EP2076943A1

EP2076943A1 - Xlr cable connector

Info

Publication number: EP2076943A1
Application number: EP07800170A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Oliver Dobler
Original assignee: Neutrik AG
Current assignee: Neutrik AG
Priority date: 2006-10-09
Filing date: 2007-09-07
Publication date: 2009-07-08
Anticipated expiration: 2027-09-07
Also published as: CN101523670A; CN101523670B; US20090186503A1; ATE449440T1; AU2007306960B2; DE102006048014A1; WO2008043115A1; ES2336721T3; DE502007002085D1; US7857643B2; EP2076943B1; AU2007306960A1

Abstract

The XLR cable connector comprises a sliding element, by means of whose displacement between a retracted and an advanced end position, the XLR cable connector can be converted between a plug and a socket, and that has a first, a second, a third, and a fourth channel, a first, a second, and a third contact pin that are received by the first, second, and third channel of the sliding element, whereby in the retracted position of the sliding element, these contact pins project from the plug-in-side front face of the sliding element, and in the advanced end position of the sliding element, these contact pins are retracted into the channels of the sliding element.

Description

XLR cable connector

The invention relates to an XLR cable connector.

XLR connectors for the production of electrical connectors, in particular for the transmission of audio signals, are known and are offered by different manufacturers. In the case of connectors, a distinction is generally made between plugs (male) which have contact pins as plastic contact elements, and plug sockets (female) which have contact sockets into which the contact pins of a plug can be inserted. Furthermore, a distinction is made in connectors between cable connectors, also called free connectors, which are used for attachment to an electrical cable, and device connectors that can be installed in an electronic device and are also referred to as chassis or built-in connector. Both cable connectors and device connectors can be designed as a plug or as sockets. For XLR connectors, all of these are known. XLR cable connectors designed as plugs can be plugged together with XLR plug connectors designed as plug sockets or with XLR cable plug connectors designed as plug sockets. As plug sockets formed XLR cable connectors can be plugged together with designed as a plug XLR cable connectors and connector designed as XLR Gerätesteckverbindem.

XLR connectors are standardized in the standard I EC 61076-2-103. In addition to 3-pin XLR connectors, XLR connectors with other numbers of poles, in particular 4-7 poles, are also known

In practice, the problem may arise that two XLR connectors designed as plugs or two XLR plug connectors designed as plug sockets are to be connected to one another. For this purpose, as "gender changer" designated adapter available, which can be plugged onto the corresponding connector. The disadvantage here is that they are separate parts, each of which must be obtained and can be lost.

The object of the invention is to provide an XLR cable connector, which increases the flexibility in the production of XLR connectors. This is achieved by an XLR cable connector according to the invention with the features of claim 1.

An inventive XLR cable connector is thus convertible between a three-pin plug (male) and a three-pin socket (female) by a sliding member between a retracted and a forward end position is moved. In the retracted end position of the sliding part of the XLR cable connector represents a plug, wherein the contact pins for plugging into a plug socket as ausgebil- The XLR connector protrudes from the channels of the sliding part. In the advanced end position, the XLR cable connector forms a female connector. The pins are here in the

Retracted channels of the sliding part, wherein two of these contact pins receiving channels together with arranged in these channels socket contacts serve as contact sockets of the socket. In addition, the displacement part has a further channel with a socket contact arranged therein, which forms the third contact socket of the socket. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, in this further channel, a connection pin lying parallel to the contact pins but shorter in length than the connection pin, which serves for making electrical contact with the socket contact arranged in this channel.

The displacement part is preferably mounted displaceably in a part of the plug housing forming sleeve part between its end positions. Here, the sliding part is advantageously mechanically connected by an opening in the sleeve part extending in the direction of displacement of the sliding part with a control panel, by means of which the displacement of the sliding part takes place. For example, the control unit is designed in the form of a sleeve surrounding the sleeve part.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the displacement part is locked at least in its extended end position, preferably in its retracted end position relative to the sleeve part.

If in the context of this document from the front and back is mentioned, this is related to the one-sided end of the connector, i. a further forward part is closer to the insertion side end than a further backward part.

