EP2229714A2

EP2229714A2 - Electrical plug connector

Info

Publication number: EP2229714A2
Application number: EP08860318A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bert Zamzow; Arnold Pfeuffer; Rainer Kossat; Jörg KLOCKAU
Original assignee: CCS Technology Inc
Current assignee: Corning Research and Development Corp
Priority date: 2007-12-11
Filing date: 2008-11-07
Publication date: 2010-09-22
Also published as: DE202007017363U1; WO2009074197A2; WO2009074197A3

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical plug connector, specifically a female data connector for receiving at least one male data connector such that contact is made, having a housing and a connecting device (10) which is positioned in the housing, wherein the connecting device (10) has at least one printed circuit board (12, 13) with electrical conductors (14, 15) which form an electrical line path between input connections and output connections of the connecting device, wherein a printed circuit board (13) can be pressed, by way of a second side, indirectly or directly against contacts of a male data connector by means of a contact-pressure element (16) which rests in an electrically insulated manner against portions of a first side of the printed circuit board in order to thus provide an electrical connection between the contacts of the male data connector and the electrical line path of the female data connector. According to the invention, the contact-pressure element (16) is mounted on a contact-pressure element holder (17) and rests against a central portion of the printed circuit board (13) on the first side of said printed circuit board so that the printed board (13) is supported on the contact-pressure element holder (7) at both of its ends.

Description

Electrical connector

The invention relates to an electrical connector according to the preamble of claim 1 and 7, respectively.

From US 2006/0014410 A1 a trained as a data connector connector is known, which has a housing and a housing positioned in the connection device. The housing is formed by two sections, namely a front housing section, in which a data plug can be inserted while contacting the connecting device, and by a rear housing section, via which a data cable can be moved to the connecting device positioned in the housing. The connecting device has a rigid printed circuit board and a flexible printed circuit board, wherein a first portion of the flexible printed circuit board is sandwiched in the rigid printed circuit board, and wherein a second portion of the flexible printed circuit board forms contact fingers on which contact springs lie in sections. When a data plug with its contacts is inserted into the data socket, the contacts of the data plug contact the contact springs of the connection device, the contact springs of the connection device contacting the contact fingers of the flexible printed circuit board. In the case of the connector known from the prior art, therefore, the contacts of a data connector contact the flexible printed circuit board of the connecting device indirectly or indirectly with the interposition of the contact springs. This causes long electrical conduction paths. The contact springs of the connecting device according to US 2006/0014410 A1 take on a double function, namely on the one hand the provision of a mechanical pressure force to the contacts of the data connector and on the other hand the electrical contacting of the contacts of the data connector with the connection means of the data socket. From DE 20 2006 009 504 an electrical connector is known in which the function of providing a mechanical pressure force between the electrical conductors of a printed circuit board and the contacts of the data connector and the function of electrical contacting of the contacts of the data connector with the electrical conductors of the Printed circuit board are separated from each other, that these two functions are assigned to different modules. Thus, according to this prior art, the connection means of the electrical connector according to DE 20 2006 009 504 a pressure element, which rests electrically isolated on a first side of a circuit board and a second side of the circuit board directly or directly presses against contacts of a data connector, so as a provide sufficient pressure force between the contacts of the data plug and the electrical conduction path of the data socket or the electrical conductors of the printed circuit board. The function of the electrical contact is therefore taken over in this prior art of the conductors of the circuit board and the function of providing a mechanical pressure force from the pressure element. This makes it possible to shorten the electrical conduction paths and thus to ensure improved transmission characteristics of the electrical connector.

The present invention is based on the problem of creating a novel electrical connector in which electrical conduction paths can be further shortened and transmission properties can be further improved.

This problem is solved according to a first aspect by an electrical connector according to claim 1. Thereafter, the pressure element is mounted on a Andruckelementhalter and is located on a central portion of the printed circuit board on the first side of the same, so that the circuit board is supported at both ends thereof on Andruckelementhalter. According to a second aspect, this problem is solved by an electrical connector according to claim 7. Thereafter, the electrical conductors of the circuit board via electrically conductive pins or pins which are pressed via a pressure element directly or directly against contacts of a data connector electrically connected to the contacts of the data connector, wherein the pins or pins and the pressure element on a Andruckelementhalter are mounted on which the circuit board is attached.

