EP3721505B1 - Plug - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a plug for piercing in at least two layers of electrically conductive material and in a layer of light wave conducting material, with a housing, at least two mutually isolated electrical contact elements and a light conducting optical contact element, wherein the at least two electrical contact elements and the lightly conducting optical Contact element are arranged on at least one connecting pin protruding from the housing, which is formed converging to at least one tip at the end facing away from the housing, the electrical contact elements being arranged in different longitudinal positions on the at least one connecting pin.

In addition, the invention relates to a combination of a carrier body with at least one such plug inserted therein and a combination of a first such plug with part of a second such plug.

Plugs of this type, which are designed to be pierced into layers of electrically conductive material and into a layer of material that conducts light waves, are known from the prior art.

To this end, the EP 3 163 160 A1 a device for image display, with a plug according to the preamble of claim 1 and with a carrier body, into which individually controllable luminous bodies connected to a respective control unit are inserted. For this purpose, the carrier body has a first electrically conductive layer facing the luminous elements, a second electrically conductive layer facing away from the luminous elements, and a light-guiding layer arranged between the first and second electrically conductive layers for conducting light signals. The control units are connected to the light-conducting layer via light-sensing connections, to the first electrically conductive layer via first electrical connections, and to the second electrically conductive layer via second electrical connections. The control units are designed to control the luminous bodies as a function of light signals fed into the light-conducting layer.

This prior art opens up particularly advantageous image representations. However, the restricted area of application is disadvantageous.

The U.S. 3,610,933 relates to a connecting device for piercing a multilayer floor covering in order to tap electrical power or electrical or optical signals from the floor covering. For this purpose, the floor covering can have, inter alia, two electrical layers that are separate from one another and an insulating layer arranged in between, designed as a dielectric or insulator, via which laser signals or microwaves can be transmitted. The connecting device has electrical or optical connections for piercing the floor covering.

The CA 2,684,819 discloses a device for receiving a photovoltaic module and a multilayer body which has a first electrically conductive layer and a second electrically conductive layer, between which an insulation layer is provided. The electrically conductive layers can be connected to the outputs of the photovoltaic module. Electronic units such as LEDs or battery chargers can be inserted into the multi-layered body.

The U.S. 3,809,966 discloses a multilayer floor covering with two electrically conductive layers isolated from one another by a layer. Electrical energy for the power supply and signal information are transmitted via the conductive layers. A connecting element with two pointed connection pins can be pierced into the floor covering. Each of the connection pins carries an electrical contact element for connection to one of the electrically conductive layers of the floor covering. The connection pins are connected to contacts of sockets for power supply or signal supply.

The U.S. 3,860,317 discloses a device having a base part which has connection pins and which can be detachably connected to a housing. The housing has electronic components and connectors. The device can be in a multilayer floor covering with electrically conductive layers over an insulation layer are separated, are stabbed.

The EP 2 690 233 A1 discloses a multi-layer structure, for example as a floor covering, with electrically conductive layers that are covered or separated by insulation layers and into which a plug can be pierced. The plug has for this purpose pierceable connection pins which end in electrical contacts or are connected to a power cable.

The FR 2 694 322 discloses a panel with at least two electrically conductive layers which are separated from one another by an insulation layer and into which a plug can be pierced. The plug has a pierceable connection with two electrical contact elements or two pierceable connections with one electrical contact element each.

In contrast, the aim of the invention is to create a plug of the type mentioned at the beginning with the broadest possible area of application.

This object is achieved by a plug having the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments are given in the dependent claims.