Further advantages and details of the invention are explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 and 2 are oblique views of an XLR cable connector according to the invention in the advanced end position of the sliding part together with a conventional XLR connector designed in the form of a chassis connector; 3 and 4 are oblique views similar to FIGS. 3 and 4 of the XLR cable connector according to the

Invention in the retracted end position of the sliding part together with a conventional XLR shaped in the form of a chassis connector socket

connector;

Fig. 5 the XLR cable connector according to the invention in the retracted end position of the sliding part with respect to Figures 3 and 4 rotated by 180 ° about its longitudinal axis. Fig. 6 is an end view of the XLR cable connector of the invention

Insertion side;

7 shows a cross section along the line AA of FIG. 8, rotated by 180 ° about the longitudinal axis. 8 and 9 are sections along the line BB of Figure 6, rotated by 180 ° about the longitudinal axis, in the two end positions of the sliding part ..;

10 and 11 are sections along the line CC of Figure 6 in the two end positions of the sliding part ..; Fig. 12 is an oblique view of the XLR cable connector according to the invention, ^' wherein parts of the

Connector are shown exploded exploded; 13 is an oblique view of the sliding part with the sleeve-shaped socket contacts pulled out;

14 shows an oblique view of the contact pin carrier with the contact pins pulled out.

The XLR cable connector according to the invention according to the embodiment shown in FIGS has a in a sleeve part 1 parallel to the longitudinal axis 28 of the XLR cable connector or the sleeve part 1 slidably mounted sliding part 2. The displacement part 2 made of electrically insulating material has a first, a second, a third and a fourth channel 3 - 6, which extend parallel to the longitudinal axis 28 of the XLR cable connector. At the plug-in end face 7 of the sliding part 2, these channels 3 - 6 open at the corners of an imaginary rhombus, as can be seen from the frontal view of FIG. 6. In this case, the first and second channels 3, 4 open at diagonally opposite corner points, and the third and fourth channels 5, 6 terminate at the two other diagonally opposite corner points. The channels 3 - 6 pass through the sliding part 2, thus form through holes through the sliding part 2 and enforce this from its side facing away from the Einsteckseite end 8 to the insertion side end side. 7

The first, second and third channels 3, 4, 5 receive a first, a second and a third contact pin 9, 10, 11. In the retracted end position of the sliding part 2 (FIGS. 3 to 5, 9, 11), the contact pins 9, 10, 11 lying parallel to the longitudinal axis 28 of the XLR cable connector protrude from the channels 3, 4, 5 in the pushed-out end position of the sliding part 2 (Fig. 1, 2, 8, 10), the contact pins 9, 10, 11, however, in the Kanä- Ie 3, 4, 5 withdrawn, with insertion side of the insertion ends 12 of the contact pins 9, 10, 11 free Sections of the channels 3, 4, 5 are located. In this advanced end position of the sliding part protrudes a portion of the sliding part 2 from the male side end of the sleeve part 1 out.

In the retracted end position of the sliding part 2, a portion of the sleeve part 1 projects beyond the insertion-side end of the sliding part 2. This insertion-side end portion of the sleeve part 1 surrounds the sections of the contact pins 9, 10, 11 projecting from the channels 3, 4, 5.

The contact pins 9, 10, 11 are held by a contact pin carrier 13 which is inserted into the sleeve part 1. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the sleeve part 1, which here consists of a conductive material, in particular metal, and the contact pin carrier 13, which consists of an electrically insulating material, are separate parts. in principle These two parts could also be integrally formed, for example, from an electrically insulating plastic, which may be provided in the region of the sleeve part with a metal coating, when a shielding conductor to be connected.

The sleeve part 1 forms part of a plug housing, which in the embodiment shown further comprises a rear housing part 14 which can be connected to the sleeve part 1. For example, the two parts can be screwed together as shown via an internal thread on one part and an external thread on the other part. The rear housing part 14 can accommodate a cable strain relief device designed in particular in the form of a collet. The plug housing may also be formed in another form, for example, be formed in one piece or comprise further housing parts.

At least in the first, second and fourth channels 3, 4, 6 of the sliding part 2 socket contacts 15, 16, 17 are arranged These form in the advanced end position of the sliding part 2 together with the insertion side end portions of the channels 3, 4, 6 socket contacts for contacting of contact pins 18 of an XLR connector 19, which can be inserted in the advanced end position of the sliding part 2 in the first, second and fourth channel 3, 4, 6 of the sliding part 2. An example of a conventional XLR connector which can be plugged together with the XLR cable connector according to the invention and which is designed as a plug 19, here in the form of a chassis plug, is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In the retracted end position of the sliding part 2, the protruding from the first, second and third channel 3, 4, 5 pins 9, 10, 11 in female contacts 20 of a trained in the form of a female connector 21 conventional XLR connector can be inserted. Such a plug socket 21 designed in the form of a chassis plug connector is shown by way of example in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The socket contacts 15, 16, 17 are preferably formed sleeve-shaped; as shown in particular in FIG. 13. Here, the first and second socket contacts 15, 16 arranged in the first and second channels 3, 4 also serve to guide the first and second contact pins 9, 10, these contact pins 9, 10 also in the advanced end position of the sliding part 2 in the rear Portions of the first and second socket contacts 15, 16 protrude and contact them electrically. The electrical contacting of the first and second socket contacts 15, 16 thus takes place via the first and second contact pins 9, 10.

