.
• the second holder 80 has a housing 81 which essentially corresponds to the housing 19 of the insert 16 shown in FIG. 3a.
• the housing 81 (see FIG. 13 a) has a catch 82 on its two longitudinal sides, with which it is fastened to the housing 53 of the connector system 50. It also has ribs 83 and grooves 84, into which locking shoulders 85 engage, which are formed on a base body 86 of the second holder at different heights for a pre-locking and final locking position.
• the base body 86 forms a holder for the second ribbon conductor 52, which is stripped at its front end, so that the conductor tracks 54 form the contact area.
• To guide the individual leader tracks 54 are elongated flanks on the base body 86
• the base body shown in FIG. 13 b is clicked onto the housing 81 of the housing and can be moved between a pre-locking position and an end locking position, which are defined by the different height of the locking shoulders 85 on the base body 86.
• the base body 86 has cutouts
• the spring element 90 rests on the bottom 91 of the cutout 88, is bent over and ends in a free end 93 which presses the flat strip conductor 52 against the ribs 83 from behind with its contact surface 92.
• the force with which the flat strip conductor 52 is pressed against the ribs 83 is influenced by the choice of the spring geometry and the material selection of the spring element 90.
• the spring also has a semicircular bend 94 at the free end 93, which stops the movement of the free end downward when the bend 94 rests on the lower part of the spring element.
• the webs 64 surrounded by the first ribbon conductor 51 engage between the ribs 83 of the second holder 80 and press the stripped first ribbon conductor 51 with its contact region 72 against the contact region 92 of the ribbon conductor 52, which is connected to the spring element 90 is pressed against the ribs 83.
• the second holder is preferably designed in such a way that a recess 88 with a spring element 90 is provided for each conductor track 54, the spring element 90 pressing the conductor 52 between two ribs 83.
• the present connector system provides a repeatedly releasable system in which conductor tracks of different ribbon conductors can be connected with good contact transitions in a small space.
• the second holder can be modified such that the conductor tracks of the second ribbon conductor have a different width.
• contact with a defined contact force is achieved by two simple insertion movements of the two holders.

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• Coupling Device And Connection With Printed Circuit (AREA)
• Multi-Conductor Connections (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=32115081

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

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Citations (2)

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• 2002
  • 2002-10-31 DE DE10250929A patent/DE10250929B4/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2003
  • 2003-10-30 WO PCT/EP2003/012088 patent/WO2004040700A2/de active Application Filing
  • 2003-10-30 US US10/531,336 patent/US7172455B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2003-10-30 JP JP2004547625A patent/JP2006505107A/ja active Pending
  • 2003-10-30 AU AU2003293637A patent/AU2003293637A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-10-30 CN CNA2003801025241A patent/CN1708882A/zh active Pending
  • 2003-10-30 EP EP03788983A patent/EP1559171A2/de not_active Withdrawn

Patent Citations (2)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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