EP1595311A1

EP1595311A1 - Plug-in connector

Info

Publication number: EP1595311A1
Application number: EP03788780A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Michael Jahn; Georg Käufl
Original assignee: Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbH
Current assignee: Conti Temic Microelectronic GmbH
Priority date: 2003-02-21
Filing date: 2003-11-06
Publication date: 2005-11-16
Anticipated expiration: 2023-11-06
Also published as: DE50303263D1; EP1595311B1; US20070015383A1; AU2003292959A1; WO2004077624A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a plug-in connector comprising a plug and a socket with a housing for connecting conduits to a consumer, preferably to an electronic regulator or controller of a motor vehicle, the contacts of the plug being brought into contact with the connection contacts of the socket. The aim of the invention is to achieve a compact construction, reducing space requirements. To achieve this, several individual plugs are interconnected to form a plug group and the socket is configured in such a way that the individual plugs that are inserted into the plug housing form a modular plug group comprising at least two individual plugs arranged in a row. The intermediate walls between individual plugs thus become superfluous and a specific insertion and removal sequence of individual plugs is defined.

Description

connector

The invention relates to a plug connection, consisting of a plug and a plug receptacle with a basket, for connecting lines to one

Consumer, preferably to an electronic controller or an electronic control system of a motor vehicle, the contacts of the plug being brought into engagement with the connection contacts of the plug receptacle.

The invention relates to a connector consisting essentially of a plug and a plug receptacle for connecting a cable, which may contain at least a plurality of signal lines and possibly also power supply lines, to a consumer, the contacts of the plug with the contacts of the plug receptacle in Are intervention.

Connectors are known for example from EP-A 592212 and JP-A-9102362. If, for example, the plug connector is part of a door control unit of a motor vehicle that is to be accommodated in the door of the motor vehicle, it is absolutely necessary to adapt the plug connection and thus the control unit to the space requirement of the door interior, and thus the plug connection to be of a small size in accordance with the narrow space conditions prevailing in the door interior train. The plug of the plug connection and the plug basket or plug collar should be designed with regard to the number of contacts required in such a way that they match the different equipment variants, such as electrically adjustable and / or heatable exterior mirrors, central locking, lighting variants and the like. of a motor vehicle can be easily adapted, are inexpensive and yet ensure a maintenance-free connection over the life of the motor vehicle in the high loads that are exposed in a motor vehicle. The invention is therefore based on the object of designing a plug connection of this type in such a way that it has a small space requirement and a high, scalable individual plug connection with its own flexibility, while maintaining the compact, with a relatively simple, yet robust construction and high mechanical resilience and resistance to continuous use Design of large multi-pin connectors. In addition, it should be an easily lockable and detachable connector in order to minimize the assembly effort during the manufacture of the vehicle and during maintenance.

It has been shown that this object can be achieved by the connector described in claim 1, the special feature of which is that

Plug receptacle is designed such that when individual plugs are inserted into the plug basket, a modular group of plugs is assembled with at least two individual plugs arranged in a row

The plug connection consisting of the plug and the plug basket is particularly advantageously used in a door control unit of a vehicle.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are part of the further claims.

In order to achieve a compact, space-saving design of a large multipole connection, the plug connection is advantageously designed such that the individual plugs each have a connecting unit which connects the single plug to the

Connects the back of the other single connector. It is advantageous that the connection is non-positive and / or positive. Here, the connection unit has a lock which, when individual plugs are inserted into the plug basket, engages with a catch in the rear wall of the other individual plug via an elastic element.

For simple disassembly of the connector group, it is advantageously provided that the connection unit has an unlocking device which, when the elastic element is withdrawn, removes the catch from the rear wall of the respective other individual connector. To demonstrate the plug and thus "find" the contacts, it is provided that each individual plug has a guide and coding bridge which engages with a correspondingly profiled component in the plug basket and which guides the assembly of the components when the individual plug and plug receptacle are plugged together. The coding ensures installation protection against a single plug rotated by 180 degrees, since the rib is arranged eccentrically and possibly on one side of the single plug in relation to its center. The position of the contacts is independent of the number of contact types used and enables a high degree of flexibility in the printed circuit boards used in the door control unit. The adaptation of the footprint on the circuit board to the customer-specific plug-in systems currently used with different grid / row waste can be easily standardized.

The individual plugs can advantageously be connected to form a compact, multi-pole plug group for connecting lines to a consumer, it being advantageously provided that the plug group is composed of modular individual plugs in such a way that at least two individual plugs arranged in a row form a plug group. Everyone advantageously has

Single connector on a guide and coding bridge.

Individual plugs are advantageously designed in such a way that they have a connecting unit with a locking and unlocking unit, which has an elastic element with a catch, and the elastic element is fastened to a side of the single plug facing the contacts and on which the contacts are turned away. the side of the single plug is freely movable.