According to the invention, the housing has at least one socket for a plug connector of an electrical (or optical) device to be connected to the connector pin, the socket having at least one connection which is connected to at least one of the electrical contact elements and to the optical contact element and the housing has a control unit via which the electrical contact elements and / or the optical contact element are connected to the at least one connection, the control unit for controlling the connection as a function of input light signals detected with the optical contact element and / or for controlling the optical contact element is formed with output light signals as a function of signals detected with the connection. The plug is designed, in particular, to be pierced into a carrier body which has two electrically conductive layers and electrically insulated from one another has a light-conducting, preferably also electrically insulating, layer for conducting light signals or light waves. The electrically conductive layers and the light-guiding layer preferably overlap one another at least at the puncture point of the plug. The plug has a housing and at least one connecting pin protruding from the housing, on which at least two electrically conductive contact elements that are electrically isolated from one another and one light-guiding optical contact element are arranged. In order to be able to pierce the plug into the carrier body in a simple manner, the connection pin at the end facing away from the housing is designed to converge to form a point or several points, depending on the design. The connecting pin preferably has its smallest cross-sectional area at the tip. The tip can be designed, for example, conical or beveled, wherein a beveled tip can correspond to a section of the connection pin with a plane inclined to the connection pin. The connection pin is preferably designed so stable, in particular essentially rigid, and dimensioned in such a way that a user can pierce the connection pin and thus the plug into the carrier body, preferably without tools, ie preferably without tools. Of course, the construction of the carrier body should also enable the connector pin to be easily pierced into the carrier body. In particular, the carrier body and the connection pin are designed to be able to pierce the connection pin into the carrier body without prior drilling of a hole in the carrier body and only by applying pressure to the plug by the user. The connection pin and the carrier body are designed to hold the plug in the inserted position in the carrier body essentially by frictional engagement. The length of the connection pin (ie its extension in the piercing direction) is preferably at least five times the widest diameter of the connection pin if the latter has a circular cross-section. The connection pin can alternatively also have an angular cross-sectional shape. The electrical contact elements (electrically conductive contact elements) and the light-guiding optical contact element are provided at positions on the connecting pin, which connect the optical contact element to the light-guiding layer, a connection of the one electrical Establish contact element with a first electrically conductive layer and a connection of the other electrical contact element with a second electrically conductive layer of the carrier body when the plug is pierced into the carrier body. The electrical contact elements are therefore arranged in different longitudinal positions on the at least one connection pin. The electrical contact elements can overlap in the longitudinal direction of the connecting pin. The different longitudinal positions of the electrical contact elements on the at least one connection pin are to be understood as meaning that the electrical contact elements have mutually offset starting positions and mutually offset end positions in the longitudinal direction of the connection pin, between which starting positions and end positions the electrical contact elements extend in order to short-circuit the spaced apart to avoid electrically conductive layers through the electrical contact elements. The longitudinal positions of the electrical contact elements on the at least one connection pin are thus to be considered in the longitudinal direction of the connection pin or in the piercing direction of the connection pin.

In order to create a connection for electrical current or electrical signals and / or for light signals between a device arranged on the connector or separate from the connector and the carrier body, the housing has at least one socket for a connector of an electrical and / or electrical connector to be connected to the connector pin / or optical device. In addition, the socket has at least one connection which is connected to at least one of the electrical contact elements and to the optical contact element. The connection can be an optical or an electrical connection. The connection can in particular be a single electrical contact body, a group of electrical contact bodies or an optical contact body. An example of a group of electrical contact bodies can be a positive pole and a negative pole in the case of a supply of direct current at the connection pin or a contact body for a neutral line and a contact body for a phase line in the case of a supply of alternating current at the connection pin. In a known manner, the contact body can be a contact pin or, for example, a tubular one Be a receiving device for a contact pin. The socket preferably has a holding device for the releasable mechanical connection to the plug connector. The holding device is preferably a clamping device in order to be able to insert a plug connector into the socket in a manner known per se. The connector can be a device plug for supplying the electrical and / or optical device with supply voltage, electrical data signals or optical signals. The optical device can also be designed for operation without electrical current and can, for example, be a light-guiding or light-emitting body, in particular a light-guiding cable.

The configuration according to the invention makes it possible to connect the plug on the one hand to the carrier body and on the other hand to various types of electrical and / or optical devices that can be arranged, for example, at a distance from the plug. The plug thus enables a device to be connected to the electrically conductive and light-conducting lines, in particular tracks or layers, of a carrier body by simply manually piercing the plug into the carrier body. The plug can advantageously be pierced into the carrier body at a freely selectable position depending on the application. The carrier body can be attached to areas suitable for this purpose, for example on walls or floors of a building or on pieces of furniture, such as table tops. The connection of the electrical and / or optical device to the plug and the connection of the plug to the carrier body can be established particularly easily, quickly and reliably. In addition, the connector can be reliably attached to the carrier body. Due to the frictional connection between the connection pin and the carrier body, the plug is held on the carrier body. Of course, mechanical fastening means, such as screws or adhesives, can be provided to improve the connection between the plug and the carrier body. The plug can, for example, have the size of a socket which is used in a known manner to connect a power supply plug of an electrical device to a power supply line in a household.

Furthermore, the housing has a control unit via which the electrical contact elements and / or the optical contact element are connected to the at least one connection.

The control unit is designed to control the connection as a function of input light signals detected with the optical contact element and / or to control the optical contact element with output light signals as a function of signals detected with the connection. The control unit is preferably connected both to the electrical contact elements and to the optical contact element and is supplied with power via the electrical contact elements. The control unit can be designed to control the optical or electrical connection of the socket as a function of input light signals detected with the optical contact element or as a function of electrical input signals detected with the electrical contact elements. Controlling the connection is understood to mean a defined supply of the connection with current, voltage or light. The control unit can also be designed to control the optical contact element with output light signals or the electrical contact elements with electrical output signals as a function of optical or electrical signals detected with the optical or electrical connection. Accordingly, the control unit can be designed to feed electrical or optical energy into the connection of the socket or into the connection pin.

