EP3907830B1 - Outer conductor arrangement - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an outer conductor arrangement and a manufacturing method for an outer conductor arrangement.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

Connectors are known, for example, through the "PosiBand" connector from Positronic, both with an open entry and with a closed entry.

A connector with an open entry is in Figure 3 shown. Such connectors have an interface-side front edge that is not closed all around. As a rule, interruptions in the front edge are formed by contact tabs. Connectors with an open entry can better compensate for manufacturing tolerances and reduce the mating forces required for mating.

A connector with a closed entry is in Figure 4 shown. Such connectors have a closed front edge on the interface side. Contact tabs can be surrounded by a housing. Plug connectors with a closed entry prevent the connector from being damaged by mechanical forces, for example by attempting to plug in an incorrect mating connector. They also lead to significantly increased insertion forces.

State-of-the-art tests show that the optimization of one of the parameters EMC tightness, insertion forces and stability and impedance optimization of a connector in the high frequency range contradict each other. For example, this can be seen in existing products from the applicant, Rosenberger Hochfrequenciestechnik GmbH & Co. KG. Figure 9 shows such a product.

5 shows an outer conductor 90 of a high-voltage (HV) plug, which is designed for frequencies in the megahertz range. The outer conductor includes a closed entry 91 and resilient contact tabs 92 with contact points 93 located behind the closed entry. Depending on the frequency, resonances occur on the outer conductor due to capacitances between the plug-in partners. Although the above-mentioned disadvantages do not yet occur in this frequency range, there is a need to provide an outer conductor that is suitable for a plug in a higher frequency range. The US 20140364013 A1 and the DE 202013001452 U1 show an outer conductor arrangement for a connector having an outer conductor base body and an outer conductor ring, the outer conductor base body having a plurality of contact tabs, the outer conductor ring connecting to an interface-side end of the outer conductor base body, being connected to the outer conductor base body at at least one connection area by means of a retaining tab and of a closed structure is to form a closed entry of the outer conductor arrangement, with contact tabs being provided which are not connected to the outer conductor ring.

EP 0 476 848 A1 shows an object according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Against this background, the present invention is based on the object of specifying a connector with a closed entry and improved impedance properties.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by an outer conductor arrangement with the features of patent claim 1.

Accordingly it is provided:
an outer conductor arrangement for a connector having an outer conductor base body and an outer conductor ring, the outer conductor base body having a plurality of contact tabs, the outer conductor ring connecting to an interface-side end of the outer conductor base body, being connected to the outer conductor base body by means of a retaining tab at at least one connection area and having a closed structure to form a closed inlet of the outer conductor arrangement, with contact tabs being provided which are not connected to the outer conductor ring, with a diameter jump being formed between the outer conductor ring and the outer conductor base body, the diameter of the outer conductor base body being larger than the diameter of the outer conductor ring, with at least one contact tab has a connection area in which the contact tab is designed as a holding tab to which the outer conductor ring is connected, the holding tab has a resilient contact tab in the holding tab.

The idea underlying the present invention is to arrange ends of contact tabs of an outer conductor behind an outer conductor ring in such a way that the contact tabs are flexibly deformable in order to ensure low insertion forces and at the same time to create a closed entry through an outer conductor ring.

Accordingly, the contact tabs that are not connected to the outer conductor ring have the same tolerance-compensating properties as the contact tabs according to Figure 7.

In this patent application, a ring is understood to mean a rotating object. Its cross-sectional area can be, among other things, round, oval, elliptical or the like.

According to the invention, the outer conductor arrangement has an inward diameter jump between the outer conductor base body and the outer conductor ring. Diameter jumps in the outer conductor allow the impedance to be adjusted.

According to the invention, at least one contact tab is designed as a holding tab to which the outer conductor ring is connected. In this way, the outer conductor ring can be attached particularly easily and securely to the outer conductor base body.

If contact tabs are only connected to the external conductor base body, they have resilient properties. The retaining tabs can be designed in such a way that their rigidity is greater than the stiffness of the unconnected contact tabs.

If the outer conductor ring is connected to several tabs, in particular to two tabs, on the outer conductor base body, it has a lower spring capacity than the contact tabs that are not connected to the outer conductor ring.