In the electrical connectors according to the invention according to the first aspect and the second aspect of the present invention also a separation between the functionality of providing a sufficient mechanical pressure force for contacting the contacts of the data connector with the conductor tracks of the circuit board and the functionality of the electrical contacting of the contacts Data connector with the tracks of the circuit board. Compared to the prior art, a repeated reduction of electrical conduction paths and an improvement of electrical transmission properties is possible.

Preferred developments of the invention emerge from the subclaims and the following description. Embodiments of the invention will be described, without being limited thereto, with reference to the drawing. In the drawing shows:

1a to 1e: a first embodiment of an electrical connector according to the invention in different views;

2a and 2b: a second embodiment of an electrical connector according to the invention in different views; 3a and 3b: a third embodiment of an electrical connector according to the invention in different views; 4a and 4b: a fourth embodiment of an electrical connector according to the invention in different views; 5a and 5b: a fifth embodiment of an electrical connector according to the invention in different views; 6a and 6b: a sixth embodiment of an electrical connector according to the invention in different views; 7a and 7b: a seventh embodiment of an electrical connector according to the invention in different views; 8a and 8b: an eighth embodiment of an electrical connector according to the invention in different views; and FIGS. 9a and 9b show a ninth embodiment of an electrical connector according to the invention in different views.

The present invention relates to an electrical connector, namely a data socket for contact receiving at least one data connector. Such an electrical connector has a housing, wherein in the housing a connecting device is positioned. The connection device serves to make contact with contacts of a data plug inserted in the data socket with electrical conductors or line paths of the data socket.

1a to 1e show a connecting device 10 of an electrical connector according to a first embodiment of the present invention in different views, wherein Fig. 1a and 1b further show contacts 11 of a data connector.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 a to 1 e, the connecting device 10 has a rigid printed circuit board 12 and a flexible printed circuit board 13. Both the rigid printed circuit board 12 and the flexible printed circuit board 13 comprise electrical conductors 14 and 15, respectively rigid printed circuit board 12 is connected, that the electrical conductors 15 of the flexible printed circuit board 13 are electrically conductively connected to the electrical conductors 14 of the rigid printed circuit board 12. The contacts 11 of the data connector are when a data plug is inserted into a data socket, directly or directly contacted with the electrical conductors 15 of the flexible printed circuit board 13 and so indirectly with the electrical see conductors 14 of the rigid printed circuit board 12. The function of the electrical Contact between the contacts 11 of the data connector and the electrical conductors of the connecting device 10 is therefore taken over in the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 a to 1 e from the flexible printed circuit board 13.

To provide a sufficient pressure force between the contacts 11 of the data connector and the electrical conductors 15 of the flexible printed circuit board 13, the connecting device 10 of Fig. 1a to 1e comprises a pressure element 16, which is mounted according to Fig. 1a and 1b on a Andruckelementhalter 17.

According to Fig. 1a and 1b, the pressure element 16 engages a central portion of the flexible printed circuit board 13, namely on a first side of the same, electrically insulating, wherein the pressure element 16 this central portion of the flexible printed circuit board 13, namely a second side of the same Head 15, presses against the contacts 11 of the data connector. According to Fig. 1a and 1b, therefore, the flexible printed circuit board 13 is supported on both sides of the central portion on which the pressure element 16 rests or on the rigid printed circuit board 12 and thus on the Andruckelementhalter 17.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 a to 1 e, the pressure element 16 comprises a plurality of spring elements, each spring element acting on a region of the middle section of the flexible printed circuit board 13, which carries an electrical conductor 15 in each case. Each spring element of the pressure element 16 accordingly presses an electrical conductor 15 of the flexible printed circuit board 13 directly or respectively against a respective contact 11 of the data connector. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1a to 1e, the pressure element 16 is formed as a spring comb, wherein each spring element of this spring comb is permanently applied to the corresponding areas of the central portion of the flexible printed circuit board 13 and the same applied to a pressure force, if no data plug in the data socket or the electrical connector is inserted. Accordingly, in the embodiment of FIGS. 1a to 1e, the flexible printed circuit board 13 in the middle portion of the same permanently applied by the pressure element 16 with a force.