A reduction in the space requirement is advantageously achieved in that the connector basket has no intermediate walls in the connection area of the individual connectors. In the connector basket, receptacles for guide and coding webs are advantageously provided, which guide the assembly of the components when individual plugs and connector receptacles are put together

An embodiment is shown in the drawing and will be described in more detail below. Show it

Fig. 1 is a simplified perspective view of a connector with connector basket and inserted individual plugs

Fig. 2 shows a section through a plug basket with the individual plugs

Fig. 2a detailed view of a corresponding single plug

Fig. 3 top view of a door control with inserted plugs

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a door control with a plug basket. Fig. 5 is a perspective top view of a section in the plug basket with individual plugs that have side locks

6 functional diagram for the arrangement according to FIG. 5

7 is an exploded view for a detailed view of an embodiment according to FIG. 5 The exemplary embodiments of the plug connection according to the invention shown below in the figures are used in particular in applications with space problems, for example for electronic control of a motor vehicle, the door control unit is used and the units to be controlled, such as central locking, exterior mirrors, lighting and the like ., electrically connected. Such a plug connection must be designed to be particularly space-saving and robust when the electronic control is in the door of the vehicle.

If the same reference numerals are used, this means the same type of parts, the same reference numerals with different indices refer to parts of the same type on the respective individual plugs.

The size of the connector depends on the system and can be flexibly adapted to the requirements of a motor vehicle, for example as a 26-pin and 47-pin connector with 2 to 10-pin individual connectors. The structure according to the invention is of course also suitable for other sizes. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a plug constructed modularly from a plurality of individual plugs 10, 11, 12 and inserted into the plug basket 15.

The connector basket or connector collar 15 shown is part of a connector receptacle. The plug collar 15 sits on or, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, in a control housing 30 and can be produced together with it, e.g. be injected; the use of a preform or equivalent prefabricated

Insert is also possible.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the connector basket contains transverse guide grooves 16 which, together with the guide and coding ribs 13 of the connectors 10, 11, 12, perform the following functions: Demonstration of the individual connector 10, 11 or 12:

The overall height of the guide grooves 16, 16.1 16.2 ensures that when the individual plugs 10, 11, 12 are assembled, the guide ribs 13, 13.1, 13.2 of each individual plug first immerse in the guide grooves. This creates a more accurate demonstration; finding the contacts of the plug connector - plug and plug receptacle - is made easier. There is a shorter "tolerance chain" than with corresponding plugs without such guide ribs. Encoding:

By arranging guide ribs arranged off-center, they also perform a coding function. Installation protection is achieved against a single connector 10, 11, 12 rotated by 180 degrees, since the ribs 13 are arranged eccentrically in relation to the longitudinal direction of the individual connectors 10, 11, 12. The individual plugs 10, 11, 12 are arranged essentially in a form-fitting manner in the plug basket 15 and have an elastic, essentially flat operating element 14, which on the side 17 facing away from the contacts (cf. No. 101 in FIG. 2 and FIG. 7) protrudes from the front 18 of the individual plug and is connected to the front of the individual plug 10, 11, 12 on the side 22 facing the contacts. The elastic control element 14, 14.1, 14.2 has a control surface 19 which projects partially above the individual plugs and on which the elastic control element 14 can be moved in the direction of the front 18 of the individual plugs 10, 11, 12. Lateral guide elements 9 are assigned to each elastic control element 14 with the control surfaces 19. The guide elements 9 cover the elastic control elements 14, 14.1, 14.2 on the left and right sides and thus protect it from breaking off. The operating surfaces 19 are supported in the one shown in FIG. 1 by the guide elements 9 and are limited in their end positions by means of stops 8.

On the elastic control elements 14, in the area in which the individual plugs are located in the plug basket 15, locking elements 20, e.g. formed as "latching lugs", which engage each plug 10, 11, 12 in the plug basket 15 in correspondingly profiled recesses 23 on the back 21 of each individual plug or recesses 24 of the plug basket 15 and thus form a compact multi-pin plug group.

Figures 1, 2 and 2a illustrate the concept according to the invention, according to which the individual connectors 10, 11 and 12 combined to form the modular connector group 4 are connected to one another, specifically via the first connecting unit consisting of a locking element 20.1 on the individual connector 11 with engagement in the recess 23 on the single plug 10. The first single plug of a modular plug, for example No. 10, engages with its locking element 20 in a corresponding recess 24 on the plug basket 15.

Thanks to the elastic control elements 14, which can also be understood as front rockers, the locking between the locking lugs 20 can be made via the control surfaces 19 and the recesses 23, 24 are also removed again and the individual plugs are also removed again.