It is also provided that a resilient contact tab is provided in the holding tab.

Advantageous refinements and further developments result from the further subclaims and from the description with reference to the figures in the drawing.

It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

In particular, it can be provided that the outer conductor ring has no bulge or indentation.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the outer conductor ring is designed to protect contact tabs from mechanical force influences. This is necessary if a connector is to be able to be plugged in from an oblique direction or if it is to withstand forces from an oblique direction when plugged in without damaging the outer conductor. According to an embodiment of the present invention, this protection of the contact tabs be ensured by a closed entry of the external conductor.

This embodiment of the present invention thus solves the problem of reducing insertion forces and at the same time increasing the stability of a plug connector. However, the optimization of these two properties is in opposite directions in practice, i.e. a desired increase in stability leads to an undesirable increase in insertion forces and vice versa.

It is advantageous if a main direction of extension of the holding tab runs in the circumferential direction of the outer conductor holding ring and/or if the main direction of extension of the holding tab runs perpendicular to the main direction of extension of the contact tabs.

What is particularly advantageous about the connector according to the invention is that it can also be manufactured using a stamping process including the jumps in diameter.

If a connector according to the invention is manufactured using a stamping process, jumps in diameter of the retaining tabs can be produced.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the outer conductor ring is connected to the outer conductor base body by means of a joining process, for example by welding. Alternatively, the outer conductor ring and the outer conductor base body can be made from a coherent part.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the outer conductor base body has two retaining tabs. The retaining tabs can be straight or curved.

According to a preferred embodiment, the outer conductor ring has a protective collar which protrudes in the radial direction relative to free ends of the contact tabs, the protective collar being designed to protect the contact tabs of the outer conductor base body from mechanical forces. It can be provided that the protective collar prevents the contact tabs from being damaged by incoming objects, such as tools. In one embodiment, the protective collar can be designed as a vertical wall that projects from the outer conductor ring or as a curved tab that covers the front ends of the contact tabs.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the contact tabs each have a raised contact point for contacting a mating connector. This means that the contact tabs are pre-tensioned when plugged in, which improves the contact. In this way, the shielding of the connector is improved. In order to reduce insertion forces, it is possible to arrange these contact points offset in the axial direction.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the outer conductor ring and the outer conductor base body are formed in one piece.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the outer conductor base body is designed as a stamped part. Stamped parts can be produced in a particularly cost-effective manner. In particular, the production of stamped parts can be carried out in a highly automated manner. However, creating diameter jumps in stamping processes for plug connectors with a closed entry is only possible in conjunction with other mechanical disadvantages such as high insertion forces or low contact forces.

The above configurations and further developments can be combined with one another in any way, if it makes sense. Further possible refinements, further developments and implementations of the invention also include combinations of features of the invention described previously or below with regard to the exemplary embodiments that are not explicitly mentioned. In particular, the person skilled in the art will also add individual aspects as improvements or additions to the respective basic form of the present invention.

CONTENTS OF THE DRAWING

Fig. 1

zeigt eine schematische Perspektivansicht einer Außenleiteranordnung gemäß dem Stand der Technik;

Fig. 2

zeigt eine schematische Perspektivansicht einer Außenleiteranordnung gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung;

Fig. 3

zeigt eine schematische Ansicht des Standes der Technik;

Fig. 4

zeigt eine schematische Ansicht des Standes der Technik;

Fig. 5

zeigt eine schematische Ansicht des Standes der Technik;

The present invention is explained in more detail below using the exemplary embodiments given in the schematic figures of the drawing. It shows:

Fig. 1

shows a schematic perspective view of an outer conductor arrangement according to the prior art;

Fig. 2

shows a schematic perspective view of an outer conductor arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3

shows a schematic view of the prior art;

Fig. 4

shows a schematic view of the prior art;

Fig. 5

shows a schematic view of the prior art;

The accompanying figures of the drawing are intended to provide a further understanding of the embodiments of the invention. They illustrate embodiments and, in connection with the description, serve to explain principles and concepts of the invention. Other embodiments and many of the advantages mentioned arise with regard to the drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily shown to scale to one another.

In the figures of the drawing, identical, functionally identical and identically acting elements, features and components - unless otherwise stated - are each provided with the same reference numerals.