Figures 1c to 1e show the flexible printed circuit board 13 in different views, with Figure 1e showing an alternative flexible printed circuit board 13 '. The flexible printed circuit board 13 'according to FIG. 1e differs from the flexible printed circuit board 13 of FIG. 1d only by the configuration of the electrical conductors 15' and 15. In FIG. 1d, all the electrical conductors 15 of the flexible printed circuit board 13 are identical in the printed circuit board 13 'of Fig. 1e, however, the electrical conductors 15' differ by their geometric extension.

2a and 2b show a connecting device 18 of an electrical connector according to a second embodiment of the present invention together with contacts 19 of a data connector 20, wherein the connecting means 18 of Fig. 2a and 2b in accordance with the embodiment of Figs. 1a to 1e turn a rigid circuit board 21 and a flexible circuit board 22 includes. The rigid circuit board 21 and the flexible circuit board 22 in turn have electrical conductors 23 and 24, wherein the flexible circuit board 22 are mounted on the rigid circuit board 21, and wherein the electrical conductors 24 of the flexible circuit board 22 with the electrical conductors 23 of the rigid circuit board 21 are electrically connected.

The connecting device 18 of FIGS. 2 a and 2 b has, in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 a to 1 e, a pressure element 25 which is mounted on a pressure element holder 26. Referring again to FIG. 2b, the pressure element 25 engages with projections 27 on a central portion of the flexible printed circuit board 22, namely on a first side thereof, the pressure element 25 having the flexible printed circuit board 22, namely the middle section thereof, with a second side and therewith the conductor 24 presses against the contacts 19 of the data connector 20. According to Fig. 2a, 2b, the flexible circuit board 22 is again supported on both sides of the rigid circuit board 21 and thus on Andruckelementhalter 26.

The embodiment of FIGS. 2 a and 2 b differs from the embodiment of FIGS. 1 a to 1 e in that the pressure element 25 rests with the projections 27 on the central portion of the flexible printed circuit board 22 only when the data plug 20 is inserted into the connector and on a projection 27 opposite the projection 28 of the pressure element 25 abuts the same. Only when the data plug 20 is inserted into the connector according to the invention, the data plug 20 exerts a force on the projection 28 of the pressure element 25, so that projections 27 of about an axis 29 rotatably mounted in Andruckelementhalter 26 pressure element 25 against the central portion of the flexible Printed circuit board 22 are pressed. Only when, therefore, the data plug 20 is inserted into a data socket, in the embodiment of FIGS. 2a and 2b, the flexible printed circuit board 22 by the pressing member 27 is acted upon by a pressing force to the electrical conductors 24 of the flexible printed circuit board 22 against the contacts 19 of the data connector 20 to press.

3a and 3b show a connecting device 30 of an electrical connector according to a third embodiment of the present invention, wherein the embodiment of Fig. 3a and 3b substantially in the embodiment of Fig. 1a corresponds to 1e, so to avoid unnecessary repetition for the same components the same reference numerals are used. The embodiment of FIGS. 3a and 3b differs from the embodiment of FIGS. 1a to 1e by the embodiment of the pressure element 16, which is formed in the embodiment of Figs. 3a and 3b as elastically compressible gel pad or gel pad. The pressure element 16 designed as an elastically compressible gel cushion is mounted directly on the rigid printed circuit board 12 according to FIGS. 3 a and 3 b, which is why the rigid printed circuit board 12 simultaneously forms the pressure element holder 17 in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 a and 3 b.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 3a and 3b, in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1a to 1b, the pressure element 16 permanently provides an application of force to the middle section of the flexible printed circuit board 13, when a data plug is inserted in the data socket to press the middle portion of the flexible printed circuit board 13 against unillustrated contacts of the data plug.

A further embodiment of a connecting device 31 of an electrical connector, Fig. 4a and 4b, wherein the embodiment of Fig. 4a and 4b from the embodiment of Figs. 1a and 1b only differs in that in the embodiment of Figs. 4a and 4b not two separate Printed circuit boards, namely a rigid circuit board 12 and a flexible circuit board 13 are present, but rather exclusively a single circuit board 32, which is designed as a rigid-flexible circuit board. The rigid-flexible circuit board 32 comprises electrical conductors 33, wherein the pressure element 16 comes to rest on a central portion of the rigid-flexible circuit board 32 and thus presses the electrical conductors 33 thereof against the contacts 11 of the data connector.

