EP4092836A1 - Prefabricated cable, cable connector assembly and electrical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a pre-assembled cable, a cable connector arrangement and an electrical plug connection. A pre-assembled cable (1) has a shielding film (4), a shielding mesh (5) which encloses the shielding film (4), and a cable jacket (6). which encloses the braided shield (5). The braided shield (5) is exposed from the cable jacket (6) at a plug-side end (8) of the prefabricated cable (1). The shielding film (4) has a film (9) made of a dielectric material and a metallic coating (10 1 , 10 2 ) on an outer lateral surface and on an inner lateral surface the foil (9). The metallic coating (10₁) on the outer lateral surface is connected to the metallic coating (10₂) on the inner lateral surface in a plug-side end area (11) of the shielding film (4). preferably in an end region (11) of the shielding film (4) on the plug side in an electrically conductive manner.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a preassembled cable with the features of patent claim 1. The present invention also relates to a cable connector arrangement with the features of patent claim 10. Finally, the present invention relates to an electrical plug connection with the features of patent claim 15.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

A shielded cable in which at least one inner conductor is encased by an outer conductor is typically used for the transmission of high-frequency signals. The electromagnetic wave is guided in an electrically insulating insulator between the inner and the outer conductor. In addition to guiding an electromagnetic wave within the shielded cable, the outer conductor also serves as a shield. The shielding protects the electromagnetic wave carried in the shielded cable from high-frequency interference from the outside of the cable and at the same time prevents the electromagnetic wave carried in the shielded cable from being radiated to the outside. The shielding or the outer conductor of the shielded cable is typically formed by a combination of a shielding film and a shielding mesh surrounding the shielding film. The combination of shielding foil and shielding mesh combines the good shielding attenuation of the shielding foil at higher frequencies with good Shielding attenuation at low frequencies and the better mechanical properties, in particular the high breaking strength, of the shielding braid.

A shielding foil is typically made of a dielectric foil which is coated on both of its lateral surfaces, i. H. on its inner wall and on its outer wall, is coated with a metallic coating.

A shielding film designed in this way can transmit an electromagnetic wave between the two metallic coatings. In addition to the actual transmission path between the inner conductor and the metal coating on the inner wall of the shielding film, there is therefore an undesired additional transmission path for the electromagnetic wave. Since the electromagnetic wave in the cable transition in a high-frequency connector can be fed both into the actual transmission path and into the undesired additional transmission path, part of the signal energy of the high-frequency signal is lost from the actual transmission path.

In addition, the two-wire system of the shielding film is connected in series to the two-wire system of the inner conductor and the inner-wall coating of the shielding film of the actual cable transmission path. The overall impedance of the cable is falsified by the impedance of the two-wire system of the shielding film and no longer matches the impedance of the connector. This mismatch causes reflections and thus an additional loss of signal energy to be transmitted.

Finally, in the two-wire transmission system of the double metal-coated shielding film, which is helically wound around the dielectric of the cable, there is an increase in the load impedance in a certain frequency range due to resonant effects compared to the matched characteristic impedance of the shielding film and thus unwanted reflections and an additional loss signal energy to be transmitted. The transmission factor of the actual transmission path thus deteriorates during the transmission of the high-frequency signal.

This is a condition that needs to be improved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Against this background, the object of the present invention is to specify a technical solution in which the signal losses in the actual transmission path of the shielded cable due to an undesired feeding of the high-frequency signal into the shielding film are reduced.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a prefabricated cable with the features of claim 1.

Accordingly, it is provided:

• eine Schirmungsfolie,
• ein Schirmungsgeflecht, welches die Schirmungsfolie umschließt und
• einen Kabelmantel, welcher das Schirmungsgeflecht umschließt,
• wobei das Schirmungsgeflecht an einem steckerseitigen Ende des vorkonfektionierten Kabels vom Kabelmantel freigelegt ist,
• wobei die Schirmungsfolie eine Folie aus einem dielektrischen Material und
• jeweils eine metallische Beschichtung an einer äußeren Mantelfläche und an einer inneren Mantelfläche der Folie aufweist und
• die metallische Beschichtung an der äußeren Mantelfläche mit der metallischen Beschichtung an der inneren Mantelfläche der Schirmungsfolie elektrisch leitend verbunden ist bzw. eine elektrisch leitende Verbindung zwischen der metallischen Beschichtung der äußeren Mantelfläche und der metallischen Beschichtung der inneren Mantelfläche ausgebildet ist.