For receiving optical control signals or for controlling an optical connection of the socket or the optical contact element of the connector pin, it is advantageous if the control unit has a transmitter and / or a receiver for light signals. The transmitter and / or the receiver are preferably connected to the optical connection of the socket, if one is provided, and / or to the optical contact element of the connector pin. The transmitter and / or the receiver can be or have a light-emitting or light-receiving electronic component which sends or receives light that is visible or invisible to the human eye, for example a light-emitting diode, an infrared diode or a Laser diode.

For targeted feeding of electrical or optical signals into a device connected to the connector or vice versa in the carrier body, the control unit can also have an electrical processing unit connected to the transmitter or the receiver for light signals, which is preferably connected to an electrical data memory of the control unit connected is. The electrical processing unit can process the signals captured by the receiver for light signals and converted into electrical signals, possibly compare them with information stored in the data memory and control the connection of the socket or the connector pin depending on the received light signals and the stored information. For example, the processing unit can control the connection of the socket or the connection pin via the transmitter for light signals.

In order to be able to connect multiple connections of a device or multiple devices with a single plug, it is advantageous if multiple sockets are provided for receiving connectors of one or more electrical and / or optical devices to be connected to the connector pin, the control unit preferably for individual Control of one or more of the connections of the sockets is formed. The plug can thus have several sockets. In this way, several or all of the connections of a particular electrical device can be supplied via a single plug inserted into the carrier body. For example, the device can be supplied with supply voltage and with electrical or optical data signals via the plug. Likewise, a supply voltage and electrical or optical data signals from a device can be fed into several plugs connected to it and thus into several carrier bodies. For this purpose, it is advantageous if the control unit is designed to individually control one or more of the connections of the sockets, for example to be able to control several devices connected to the plug or several connections of a device connected to the plug individually and independently of one another. In a preferred embodiment it is provided that the control unit is designed to detect address information and control information in the light signals detected with the optical contact element, to compare the address information with its own address assigned to the socket and, if the detected address information matches its own Address to control the connection of the addressed socket depending on the control information. As a result, several devices that are each connected to a plug, or several devices that are connected to different sockets of a single plug, or several connections of a single device that are connected to different sockets of a single plug, via a single carrier body with electrical and / or optical energy, in particular with supply voltage or data signals, can be supplied individually, ie individually or in groups. By means of the address information received via the optical contact element, the sockets can be addressed, ie selected, individually or, if several sockets have the same address, also in groups. The connections of the addressed sockets can then be controlled as a function of the control information received with the optical contact element. Of course, the control unit can also be designed to acquire address information and control information in electrical signals acquired with the electrical contact elements.

Furthermore, it can be advantageous if the control unit is designed to capture address information and control information in the signals captured with the connection of the socket, to compare the address information with its own address assigned to the socket and, if the captured address information matches its own Address to control the optical contact element as a function of the control information. As a result, several optical contact elements, ie several connection pins that are pierced into a single carrier body or into different carrier bodies, can be supplied with optical energy, in particular with data signals, individually, ie individually or in groups, via a single device which is connected to several plugs. are supplied. The control unit can also be designed to control a single optical contact element depending on the addresses assigned to the plurality of sockets when the device is connected to a plurality of sockets of a single plug. Of course, the control unit can also be designed to control the electrical contact elements as a function of the control information if the recorded address information matches its own address.

According to a further embodiment it can be provided that the housing is designed in two parts with a base part firmly connected to the electrical contact elements and the optical contact element and a head part separable from the base part and thus reconnectable, which head part has the at least one socket. Since the socket is designed to receive a connector of a device to be connected to the plug, head parts with different sockets can be provided for connecting the plug to differently designed connectors, which sockets are designed to correspond to the connectors. In this way, a head part with sockets can be exchanged for another head part with other sockets. If the head part is exchanged for another head part, the base part of the housing can remain pierced in the carrier body. The fact that the base part remains in the carrier body reduces the number of piercing processes in the carrier body and thus the manual effort that has to be performed by a user for this. For a simple connection of different head parts with a base part, the base part and the head parts expediently have a uniform mechanical, electrical and optical interface. The base part can also be pierced into the carrier body without a head part.

For a particularly simple handling of the plug, it can be provided that the head part and the base part are designed to be separated from one another and connected to one another without tools. The head part and the base part are preferably designed to be plugged together or screwed to one another without tools. For this purpose, the head part and the base part can have corresponding connecting bodies, for example connecting bodies of a plug connection or a screw connection.