The exemplary embodiment sketched in FIG. 1 also uses the stops 8 of the guide elements 9 to specify the order of insertion and removal of the individual plugs by the stops 8 engaging in recesses 7 of the respective previous plug, for example stop 8.11 in recess 7.10.

This results in a plug-in sequence of the individual plugs 10, then 11, then 12. The removal can either take place as a modular plug group 4 consisting of the individual plugs 10, 11, 12 completely in one piece, in which the foremost connection unit to the plug basket on the operating element 14.10 15 is opened or the individual plugs are successively removed in reverse order, i.e. starting with the single plug 12.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, according to a further advantageous embodiment of the plug connection, the individual plugs 10, 11, 12 have elastic elements, such as rockers 40, 41 and 42, 43, on the rear in addition to the front operating elements 14 each individual plug are arranged so that they engage laterally, ie perpendicularly to the plugs arranged in series, from each individual plug to the outside in the side wall 45 of the plug basket 15. Between the right wing, e.g. 40 and the left rocker, e.g. 41 on the back of the first connector 1 there preferably remains a space for the central elastic control element 14.2 with the guide elements 9.2 of the subsequent individual connector, e.g. . The rockers 40 to 43 have locking elements 44, which are assigned corresponding recesses 46 in the connector basket. Of course, other forms of training of the locking elements are possible.

When the second individual plug 2 is inserted (see FIGS. 5 to 7), the lateral “rockers”, for example 40, 41 of the “first” individual plug 1, for example, are blocked by means of the guide elements 9.2 of the “second” individual plug 2. When the middle lock 14.1 or Locking of the single plug 1, the two side locks 40, 41 are still blocked in the plug basket 15. The multi-pin plug group can therefore only be unlocked in a predetermined sequence. The last plugged in, for example in FIG. 5 single plug 2, can be actuated of the control element 19 in the direction of the front side 18, whereby the locking element 20.2 is withdrawn from the recess 23.1 on the connector 1, detached from the previous single connector 1 become. The two side rockers 42, 43 with their locking elements 44 can be withdrawn from the walls 45 of the connector basket 15, since these are not locked.

In addition, a locking wedge 47 could be inserted between the last individual connector, e.g. 2 in FIG. 6 and the connector basket 15 and thus also its lateral oscillation

43.44 can be locked. An operating surface for removal is preferably provided on such a locking wedge 47.

The individual plugs in the figures can be found in the plug basket, which leads to good reusability of the individual plugs. The individual plugs locked in this way do not require any partition walls in the plug basket 15, which leads to a compact design while maintaining a scalable plug. FIG. 4 shows a door control device 30 for a vehicle, in which the connector basket 15 is inserted into the control housing without intermediate walls for the individual connectors 10, 11, 12. Figure 3 shows a door control device for a vehicle, in which in the connector basket 15 without partitions locked into a multi-pin connector group, e.g. four individual plugs 31, 32, 33, 34 are inserted in series. When inserted, the locking takes place automatically due to the non-positive locking of the locking elements 20.X, which is caused by the elastic element 14.X. As shown in FIG. 3, the modular construction of a plug from individual plugs 32 to 34 with the same dimensions or, as shown with the single plug 31, with different dimensions.

In Figure 7, the electrical components of the plug connection have been sketchily added. In this exemplary embodiment, metallic sleeves 123 are formed in the plugs in openings 124, which act as plug sockets for corresponding pins 101, 102, the pins 101, 102 being fastened in a corresponding opening 153 on a printed circuit board 100 located inside the housing are electrically connected to conductor tracks. The metallic sleeves 123 of the plugs are connected to connection cables 125. Of course, the electrical connections are only to be understood as examples here and can be varied as desired, in particular the assignment of sleeves and pins to the plug or housing can be exchanged. LIST OF REFERENCES

1, 2, 10, 11, 12, 31, 32, 33, 34 single plug

3.4 Plugs modularly composed of individual plugs

5.6 individual plugs

5 7 Cut-out on the back of the single plug for the stops of the adjacent single plug

8 stops on the guide elements to determine the order of insertion

9 guide elements on the basket

13 Guiding and coding ribs of the connector 0 14 flat operating element on the connector

15 plug basket for plug receptacle

16 guide grooves in the connector basket

17 top of the plug facing away from the contacts

18 Front of the single plug 5 19 Control surface of the controls 14

20 locking elements on the controls 14

21 Back of the single plug

22 the bottom of the connector facing the contacts in the connector basket

23 profiled recesses on the back of the single plug for receiving 0 of the locking element 20 of the subsequent single plug

24 recesses on the connector basket for receiving the locking element 20 of the foremost single connector of a modular connector group

25 elastic connection between individual plug and control element 14

26 dividers for dividing the connector receptacle into several parts 5 30 control housing / door control unit