The figures are described in a coherent and comprehensive manner below.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of an external conductor arrangement in the unassembled state according to the prior art. The outer conductor arrangement according to Figure 1 differs from the outer conductor arrangement 100 according to Figure 2 in that the outer conductor arrangement 100 has a resilient contact tab in the holding tab. The Figures 1 and 2 are described comprehensively and coherently below with regard to functionally identical features. Accordingly includes the outer conductor arrangement according to Figure 1 the outer conductor base body and the outer conductor ring. The outer conductor assembly is designed to accommodate one or more inner conductors and one or more insulating parts to provide a coaxial, twinaxial or triaxial connector.

The outer conductor base body includes several contact tabs on its top and bottom sides and a holding tab on the right and left sides, which is designed as a contact tab. The contact tab is slightly larger than the contact tabs and therefore stiffer than the contact tabs. The outer conductor ring is also formed on the contact tabs 203, which additionally contributes to increased rigidity of the contact tabs compared to the contact tabs.

The contact tabs each have a contact point in a front end region. The contact point is designed as an elevation on the contact tabs and, when plugged in, contacts the outer conductor of a mating connector, which is plugged in with an outer conductor arrangement. This ensures electromagnetic shielding on the top and bottom of the outer conductor arrangement of inner conductors (not shown) guided in the outer conductor base body through the outer conductor base body.

In Figure 2 The contact tabs 203 also each have a contact point 205. The contact point 205 is formed on a spring tab 207 in the contact tab 203. In this way it is ensured that the outer conductor arrangement 100 also provides electromagnetic shielding on the sides of the outer conductor arrangement.

In Figure 1 It can be seen that the outer conductor base body provides a jump in diameter between the contact tabs and the outer conductor ring.

In Figure 1 the outer conductor ring is connected to the outer conductor base body via a weld seam. Alternatively, the outer conductor base body and the outer conductor ring can be formed in one piece.

The outer conductor ring includes the protective collar, which protects the ends of the contact tabs from the effects of foreign bodies.

Reference symbol list

100

External conductor arrangement

200

Outer conductor base body

201

Contact tabs

203

Contact tabs

204

Contact point

205

Contact point

207

Spring tab

300

External conductor ring

305

Protective collar

Claims (9)

1. An outer conductor arrangement (100) for a plug connector having an outer conductor base body (200) and an outer conductor ring (300), wherein the outer conductor base body (200) has several contact tabs (201, 203),

   wherein the outer conductor ring (300) connects to an interface-side end of the outer conductor base body (200), is connected to the outer conductor base body (200) in least one connection area by means of a retaining tab and is of closed structure, in order to form a closed entry of the outer conductor arrangement (100),

   wherein contact tabs (201) are provided, which are not connected to the outer conductor ring (300), wherein between the outer conductor ring and the outer conductor base body a jump in diameter is designed, wherein the diameter of the outer conductor base body is greater than the diameter of the outer conductor ring,

   wherein at least one contact tab (203) has a connection area, in which the contact tab is designed as a retaining tab, to which the outer conductor ring is connected,

   characterized in that

   the retaining tab has a resilient contact tab (207) in the retaining tab.
2. The outer conductor arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the outer conductor ring (300) is configured to protect the contact tabs (201) against mechanical force influences.
3. The outer conductor arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer conductor ring (300) is connected to the retaining tab by means of a joining process, in particular by means of a weld seam.
4. The outer conductor arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer conductor base body (200) has several retaining tabs, in particular, two retaining tabs.
5. The outer conductor arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer conductor ring (300) has a protective collar (305), which protrudes in the radial direction from free ends of the contact tabs, wherein the protective collar is configured to protect the contact tabs of the outer conductor base body against mechanical force application.
6. The outer conductor arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the contact tabs (201, 203) each have a raised contact point (204, 205) for contacting a mating connector to be connected to the plug connector.
7. The outer conductor arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the contact points (204, 205) are designed offset to one another in the axial direction of the outer conductor base body.
8. The outer conductor arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer conductor base body and/or the outer conductor ring is designed as a punched part.
9. The outer conductor arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer conductor base body and the outer conductor ring are formed in one-piece.

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