In order to keep the manufacturing costs of the connector, in particular the head parts, low, it is advantageous if the base part has the control unit. In this way, several head parts to be connected to a single base part can be produced without the costly control unit. For individual applications, however, an arrangement of the control unit in the head part can be expedient.

The above-mentioned object is also achieved by a combination of a first connector, which according to the above description has a two-part housing, with at least one head part of a housing of a second connector, which according to the above description has a two-part housing, which head part of the second connector has a socket different from the socket of the head part of the first connector. The invention thus also relates to a group of a first connector with a two-part housing and of at least one additional head part of a housing of a second connector, which can be connected to the base part of the first connector. As described above, the base part of the housing of the first connector can remain pierced in the carrier body when the head part of the housing of the first connector is exchanged for the head part of the housing of the second connector.

The above-mentioned object is also achieved by a combination of a carrier body with at least one plug inserted therein according to the above description, which carrier body has a first electrically conductive layer facing the connector, a second electrically conductive layer electrically isolated from it, facing away from the connector, and a light-conducting layer for conducting light signals, the plug being connected to the light-conducting layer by means of its optical contact element, being connected to the first electrically conductive layer by means of a first of its electrical contact elements and by means of a second of its electrical contact elements is connected to the second electrically conductive layer. With regard to the design of the carrier body and the plug, in order to avoid repetition, reference is also made to the preceding description.

The carrier body thus has at least three, preferably flat, interconnected layers, of which the first and second electrically conductive layers are used to power the plug, for example the control units, and possibly the electrical or optical device connected to the plug, while the light-conducting layer serves to transmit light signals to the plug, for example to the control units, or generally to transmit light signals in the carrier body.

The light signals preferably contain information, in particular control and address information, for the operation of the device connected to the plug. This information is recorded by the connectors connected to the light-conducting layer, in particular by the control units, the control units being designed to process the control and address information. The address information, also called addresses, is unique so that each address is assigned to a single plug, a single socket or a defined group of plugs or sockets. In addition, the control information is assigned to the addresses, so that the control units for controlling the respective connection of the socket or the connecting pin only process that control information which is assigned to the address of the plug or the socket. The control information can include whether a device connected to the connector is to be activated or deactivated, or whether and in what form data signals are to be forwarded or transmitted to the device. The control and address information for all devices connected to the carrier body are preferably via a transmitted only light-conducting layer and evaluated by the control units.

The carrier body is preferably made of soft material which can be severed manually by a user with simple tools in order to enable its size to be reduced after its manufacture. Since the layers provided for the power supply and the transmission of light signals are flatly connected to one another, the function of the carrier body, which has been reduced in size by separating a section, is not impaired. The combination according to the invention of a carrier body with at least one plug inserted therein thus enables an individual cut of the carrier body, a simple and quick insertion of the plug into the carrier body and a simple connection of an electrical or optical device with the plug and thus with the electrically conductive layers and the light-conducting layer of the carrier body.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the light-conducting layer of the carrier body can be arranged between the first and second electrically conductive layer of the carrier body. In this way, the first and second electrically conductive layers of the carrier body are spaced apart from one another by the light-guiding layer of the carrier body and are preferably electrically insulated if the light-guiding layer consists of electrically insulating material. A separate insulating layer can thus be dispensed with.

If the carrier body is designed to be flexible, the carrier body can also be attached to uneven or curved surfaces. A flexible support body can also be stored in a space-saving manner, for example rolled up. For example, the smallest bending radius of the support body can be 20 cm with a thickness of the support body of at least 1 cm.

In order to avoid injury to a user by electrical current, it is advantageous if the electrically conductive layers facing the outer surfaces of the carrier body are provided with a electrically insulating layer are covered. In particular if the light-conducting layer of the carrier body is arranged between the first and second electrically conductive layer of the carrier body, it is advantageous if at least one of the electrically conductive layers, preferably both electrically conductive layers, has an electrically insulating layer on its side facing away from the light-conducting layer is / are covered. The carrier body can thus also be mounted on electrically conductive or current-carrying surfaces. The electrically insulating layer is preferably made from a thin, flexible plastic material.

For fast fastening of the carrier body to a receiving surface without having to provide separate fastening means, it is advantageous if the carrier body has fastening means, in particular a self-adhesive layer, on its surface. In order to be able to attach and remove the carrier body in a non-destructive manner, the fastening means are preferably designed for a detachable fastening of the carrier body. For example, screws, hooks, eyes, tapes, loops, Velcro fasteners or double-sided adhesive tapes can be used as fastening means.