A simple contacting of the third socket contact 17 can be achieved as shown by a connecting pin 22 which is aligned parallel to the contact pins 9, 10, 11 and projects into the fourth channel ό of the sliding part 2. In this case, it has a shorter extent in the direction of the insertion side, so that it does not protrude from the insertion end of the fourth channel 6 even in the retracted end position of the ^" sliding part 2. In the advanced end position of the displacement part 2, however, it still protrudes into the sleeve-shaped part third socket contact 17 and contacts it electrically. tion of the third socket contact 17 in other ways, for example via a strand or a sliding contact on the outer peripheral surface of the sliding part 2. The fourth channel 6 could then be formed as outgoing from the Einsteckseite of the sliding part 2 blind hole, so not up to Reach the front side 8 of the sliding part 2.

The third contact pin 11 is electrically connected to the third socket contact 17, in the illustrated embodiment via a connecting part 26, on the one hand the third contact pin 11, on the other hand the connecting pin 22 contacted and which, for example in the form of a small plate with two holes for attachment to the contact pin 11 and Connecting pin 22 is formed

In the third channel 5 there is a guide sleeve 23 for the third contact pin 11, for simplicity, this has the same construction as the socket contacts 15, 16, 17. Instead of this, a recess formed in a different way guide bushing for the contact pin 3 could be ^• provided or such separate guide bush also omitted.

Instead of sleeve-shaped socket contacts 15, 16, 17, these could also be formed in other ways, for example in the form of forks or plates. Possibly. In this case, separate guide bushes for guiding the contact pins 9, 10 and / or the connecting pin 22 may be provided. Also in this case, the electrical contacting of the first and second socket contacts 15, 1.6 by the contact pins 9, 10 and / or the contacting of the third socket contact 17 via a connecting pin 22.

The illustrated in the embodiment XLR cable connector is used for connection to an electrical cable, so it is a cable connector or free connector. For this purpose, the cable is inserted through the rear opening 24 in the rear housing part 14 and the cable cores are connected to the contact pins 9, 10, 11. The contact pins 9, 10, 11 have. in this case at their remote from the Einsteckseite ends Anlötelemente 25. Since the third contact pin 11 is connected via the connecting part 26 with the connecting pin 22, the connection of the corresponding cable core can be done either with the contact pin 11 or the connecting pin 22, which also has a Anlötelement 25 for this purpose. The Anlötelement 25 either the contact pin 11 or the connecting pin 22 could also be omitted.

Instead of the Anlötelemente 25 other connecting elements, such as crimping parts could be present.

To move the sliding nozzle 2 is located outside the sleeve part 1 Be servicing part 27 which is mechanically connected to the sliding part 2. The connection takes place through an opening 29 extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis 28 in the sleeve part 1. In the embodiment shown, outwardly projecting arms 30 of the sliding part 2, which pass through the opening 29, engage in recesses 31 of the operating part 27. The existing example of plastic control panel 27 is sleeve-shaped in the embodiment shown and surrounds the sleeve part 1. Other training are also conceivable and possible.

In XLR connector, the socket usually has a latch with locking lugs, which engages in a recess of the projecting portion of the housing of the plug For this purpose, a bolt 32 is arranged with locking lugs 33 on the sliding part 2, which in the advanced end position of the sliding part 2 in Area of over the sleeve part 1 protruding portion of the sliding part 2 and protrude beyond this radially outwardly. In the plugged into the plug 19 state these engage in the recess of the plug 19 a. The displacement part 2 is provided in the region of the bolt 32 with a recess.

The control unit 27 has an actuating arm 36, which is made free by slots 34, 35 extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis 28, with an actuating piece 37. By pressing the actuating piece 37, which in this case acts through the opening 29 in the sleeve part 1, the latching lugs 33 can be displaced radially inwards so that they get out of engagement with the recess in the plug 19 and the XLR cable connector is pushed out of the plug 19. can be withdrawn.