40, 41, 42, 43 rockers as side elements on the individual plugs

44 locking elements of the swing arms 40 to 43

45 walls of the plug basket 15

46 Cutouts on the wall 45 for the locking elements 44 0 47 Locking wedge for lateral swinging of the last connector

100 electrical circuit board inside the case

101, 102 electrical connection pins that protrude through the connector basket

123 electrical contact sleeve in the plug

124 Opening in the connector for the contact sleeve 123 5 125 Connection tracks on the connector

153 openings in the printed circuit board 100 for the connection pins 101, 102

Claims

claims

1. Plug connection, consisting of a plug and a plug receptacle with a basket (15), for connecting lines to a consumer, preferably to an electronic controller or an electronic control of a motor vehicle, the contacts of the plug (123) with the connection contacts ( 101, 102) of the plug receptacle can be brought into engagement, characterized in that a) a plug group (3, 4) composed of a plurality of individual plugs (1, 2, 10, 11, 12, 31-34) is provided, and b) the plug receptacle is designed so that when the individual plugs are inserted into the plug basket (15), the individual plugs are combined to form a plug group with at least two individual plugs (1, 2, 10, 11, 12, 31-34) arranged in a row.

2. Plug connection according to claim 1, characterized in that between at least two individual plugs (1-2,10-11, 11-12) a connection unit is provided, which the front (18) of a single plug (2,12) with the back (21) of the other single plug (1, 11) connects.

3. Plug connection according to claim 2, characterized in that the connecting unit has a lock which, when individual plugs (1, 2, 10, 11, 12, 31-34) are inserted into the plug basket (15), each with a catch (20). engages in the rear wall of the other individual connector or the connector basket (15).

4. Plug connection according to claim 3, characterized in that the lock has an unlocking by the catch is connected to an operable control element (14) and by means of the control element (14) the catch from the rear wall of the other individual plug or the plug basket (15 ) is removable.

5. Plug connection according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least one single plug (1, 2,10-12,31-34) has two lateral connection units (40-43) which the single plug (1, 2,10 -12.31-34) with the connector basket (15).

6. Plug connection according to claim 5, characterized in that at the

Individual plugs are provided so that the individual plugs a) can only be inserted into the plug basket in a predetermined order and only b1) can be removed together in the opposite order and / or b2) as a plug group.

7. Plug connection according to claim 6 in connection with claim 5, characterized in that on at least a first single plug (1, Fig. 6) the lateral connection units (40, 41 - Fig. 6) and a second single plug form (9.2) it is provided that the lateral connection units (40, 41) are plugged into the first single plug (1)

Locked state, so that the first single connector (1) can only be removed after removing the second single connector (2).

8. Plug connection according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that each individual plug (1, 2, 10-12, 31-34) has a guide and coding web (13), which with a correspondingly profiled component (16th ) in the

Plug basket (15) comes into engagement and which, when the individual plug (1, 2, 10, 12, 31-34) and plug receptacle are put together, leads to the assembly of the components.

9. Multi-pin connector group for connecting cables to a consumer, preferably to an electronic controller or an electronic one

Control of a motor vehicle, characterized in that the connector group (3, 4) is composed of modular individual connectors (10-12, 31-34) in such a way that at least two individual connectors (1, 2, 10-12, 31 -34) form a connector group.

10. Single plug for a plug connection according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: on the front (18) of the plug (1, 2) at least a first connection unit (14) is provided with a locking and unlocking unit, which has an operable, elastic control element (14) with a catch (20), the control element (14) being attached (25) to the underside (22) of the individual plug on an underside (22) facing the contacts (101, 102) and on the contacts (101, 102) facing away from the top (17) of the individual plug and can be connected to the back (21) of a further individual plug (1) or the plug basket and at least one second connection unit with a locking and unlocking unit is provided on the back has a laterally elastic element (40-43) with a catch (44) which connects the single plug to the side wall (45) of the plug basket (15).

11. Plug receptacle with basket for a plug connection according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the plug basket (15) has no intermediate walls in the connection area of the individual plug (10-12, 31-34) which can be assembled into a modular plug group.

12. Connector receptacle according to claim 11, characterized in that in the connector basket there are recesses (24) for the catches (20) of the operating element (14) of the first individual connector (1, 10) of the modularly assembled connector group and recesses (46 ) for the catches (44) on the side connecting units (41-43).

13. Plug receptacle according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that receptacles for guide and coding webs (13) are provided in the plug basket (15), when plugging together individual plugs (1, 2, 10-12, 31- 34) and plug receptacle lead the assembly of the components, with only exactly one single connector at one position and this can only be inserted in exactly one orientation to the connector basket.

14. Door control device for a motor vehicle, characterized by a plug connection with a plug and a plug receptacle according to one of claims 1 to 13.