In order to be able to hold the plug particularly reliably on the carrier body and to be able to design it easily, it is advantageous if the at least one connection pin is formed by two connection pins each with an electrically conductive contact element and a connection pin with the light-conducting contact element. In this embodiment, the plug thus has three connecting pins which protrude from the housing and are designed to be pierced into the carrier body. For this purpose, the three connection pins are each designed to converge to a point at the end facing away from the housing, ie the connection pins each have a point. The tip can, for example, be conical or beveled. In particular, a first connection pin has a first electrically conductive contact element, a second connection pin has a second electrically conductive contact element and a third connection pin has the light-conducting contact element.

For a particularly simple design of the plug, the connection pin with the light-conducting contact element can be made of light-conducting material. The light-conducting material can in particular be plastic or glass. The light-conducting material should enable the production of a sufficiently rigid and firm connection pin so that it does not bend or break when it is pierced into the carrier body.

• Fig. 1 eine schematische Schnittdarstellung einer Ausführungsform eines Steckers gemäß der Erfindung;
• Fig. 2 eine schematische Schnittdarstellung einer anderen Ausführungsform eines Steckers gemäß der Erfindung;
• Fig. 3 eine schematische Schnittdarstellung eines Steckers mit einem zweiteiligen Gehäuse und eines separaten Kopfteils eines Gehäuses eines zweiten Steckers.
• Fig. 4 eine schematische Schnittdarstellung einer weiteren Ausführungsform eines Steckers gemäß der Erfindung, in welchen ein elektrisches und/oder optisches Gerät direkt, ohne Verbindungskabel eingesteckt ist;
• Fig. 5 eine schematische Schnittdarstellung von zwei in einen Trägerkörper eingestochenen Steckern mit unterschiedlich ausgebildeten Steckbuchsen; und
• Fig. 6 eine schematische Schnittdarstellung einer weiteren Ausführungsform eines Steckers gemäß der Erfindung, welcher mit einem Trägerkörper verschraubt ist.

The invention is explained in more detail below using preferred, non-limiting exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawing. Show it:

• Fig. 1 a schematic sectional view of an embodiment of a connector according to the invention;
• Fig. 2 a schematic sectional view of another embodiment of a connector according to the invention;
• Fig. 3 a schematic sectional view of a connector with a two-part housing and a separate head part of a housing of a second connector.
• Fig. 4 a schematic sectional view of a further embodiment of a plug according to the invention, in which an electrical and / or optical device is plugged directly, without a connecting cable;
• Fig. 5 a schematic sectional view of two plugs inserted into a carrier body with differently designed sockets; and
• Fig. 6 a schematic sectional view of a further embodiment of a plug according to the invention, which is screwed to a carrier body.

Fig. 1 shows a plug 1, which has a housing 2 and at least one, in FIG Fig. 1 The example shown has exactly one pin 3 protruding from the housing 2. The housing 2 has a preferably flat housing base 2a and a circumferential side wall 2b protruding therefrom. The case bottom 2a is advantageously designed for flat or flat support on a carrier body 4, of which in Fig. 1 only one section is shown. In the example shown, the connection pin 3 is designed, similar to a needle or a nail, at its end 3s facing away from the housing 2, converging to form a point S. Thus, the plug 1, or the connection pin 3, is designed to be pierced into the carrier body 4, which is made up of sufficiently soft materials suitable for piercing, at least in the connection area with the connector 1. The carrier body 4 has at least two layers 5, 6 made of electrically conductive material and one layer 7 made of material which conducts light waves. The electrical layers 5, 6 are arranged so as to be electrically insulated from one another, the light-conducting layer 7 being provided for this purpose in an electrically insulating manner and between the electrical layers 5, 6 in the exemplary embodiments shown. The electrical layer 5 is covered with an insulating layer 18. The connection pin 3 of the plug 1 is designed to be in contact with the electrically conductive layers 5, 6 and the light-guiding layer 7 when the plug 1 is inserted into the carrier body 4. The connection pin 3 has on its surface at least two, in Fig. 1 The example shown has exactly two electrical contact elements 8, 9, which are isolated from one another, and a light-conducting optical contact element 10. The electrical contact element 8 is provided for connection to the electrically conductive layer 5, the electrical contact element 9 for connection to the electrically conductive layer 6 and the light-guiding contact element 10 for connection to the light-guiding layer 7 when the plug 1 is provided as in the example of Fig. 1 is pierced into the support body 4. The electrical contact elements 8, 9 are arranged in different longitudinal positions L8, L9 on the at least one connection pin 3. The longitudinal positions L8, L9 are those positions or areas on the connection pin 3 in which the electrical contact elements 8, 9 on the connection pin 3 extend in the longitudinal direction L of the connection pin 3. As an alternative to the in Fig. 1 In the illustrated example, the electrical contact elements 8, 9 can overlap one another in the electrically insulating layer 7 in the longitudinal direction L of the connecting pin 3. The light-guiding optical contact element 10 can be produced partially or completely from light-guiding material.