To lock the inserted in the retracted end position of the sliding part 2 in a female connector 21 XLR cable connector is a recess 38 in the inner circumferential surface of the over the sliding part 2 projecting portion of the sleeve part 1. In this recess 38 engage in the assembled state of the two connectors locking lugs a Bolt of the socket 21 a (not shown in Figs. 3 and 4).

On the outer circumferential surface of protruding from the sleeve part 1 portion of the sliding part 2 in its advanced end position is a running in the axial direction of the XLR cable connector centering 39, which is inserted when plugged into the plug 19 in a groove 40 of the plug 19, whereby the correct angular position of the two connector parts is specified.

The centering rib 39 is guided in a groove 41 extending in the axial direction on the inner shell surface of the sleeve part 1, whereby the sliding part 2 is secured against rotation with respect to the sleeve part 1.

To assemble the XLR cable connector, the sliding part 2 is inserted in an opening inclined to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve part 1 with its arms 30 in the opening 29 of the sleeve part 1. In order to insert the arms 30 into the recesses 31 of the operating part 27, the operating part 27 has insertion channels running along its inner lateral surface and the slightly elastic material of the operating part 27 is somewhat deformed (to an oval cross-sectional contour of the operating part 27). The conversion of an XLR cable connector according to the invention between a plug and a socket is thus as already mentioned by an axial displacement of the sliding part 2 by means of the operating part 27. In the two end positions of the sliding part 2 is preferably a locking of the sliding part 2 relative to the sleeve part. 1 In the illustrated embodiment, for this purpose, the recess 31 at two points of its axial extent widenings 42, 43. In the unactuated state of the actuating piece 37 project into this protrusions 44 which are located on radially inwardly projecting arms of the actuating piece 37 when the sliding part 2 is in one of its end positions. In order to bring the projections 44 out of engagement with the respective widening 42, 43, the actuating piece 37 is slightly pressed in from its neutral position (which it assumes without the action of external forces due to the elasticity of the actuating arm 36). The displacement of the locking lugs 33 takes place in contrast only at a stronger impressions of the actuating piece 37th

Conveniently, a locking of the sliding part 2 relative to the sleeve part 1, at least in the advanced end position of the sliding part 2 is present to prevent a pushing back of the sliding part 2 when plugged into a plug.

The front of the male ends 12 of the contact pins 9, 10 lying portions of the first and second channel 3, 4 and the corresponding portion of the fourth channel 6 together with the female contacts 15, 16, 17 as described contact sockets to the XLR cable connector in the advanced end position of the sliding part 2 to be electrically connected to a plug. These contact sockets are in this case seen in an end view of the connector at the vertices of an imaginary isosceles right triangle. In the retracted end position of the sliding part 2, the insertion side ends 12 of the contact pins 9, 10, 1 1 are also at the vertices of an imaginary isosceles triangle, these two triangles are rotated with respect to the O longitudinal axis 28 of the connector by 180 ° from each other. In order to first insert the XLR cable connector into a plug 19 (in the case of an advanced sliding part 2) and then into a socket 21 (when the sliding part 2 is withdrawn), which has the same geometric contact arrangement as the plug 19, the XLR cable connector according to the invention must therefore rotated by 180 ° about its longitudinal axis 28, as best seen in FIGS. 1 to 4 can be seen.

An inventive XLR cable connector can thus be used both as a three-pin XLR plug as well as a three-pin XLR socket, with no changes in the connections of the cable wires with the contact pins 9, 10, 11 and the socket contacts 15, 16, 17 each have a correct Assignment of the contact pins 9, 10, 11 and socket contacts 15, 16, 17 is present. A cable to which an XLR cable connector according to the invention is connected can thus be plugged together both with a plug and with a plug socket according to the XLR standard. L egende to the reference numbers:

1 sleeve part 24 opening

2 sliding part 25 soldering element

3 first channel 26 connecting part

4 second channel 27 keypad

5 third channel 28 longitudinal axis

6 fourth channel 29 opening

7 plug-in end face 30 arm

8 end face 31 recess

9 first contact pin 32 latch

10 second contact pin 33 locking lug

11 third contact pin 34 slot

12 plug-in end 35 slot

13 contact pin carrier 36 actuating arm

14 rear housing part 37 actuating piece

15 first female contact 38 recess

16 second socket contact 39 centering rib

17 third socket contact 40 groove

18 contact pin 41 groove

19 plug 42 widening

20 female connector 43 widening

21 socket 44 projection

22 connecting pin

23 guide bush

Claims

claims:

1. XLR cable connector marked by

- A sliding part (2), by its displacement between a retracted and an advanced end position of the XLR cable connector between a plug for connection to a female connector (21) formed XLR connector and a female connector for connection to a plug (19) formed XLR connector is convertible and having a first, a second, a third and a fourth channel (3, 4, 5, 6), which open at a plug-side end face (7) of the sliding part (2) at the vertices of an imaginary square wherein the first and the second channel (3, 4) at diagonally opposite corners and the third and fourth channels (5, 6) at diagonally opposite corners of the square lie _r gene

a first, a second and a third contact pin (9, 10, 11), which are received by the first, second and third channel (3, 4, 5) of the sliding part (2), wherein in the retracted setting of the sliding part (2 ) These contact pins (9, 10, 11) protrude from the insertion-side end face (7) of the sliding part (2) and the XLR Kabeisteckverbinder with these contact pins (9, 10, 1 1) in contact sockets (20) of the socket (21) can be inserted is and in the advanced end position of the sliding part (2), these contact pins (9, 10, 11) in the channels (3, 4, 5) of the sliding part (2) pulled back and insertion side of the free ends (12) of the contact pins (9, 10, 11)

Sections of these channels (3, 4, 5) are located,

- A first, a second and a third socket contact (15, 1ό, 17), of which the first and the second socket contact (15, 16) in the first and second channel (3, 4) and the third socket contact (17) in the fourth Channel (6) are arranged, wherein in the pushed-end position of the sliding part (2) the Büchsenkontakte (15, 16, 17) of in the first, second and fourth channel (3, 4, 6) of the sliding part (2) inserted Contact pins (18) of the plug (19) are contactable.

2. XLR cable connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and second contact pin (9, 10) in the retracted end position of the sliding part (2) the first and second socket contact (15, 16) electrically contact.

3. XLR cable connector according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the third contact pin (11) with the third socket contact (17) is electrically connected.

4. XLR cable connector according to claim 3, characterized in that in the retracted end position of the sliding part (2) in the fourth channel (6) of the sliding teiis (2) arranged third female contact (17) of a in the fourth channel (6 ) projecting connecting pin (22) is electrically contacted.

5. XLR cable connector according to claim 4, characterized in that the electrical connection of the third contact pin (11) with the third socket contact (17) on the one hand with the third contact pin (11), on the other hand with the connecting pin (22) electrically connected Connecting part (26) is present.

6. XLR cable connector according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the socket contacts (15, 16, 17) are sleeve-shaped.

7. XLR cable connector according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that in the first channel (3) of the sliding part (2) a guide bush (23) for the first contact pin (9) is arranged, which has the same design as the socket contacts (15, 16, 17).

8. XLR cable connector according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the displacement part (2) by a sleeve part (1) is surrounded and is slidably supported by this between its advanced and its retracted end position.

9. XLR cable connector according to claim 8, characterized in that the displacement part (2) with a outside of the sleeve part (1) arranged operating part (27) through an opening (29) of the sleeve part (1) is mechanically connected by means of which Displacement part (2) is displaceable between its advanced and its retracted end position.

10. XLR cable connector according to claim 9, characterized in that the operating part (27) surrounds the sleeve part (1) sleeve-shaped

1 1. XLR cable connector according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the contact pins (9, 10, 11) of a in the sleeve part (1) inserted contact pin carrier (13) are held.

12. XLR cable connector according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that with the side facing away from the insertion end of the sleeve part (1), a rear housing part (14) is mechanically connected.

13. XLR cable connector according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the displacement part (2) has a latch (32) with at least one latching lug (33), wherein the latching lug in the advanced end position of the sliding part (2) in a ^■ recess in the connector housing of the plug (19) can be latched, with which the XLR cable connector is plugged together.

14. XLR cable connector according to claim 13, characterized in that the at least one latching lug (33) by means of an actuating piece (37) of the operating part (27) through the opening (29) in the sleeve part (1) through to open the latching connection with the plug (19) is displaceable radially in the direction of the longitudinal axis (28) of the XLR cable connector.

15. XLR cable connector according to one of claims 7 to 14, characterized in that the displacement part (2) has a in the axial direction extending centering rib (39) which is guided in an axial groove (41) in the sleeve part (1) and which can be pushed into a groove (40) in the plug housing of a plug (19) when plugging in the XLR cable connector in the extended end position of the sliding part (2).

16. XLR cable connector according to one of claims 8 to 15, characterized in that the displacement part (2) in its advanced end position relative to the sleeve part (1) is latched.

17. XLR cable connector according to one of claims 8 to 16, characterized in that the displacement part (2) in its retracted end position relative to the sleeve part (1) is latched.