With regard to the remaining details, reference may be made to the embodiment of FIGS. 1a to 1e, so that the same reference numerals are used to avoid unnecessary repetitions for the same modules. 5a and 5b show a further alternative of a connecting device 34 of an electrical connector according to the invention, wherein the embodiment of Fig. 5a and 5b substantially coincides with the embodiment of Figs. 4a and 4, which is why the same to avoid unnecessary repetition for the same components Reference numerals are used.

The embodiment of FIGS. 5a and 5b differs from the embodiment of FIGS. 4a and 4b only by the design of the pressure element 16. In the embodiment of FIGS. 4a and 4b, the pressure element 16 is formed as a spring comb, which on one side of a middle Section of the rigid-flexible circuit board 32 rests and so presses the second side thereof with the electrical conductors 33 against the contacts 11 of the data connector.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 5 a and 5 b, the pressure element 16 comprises a plurality of spiral springs, which permanently apply a pressing force to the middle section of the rigid-flexible printed circuit board 32. Also in the embodiment of FIGS. 5a and 5b, the pressure element 16 accordingly comprises a plurality of spring elements which differ solely by their specific embodiment. In the embodiment of Fig. 4a and 4b, the individual spring elements are components of a spring comb, in Fig. 5a and 5b, the spring elements of the pressure element 16 are formed as coil springs.

All embodiments of FIGS. 1a to 5b have in common that the respective pressure element is mounted on a Andruckelementhalter and rests against a central portion of a printed circuit board. The pressure element is applied to a first side of the circuit board and presses the same with a second side against the contacts of the data connector. The circuit board is supported on both sides and thus with two opposite ends on a Andruckelementhalter. In the field of flexible printed circuit boards, a capacitive compensation can be integrated.

6a to 8a visualize connecting means of an electrical connector according to a second aspect of the present invention. Thus, FIGS. 6 a and 6 b show a connection device 35 of a first exemplary embodiment of an electrical connector according to the second aspect of the present invention, wherein the connection device 35 of FIGS. 6 a and 6 b comprises a printed circuit board 36 which provides a plurality of electrical conductors 37. The electrical conductors 37 of the printed circuit board 36 can be contacted via electrically conductive pins 38 with contacts 39 of a data connector electrically conductive, the electrically conductive pins 38 via a pressure element 40 directly or directly against the contacts 39 of the data connector can be pressed.

Each contact 39 of the data connector is assigned an electrically conductive pin 38, wherein each pin 38 can be pressed against a respective contact 39 of the data connector via a separate spring element of the pressure element 40. The pins 38 and the pressing element 40 comprising a plurality of spring elements are mounted on a pressure element holder 41, wherein the printed circuit board 46 is attached to the Andruckelementhalter 41.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 6a and 6b, an electrically conductive sliding contact 42 cooperates with each pin 38, wherein each sliding contact 42 is connected to an electrical conductor 37 of the printed circuit board 36. An electrically conductive pin 38 slides along each sliding contact 42, depending on the presence of a data plug and the force provided by the spring elements of the pressure element 40.

Accordingly, in the embodiment of FIGS. 6a and 6b, signals applied to the contacts 39 are transmitted to the electrical conductors 37 of the printed circuit board 36 via the electrically conductive pins 38 and the sliding contacts 42. The connecting device 43 of FIGS. 7a and 7b essentially corresponds to the connecting device 35 of FIGS. 6a and 6b, for which reason the same reference numerals are used to avoid unnecessary repetitions for identical components. The embodiment of FIGS. 7a and 7b differs from the embodiment of FIGS. 6a and 6b only in that in the embodiment of FIGS. 7a and 7b, no sliding contacts 42 are present. Rather, the contacting between the electrically conductive pins 38 and the electrical conductors 37 of the printed circuit board 36 via electrically conductive gel 44, wherein each electrically conductive pin on the embodiment of FIGS. 7a and 7b

38 is partially surrounded by electrically conductive gel 44. The electrically conductive gel 44 is further connected to the electrical conductors 37 of the circuit board 36, so that a signal transmission path from the contacts

39 of the data connector via the electrically conductive pins 38, the electrically conductive gel 44 takes place on the electrical conductors 37 of the printed circuit board 36.