The housing 2 has at least one socket 11, in Fig. 1 shown example two sockets 11, for a connector V ( Fig. 5 ) an electrical and / or optical device G to be connected to the connecting pin 3. The electrical and / or optical device G can, for example, be a household appliance, a computer, in particular a notebook, a controllable luminous element or a light source that requires a power supply to illuminate a room or only a connection to the light-conducting layer 7 to display status information needed. The socket 11 has at least one connection 12, in FIG Fig. 1 In the example shown, each socket 11 has exactly one connection 12a, 12b, which is connected to at least one of the electrical contact elements 8, 9 or the optical contact element 10. The connection 12a can, for example, have two contact bodies 12a1, 12a2 for receiving power supply pins of a connector V of the electrical and / or optical device G and can accordingly be connected directly to the electrical contact elements 8, 9 of the connection pin 3, as shown by broken connecting lines . In the example of the Fig. 1 In addition, the connection 12b can be a light-guiding contact body, for example a light-guiding contact pin 12b1, which is directly connected to the light-guiding contact element 10 of the connection pin 3, as is also shown by a broken connection line. The socket 11 and the connection 12 can be used to accommodate power supply plugs, USB plugs, connections for sensors, a base for light fittings, fiber optic connectors, connections for fiber optic repeaters, connections for opto-electrical converters, connections for electrical-optical converters, from LEDs, laser diodes or photodetectors, each as a connector V, be formed.

The housing 2 also has a control unit 13, via which the electrical contact elements 8, 9 and / or the optical contact element 10 are connected to the at least one connection 12. The connection of the electrical contact elements 8, 9 and the optical contact element 10 to the control unit 13 is shown in FIG Fig. 1 represented by connecting lines V1. The connection of the control unit 13 to the connection 12a, 12b is shown in FIG Fig. 1 represented by connecting lines V2. The control unit 13 is used to control the connection 12 as a function of input light signals detected with the optical contact element 10 and / or for controlling the optical contact element 10 with output light signals as a function of electrical or optical signals detected with the connection 12, which are e.g. be sent by a device G, formed. In order to be able to process input light signals detected with the optical contact element 10 electrically or to be able to supply the optical contact element 10 with output light signals, the control unit 13 can have a transmitter 14 and / or a receiver 15 for light signals. The transmitter 14 is designed to convert electrical signals into light signals and the receiver 15 is designed to convert light signals into electrical signals.

In order to process the signals received from the connection pin 3 or from the connection 12, the control unit 13 can also have an electrical processing unit 16 connected to the transmitter 14 and / or the receiver 15. The processing unit 16 can be connected to an electrical data memory 17 of the control unit 13, which contains, for example, instructions for processing the signals received from the pin 3 or the connection 12 or an address of the plug 1, the socket 11 or the connection 12.

If like in in Fig. 1 If several plug sockets 11 are provided in the example shown, the control unit 13 can be designed for the individual, ie individual or joint control of the connections 12a, 12b of the plug sockets 11.

In an embodiment not shown, at least one socket 11 can have more than one, in particular more than two connections.

Fig. 2 shows a plug 1, which has a housing 2, the sockets 11 of which in comparison with the example according to FIG Fig. 1 are designed differently, and from which three connecting pins 3, 3a, 3b, 3c protrude. In contrast, in the example according to Fig. 1 the three connection pins 3a, 3b, 3c combined in one connection pin 3. Stand in a favorable way the three connection pins 3a, 3b, 3c according to Fig. 2 , or the one pin 3 according to Fig. 1 , at right angles from the bottom 2a of the housing 2 in order to facilitate the piercing process in the carrier body 4. In Fig. 2 the at least one connection pin 3 is formed by a connection pin 3a with the electrically conductive contact element 8, by a connection pin 3b with the electrically conductive contact element 9 and by a connection pin 3c with the light-conducting contact element 10. The connection pin 3b has an insulating layer 19 on its surface, at least in the area of the electrically conductive layer 5. If the connector 1 as in the example according to Fig. 2 is pierced into the carrier body 4, the electrically conductive contact element 8 is in contact with the electrically conductive layer 5, the electrically conductive contact element 9 with the electrically conductive layer 6 and the light-conducting contact element 10 with the light-conducting layer 7.

In an embodiment not shown, the at least one connection pin 3 can be formed by at least two connection pins, on the surfaces of which the electrically conductive contact elements 8, 9 and the light-guiding contact element 10 are arranged.