Having a pre-assembled cable

• a shielding foil,
• a shielding braid, which encloses the shielding foil and
• a cable jacket that encloses the braided shield,
• wherein the braided shielding is exposed from the cable jacket at a plug-side end of the pre-assembled cable,
• wherein the shielding foil is a foil of a dielectric material and
• each having a metallic coating on an outer lateral surface and on an inner lateral surface of the film and
• the metallic coating on the outer lateral surface is electrically conductively connected to the metallic coating on the inner lateral surface of the shielding film or an electrically conductive connection is formed between the metallic coating of the outer lateral surface and the metallic coating of the inner lateral surface.

The electrically conductive connection is particularly preferably formed in an end region of the shielding film on the connector side, but can in principle be formed in any region of the shielding film within the scope of the invention.

The metallic coating of the outer lateral surface can also be referred to as the first metallic outer coating of the film and the metallic coating of the inner lateral surface as the second metallic outer coating of the film. The foil thus preferably forms, in cross-section, a stack of first metallic outer coating, followed by the dielectric material, followed in turn by the second metallic outer coating.

Preferably, the inner lateral surface of the film runs on an outside of the film facing away from the outer lateral surface of the film; the two lateral surfaces particularly preferably extend on the outer sides of the film running parallel to one another.

Preferably, the outer surface of the film faces away from the cable center or from the longitudinal axis of the prefabricated cable and the inner surface of the film faces the cable center or the longitudinal axis of the prefabricated cable.

The finding/idea on which the present invention is based consists in electrically connecting the metallic coatings of a dielectric material to one another in the shielding film of a cable via at least one electrically conductive connection. The electrically conductive connection between the metallic coating on the outer lateral surface and on the inner lateral surface is preferably formed in an end region of the shielding film on the connector side.

The two-wire system of the shielding film is short-circuited via the electrical connection of the two metallic coatings on the plug-side end area of the shielding film. An electromagnetic wave can thus advantageously no longer be fed into the shielding film from the connector in the cable transition. Parasitic guidance of the electromagnetic wave in the shielding foil is prevented. The short-circuited two-wire system of the shielding film no longer falsifies the overall impedance of the cable transmission system. The overall impedance of the cable transmission system is thus matched and avoids unwanted reflections of the electromagnetic wave. The resonant effects that falsify the load impedance in a specific frequency range compared to the matched characteristic impedance can thus be avoided.

The electrical connection between the metallic coatings on the outer lateral surface and the inner lateral surface of the preferably hollow-cylindrical shielding film can preferably be formed on the plug-side end area of the prefabricated cable. In the plug-side end area of the pre-assembled cable, the braided shielding and thus also the shielding foil located radially inside the braided shielding are exposed from the cable sheath during the assembly process. The shielding film is thus easily accessible in the plug-side end area of the prefabricated cable during the fabrication process and can be easily processed with regard to an electrical connection between the two metallic coatings.

However, it is also conceivable to form the electrical connection between the metallic coatings on the outer surface and the inner surface of the shielding film in both end areas of the cable and/or in an axial intermediate area between the two end areas of the cable.

The individual electrical connection can each be an electrically conductive connecting element, for example a metallic cap, a metallic pin, a metallic sleeve, a metallic wire, a metallic clip, a metallic platelet, a metallic spring, a Connecting element made of an electrically conductive elastomer - ie an elastomer with integrated metal particles - be a metallic wire mesh or any other electrically conductive or metallic connecting element with a suitable shape. In addition, the electrically conductive connection can also be realized via a plurality of electrically conductively connected, ie electrically contacting, connecting elements, for example via the combination of the outer conductor contact element and the braided shield, as will be shown below. Finally, the electrically conductive connection can also be realized via a metallic layer or coating, a metallic filling, a solder bridge, an electrically conductive paste or the like.

The individual electrical connection can be non-positively connected to the metallic coatings of the shielding foil (for example when crimping the shielding foil and the braided shielding with the outer conductor contact element). In addition, a material connection (soldering, welding or gluing (in the case of electrically conductive elastomer)) or possibly a form-fitting connection is also conceivable.

The electrical connection between the metallic coatings of the shielding film can also be realized by direct electrical contacting of the two metallic coatings by the dielectric film of the shielding film being displaced by suitable processing at a point inside or at the edge of the shielding film.