8a and 8b show a further variant of the second aspect of the present invention, wherein in the connecting device 45 of Fig. 8a and 8b, the electrical connection between the electrically conductive pins 38 and the electrical conductors 37 of the printed circuit board 36 via electrically conductive contacts 46th takes place, each of these contacts 46 having a first end each with an electrical conductor 37 and a second end, each with a pin 38 is firmly connected.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 connection device

11 contact

12 rigid circuit board

13, 13 'flexible circuit board

14 conductors

15, 15 'ladder

16 pressure element

17 pressure element holder

18 connection device

19 contact

20 data connectors

21 rigid circuit board

22 flexible circuit board

23 conductors

24 conductors

25 pressure element

26 pressure element holder

27 advantage

28 lead

29 axis of rotation

30 connection device

31 connection device

32 starflexible PCB

33 conductors

34 connection device

35 connection device

36 circuit board

37 conductors

38 pin

39 contact presser

Andruckelementhalter

sliding contact

connecting device

gel

connecting device

Contact

Claims

claims

An electrical connector, namely data socket for contact receiving at least one data connector, with a housing and a housing positioned in the connector means, wherein the connection means comprises at least one printed circuit board with electrical conductors forming an electrical conduction path between input terminals and output terminals of the connection means, wherein a Printed circuit board via a pressure element, which is electrically isolated on portions of a first side of the printed circuit board, with a second side directly or directly against contacts of a data connector can be pressed, so as an electrical connection between the contacts of the data connector and the electrical conduction path of the data socket to be provided, characterized in that the pressure element (16; 25) is mounted on a Andruckelementhalter (17; 26) and at a central portion of the printed circuit board (13; 22; 32) on the first side of the same is located so that the circuit board (13; 22; 32) at both ends thereof is supported on Andruckelementhalter (17, 26).

2. Connector according to claim 1, characterized by a rigid printed circuit board (12; 21) and a flexible printed circuit board (13; 22), wherein the pressure element (16; 25) on the flexible printed circuit board (13; 22) is applied, wherein the flexible printed circuit board (13; 22) is fixed to the rigid circuit board (12; 21), and wherein the rigid circuit board (12; 21) is fixed to the pressure element holder (17; 26).

3. Connector according to claim 1, characterized by a rigid-flexible printed circuit board (32), wherein the pressure element (16) on the rigid-flexible circuit board (32) is present, and wherein the star-flexible printed circuit board

(32) to which is attached to the Andruckelementhalter (17).

4. Connector according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the pressure element (16) comprises a plurality of spring elements which abut such on the printed circuit board (13; 21; 32), that with each spring element preferably in each case a region of the printed circuit board , Which has an electrical conductor, directly or directly against each contact of the data connector can be pressed.

5. Connector according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the spring elements abut permanently on the areas of the Le terplatte and apply the same even with a pressing force when no data plug is inserted into the connector.

6. Connector according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the spring elements abut terplatten only at the areas of Lei and apply the same with a pressing force when a data plug is inserted into the connector.

An electrical connector, namely a data socket for contactingly receiving at least one data connector, comprising a housing and a connector positioned in the housing, the connector comprising at least one printed circuit board having electrical conductors forming an electrical conductive path between input terminals and output terminals of the connector; characterized in that the electrical conductors (37) of the printed circuit board (36) via conductive pins (38) or pins which are pressed via a pressure element (40) directly or directly against contacts (39) of a data connector with the Contacts of the data connector are electrically conductively connected, wherein the pins (38) or pins and the pressure element (40) are mounted on a Andruckelementhalter (41) to which the circuit board (36) is attached.

8. Connector according to claim 7, characterized in that the pressure element (40) comprises a plurality of spring elements which abut such on the pins (38) or pins that with each spring element, preferably a pin or pin directly or directly against each a contact of the data connector can be pressed.

9. Connector according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that with each pin (38) or pin, an electrically conductive sliding contact (42) cooperates, each sliding contact (42) each having an electrical conductor (37) of the printed circuit board (36) is connected, and wherein at each sliding contact in each case a pin or pin slides along.

10. Connector according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that with each pin (38) or pin an electrically conductive gel (44) cooperates, each pin (38) or pin sections of the electrically conductive gel (44 ), which is connected to an electrical conductor (37) of the printed circuit board (36).

11. Connector according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that with each pin (38) or pin, an electrically conductive contact (46) cooperates, each contact (46) having a first end in each case with an electrical conductor (37) of Printed circuit board (36) and with a second end each with a pin (38) or pin is firmly connected.