Fig. 3 shows a plug 1 with a two-part housing 2. The two-part housing 2 has a base part 20 and a head part 21 which can be separated from the base part 20 and thus reconnected. The base part 20 is firmly connected to the electrical contact elements 8, 9 and the optical contact element 10, ie firmly to the connection pin 3 or the connection pins 3a, 3b, 3c. In addition, the base part 20 can have the control unit 13. The head part 21 has the at least one socket 11. The head part 21 and the base part 20 can also have corresponding connecting bodies 22, for example connecting bodies 22a of a plug connection. Fig. 3 also shows a head part 21a of a housing 2a of a second, in Fig. 3 plug 1a, not completely shown, which head part 21a of the second plug 1a has at least one socket 11a different from the socket 11 of the head part 21 of the first plug 1. The plug 1 and the additional head part 21a of the second plug 1a form a group or a set.

In the embodiment of Fig. 2 and 3 Both electrically conductive layers 5, 6 of the carrier body 4 are covered with an electrically insulating layer 18, 23 on their side 5a, 6a facing away from the light-guiding layer 7. In addition, the carrier body 4 can have fastening means 24, in particular a self-adhesive layer 24a, on its surface. A carrier layer 25 for stabilizing the carrier body 4 can be provided between the electrically insulating layer 23 and the self-adhesive layer 24a.

Fig. 4 shows a plug 1 into which an electrical and / or optical device G is plugged or screwed directly, ie without a connecting cable between the device G and the plug 1. In Fig. 4 the housing 2 is shown in one piece, but it could also be made in two parts.

Fig. 5 shows a combination of a carrier body 4, in which two plugs 1 with differently designed, in particular differently shaped sockets 11 are inserted. The connectors 1 are designed according to the invention. The sockets 11 are provided for receiving a plug connector V of an electrical or optical device G to be connected to the carrier body 4. The connector 1 can accommodate more than one connector V. For the electrical or optical connection of the device G to the carrier body 4, the socket 11 has at least one electrical or optical connector 12 which is connected to at least one of the electrical contact elements 8, 9 or to the optical contact element 10 of the connector pin 3. Since the connector 1 in the in Fig. 5 In the example shown, the same electrically conductive layers 5, 6 and the same light-conducting layer 7 of the carrier body 4 are pierced, the devices G are connected to one another via the carrier body 4.

In an embodiment not shown, the carrier body 4 could have more than two electrically conductive layers 5, 6 and / or more than one light-guiding layer 7. In a further embodiment, not shown, the carrier body 4 could be designed symmetrically to a center plane which runs parallel to the electrical layers 5, 6, so that the Plug 1 can be pierced on opposite sides of the carrier body 4 in this.

Fig. 6 shows a further combination of a carrier body 4 into which a plug 1 is inserted. In order to keep the connector 1 reliably in engagement with the carrier body 4, the connector 1 can be screwed to the carrier body 4 by means of a screw SC. In the example shown, the plug 1 hangs down from the support body 4, ie the plug 1 is arranged on the support body 4 in the direction of gravity. For example, the carrier body 4 can be fastened, in particular glued, on its surface with the fastening means 24, in particular with the self-adhesive layer 24a, on an underside of a support device, for example a ceiling of a room. The plug 1 can also have a fastening hook H on which the device G to be connected to the plug 1, for example a luminous element, can be suspended.

Fig. 6 also shows a control device C separate from the carrier body 4 and the connector 1, which is provided for connection to the carrier body 4 and for feeding electrical or optical signals into the carrier body 4 or for receiving electrical or optical signals from the carrier body 4. The connection can take place via a feed device E connected to the control unit C and connectable to the carrier body 4. In particular, the feed device E can have electrical connections E1, E2 for connection to the electrically conductive layers 5, 6 of the carrier body 4 and / or an optical connection E3 for connection to the light-conducting layer 7 of the carrier body 4. The control device C can have a memory C1 for addresses and control information for the individually controllable devices G. The control device C can in particular be designed to feed control signals containing the addresses and the control information into the feed device E, ie into the electrical layers 5, 6, but preferably into the light-conducting layer 7 of the carrier body 4. For this purpose, the control device C contains the information required for the individual control of the devices G or the control units 13 and makes this information available to the carrier body 4. The control information contained in memory C1 can be a switch-on command, contain a switch-off command or data for the devices G. The control device C expediently has a processing unit C2, for example a microprocessor, and input means in order to be able to input or store the address information or the control information in the control device C. In addition, the control device C advantageously has a unit C3 for generating the electrical and optical signals to be fed into the carrier body 4 and / or a receiving device C4 for light signals.