The individual variants of an electrical connection between the metallic coatings on the outer Lateral surface and on the inner lateral surface are each explained in detail below.

Advantageous refinements and developments result from the further dependent claims and from the description with reference to the figures of the drawing.

It goes without saying that the features mentioned above and those still to be explained below can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

In a preferred form of an electrical connection, the metallic coatings arranged concentrically to one another are electrically connected to one another over the entire cross section. The area between the two metal coatings of the shielding film is thus completely filled with metal. In this case no electromagnetic wave can couple into the shielding film at all.

In the simplest case, the front end of the shielding film, in particular the front end of the dielectric film of the shielding film, is completely metallically terminated for example with a metallic layer or a metallic cap. However, it is also conceivable to electrically connect the two metallic layers of the shielding film to one another via two sharp-edged, semi-cylindrical metal sheets at a specific axial distance from the front end of the shielding film.

Due to the concentrically arranged metallic coatings of the shielding film, several electrical connections are formed in a further embodiment of the invention, which are preferably distributed at the same axial position or in a narrowly limited axial position range of the shielding film over the circumference of the shielding film.

In particular, it is advantageous to strive for an equal distribution of the individual electrical connections in equidistant angular sections along the circumference of the prefabricated cable.

Compared to a single electrical connection, i. H. a discrete electrical connection, between the two metallic coatings of the shielding film, the limit frequency (= cutoff frequency) of the parasitic transmission channel in the shielding film is increased with such a development. In this way it can be shifted to a frequency range outside the transmission frequency range of the cable.

The individual electrical connection between the metallic coatings of the shielding film can be arranged within a passage of the shielding film, which is formed between the metallic coatings of the shielding film. Alternatively, the individual electrical connection between the metallic coatings of the shielding film can also be arranged in a recess at the edge of the shielding film, for example in a notch which is continuously recessed between the metallic coatings of the shielding film at the edge of the shielding film. The single electrical connection between the metallic coatings of the shielding film can also be arranged directly adjacent to the shielding film, ie directly adjacent to the edge of the shielding film, for example directly adjacent to the front end of the shielding film. Finally, the individual electrical connection between the metallic coatings of the shielding film can also be arranged at a distance from the shielding film, for example via a metallic wire which electrically connects the two metallic coatings at a certain distance from the shielding film.

In a special form of an electrical connection between the metallic coatings of the shielding film, a punctiform or planar area of the shielding film is processed in such a way that the dielectric film is displaced in the punctiform or planar area and the metallic coatings of the shielding film contact each other. The direct electrical contact between the two coatings of the shielding film thus forms the electrical connection.

For this purpose, the respective punctiform or planar area of the shielding film is processed mechanically (for example by means of an embossing stamp), thermally (for example by means of a laser beam) or acoustically (for example by means of an ultrasonic probe) in the assembly process. For this purpose, the shielding film is to be processed in the individual punctiform or planar areas in such a way that the electrical contact between the two metallic coatings leads to a latent, ie a permanent, electrical connection between the metallic coatings of the shielding film.

In a preferred embodiment of a prefabricated cable, the exposed braided shield is surrounded by a support sleeve or a support sleeve is fastened in a known manner to a section of the braided shield. The support sleeve is preferably attached to the exposed braided shielding by means of a crimp connection. The front end area of the exposed braided shielding and thus also the front end area of the exposed shielding film are folded back around the support sleeve. The support sleeve is preferably made of metal in order to form a stable stop when pressing or crimping the outer conductor contact element with the folded-back braided shielding or the folded-back shielding foil. Preferably, at least a portion of the folded back braided shielding is exposed by the folded back shielding foil. The electrical connection between the two metallic coatings of the shielding foil through a flat electrical contact of at least one surface area of the exposed braided shielding with a surface area of the shielding foil via the outer conductor contact element or another metallic element of the connector is explained in detail below.

In order to allow the shielding film to fold back around the support sleeve and the shielding braid located between them, the shielding film is cut in the folded-back area, starting from the front end of the shielding film. In the folded-back area, the shielding film has at least one cutout, preferably a slit-shaped cutout, running in the longitudinal direction of the prefabricated cable. For fighting back additionally to simplify, several recesses or slot-shaped recesses are preferably formed. A strip of the shielding film is formed between each two recesses formed adjacent to one another.