Claims (14)

1. Plug (1) for insertion into at least two layers (5, 6) made of electrically conductive material and into a layer (7) made of material that conducts light waves, the plug comprising a housing (2), at least two mutually insulated electrical contact elements (8, 9) and a light-conducting optical contact element (10), the at least two electrical contact elements (8, 9) and the light-conducting optical contact element (10) being arranged on at least one connecting pin (3, 3a, 3b, 3c) protruding from the housing (2), which pin, at the end further away from the housing (2) (3s), is designed to converge to at least one tip (S), the electrical contact elements (8, 9) being arranged in different longitudinal positions (L8, L9) on the at least one connecting pin (3, 3a, 3b, 3c), characterized in that the housing (2) has at least one socket (11) for a plug connector (V) of an electrical and/or optical device (G) to be connected to the connecting pin (3, 3a, 3b, 3c), the socket (11) having at least one connection (12, 12a, 12b) which is connected to at least one of the electrical contact elements (8, 9) and to the optical contact element (10), and in that the housing (2) has a control unit (13), via which the electrical contact elements (8, 9) and/or the optical contact element (10) are connected to the at least one connection (12, 12a, 12b), the control unit (13) being designed for controlling the connection (12, 12a, 12b) depending on input light signals detected using the optical contact element (10) and/or for controlling the optical contact element (10) using output light signals depending on signals detected using the connection (12, 12a, 12b).
2. Plug (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (13) has a transmitter (14) and/or a receiver (15) for light signals, the control unit (13) preferably having an electrical processing unit (16) which is connected to the transmitter (14) or to the receiver (15) for light signals and which is preferably connected to an electrical data memory (17) of the control unit (13).
3. Plug (1) according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that a plurality of sockets (11) for receiving plug connectors (V) of one or more electrical and/or optical devices (G) to be connected to the connecting pin (12, 12a, 12b) are provided, the control unit (13) preferably being designed for individually controlling one or more of the connections (12, 12a, 12b) of the sockets (11).
4. Plug (1) according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the control unit (13) is designed to detect address information and control information in the input light signals detected using the optical contact element (10), to compare the address information with a particular address assigned to the socket (11) and, in the event that the detected address information matches the particular address, to control the connection (12, 12a, 12b) of the addressed socket (11) depending on the control information.
5. Plug (1) according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the control unit (13) is designed to detect address information and control information in the signals detected using the connection (12, 12a, 12b) of the socket (11), to compare the address information with a particular address assigned to the socket (11) and, in the event that the detected address information matches the particular address, to control the optical contact element (10) depending on the control information.
6. Plug (1) according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the housing (2) is in two parts, with a base part (20) firmly connected to the electrical contact elements (8, 9) and the optical contact element (10) and a head part (21) which can be separated from and reconnected to the base part (20), which head part (21) has the at least one socket (11), the head part (21) and the base part (20) preferably being designed for tool-free separation from one another and connection to one another.
7. Plug (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the base part (20) has the control unit (13).
8. Combination of a first plug (1) according to either claim 6 or claim 7, which has a two-part housing (2), with at least one head part (21a) of a housing (2a) of a second plug (1a) according to either claim 6 or claim 7, which head part (21a) of the second plug (1a) has a socket (11a) that is different from the socket (11) of the head part (21) of the first plug (1).
9. Combination of a carrier body (4) with at least one plug (1) inserted therein according to any of claims 1 to 7, which carrier body (4) has a first electrically conductive layer (5) facing the plug (1), a second electrically conductive layer (6) electrically insulated from the first layer and facing away from the plug (1), and a light-conducting layer (7) for conducting light signals, the plug (1) being connected to the light-conducting layer (7) by means of its optical contact element (10), being connected to the first electrically conductive layer (5) by means of a first of its electrical contact elements (8), and being connected to the second electrically conductive layer (6) by means of a second of its electrical contact elements (9).
10. Combination of a carrier body (4) with at least one plug (1) inserted therein according to claim 9, characterized in that the light-conducting layer (7) of the carrier body (4) is arranged between the first (5) and second (6) electrically conductive layers of the carrier body (4).
11. Combination of a carrier body (4) with at least one plug (1) inserted therein according to either claim 9 or claim 10, characterized in that the carrier body (4) is flexible.
12. Combination of a carrier body (4) with at least one plug (1) inserted therein according to either claim 10 or claim 11, characterized in that at least one of the electrically conductive layers (5, 6), preferably both electrically conductive layers (5, 6), is/are covered by an electrically insulating layer (18, 23) on the side (5a, 6a) thereof facing away from the light-conducting layer (7).
13. Combination of a carrier body (4) with at least one plug (1) inserted therein according to any of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the carrier body (4) has fastening means (24), in particular a self-adhesive layer (24a), on its surface.
14. Combination of a carrier body (4) with at least one plug (1) inserted therein according to any of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that the at least one connecting pin (3) is formed of two connecting pins (3a, 3b) each having an electrically conductive contact element (8, 9) and one connecting pin (3c) having the light-conducting contact element (10), the connecting pin (3c) having the light-conducting contact element (10) preferably being made of light-conducting material.

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