In a specific application, the shielding foil and the shielding mesh cannot each be folded back around a support sleeve. In this case, too, the shielding film can have at least one cutout running in the longitudinal axis direction of the prefabricated cable, starting from the front end, and if there are several cutouts, one strip between two cutouts formed adjacent to one another.

In both cases - shielding foil and braided shielding folded back and braided shielding that has not been folded back and braided shielding that has not been folded back - when the outer conductor contact element is pressed or crimped with the braided shielding and the shielding foil, individual strands of the braided shielding can protrude through the cutouts and the two metallic coatings of the shielding foil can be electrically damaged connect with each other. Instead of the outer conductor contact element, another metallic element can also be used inside the connector, which is pressed against the braided shielding or against the shielding foil.

In a further embodiment of a prefabricated cable, the strips of the shielding film, which are each formed between two cutouts in the shielding film that are formed adjacent to one another, are each of this type folded such that a longitudinal extension of the folded area is oriented at an angle to a longitudinal extension of the non-folded area of the same strip. Here and in the following, folding a strip of the shielding film is understood to mean turning the strip over by 180°. Thus, the entire non-folded area and at least a portion of the folded area of the same strip can make electrical contact with the braided shield.

By folding the strip, the two metallic coatings of the shielding foil can point in the same direction. The braided shielding or a metallic element, for example the outer conductor contact element of the connector, which cover the non-folded area and a partial area of the folded area of a strip of the shielding foil at the same time and thus make electrical contact, can thus form an electrical connection between the two metallic coatings of the shielding foil .

The angle between the longitudinal extent of the folded area and the longitudinal extent of the non-folded area of the same strip is greater than 0° and less than or equal to 90°, preferably greater than 30° and less than 60°, particularly preferably greater than 40° and less than 50° and at best 45°.

A cable connector assembly is also covered by the invention. The technical measures already explained above for the prefabricated cable in order to prevent an electromagnetic wave from being fed into the shielding film can be transferred to the cable connector arrangement in an equivalent manner.

The cable connector assembly includes a pre-assembled cable, as discussed above, and a connector. The plug connector is electrically and mechanically connected to the prefabricated cable at the plug-side end of the prefabricated cable. The plug connector contains at least one outer conductor contact element, which is electrically connected at least to the braided shielding and/or to the shielding foil. In this way, the plug connector is connected to the cable on the outer conductor side and a shield transition between the plug connector and the cable is realized.

• bei Verwendung einer Stützhülse kann einzig das Schirmungsgeflecht um die Stützhülse zurückgeschlagen sein, während die Schirmungsfolie nicht um die Stützhülse zurückgeschlagen ist: in diesem Fall kann eine elektrische Verbindung, beispielsweise eine Crimpverbindung, einzig zwischen dem Außenleiterkontaktelement und dem Schirmungsgeflecht realisiert sein; alternativ kann im Bereich der Stützhülse eine Crimpverbindung zwischen dem Außenleiterkontaktelement und dem Schirmungsgeflecht und am steckerseitige Ende des vorkonfektionierten Kabels eine elektrische Verbindung zwischen dem Außenleiterkontaktelement und der Schirmungsfolie verwirklicht sein,
• sind sowohl das Schirmungsgeflecht und die Schirmungsfolie um die Stützhülse zurückgeschlagen, so existiert wenigstens eine elektrische Verbindung, bevorzugt eine Crimpverbindung, zwischen dem Außenleiterkontaktelement und der Schirmungsfolie; falls an der Schirmungsfolie Aussparungen, Durchführungen, Ausnehmungen und dgl. ausgebildet sind oder das Schirmungsgeflecht gegenüber der Schirmungsfolie verlängert ausgeführt ist, kann zusätzlich eine elektrische Verbindung, bevorzugt eine Crimpverbindung, zwischen dem Au-ßenleiterkontaktelement und der Schirmungsgeflecht verwirklicht sein und

The connection between the outer conductor contact element of the connector and the shielding of the cable can be made in various ways, with some advantageous options being described below as examples:

• when using a support sleeve, only the braided shield can be folded back around the support sleeve, while the shielding foil is not folded back around the support sleeve: in this case, an electrical connection, for example a crimp connection, can only be realized between the outer conductor contact element and the braided shield; alternatively, in the area of the support sleeve, a crimp connection can be made between the outer conductor contact element and the shielding braid and an electrical connection can be made between the outer conductor contact element and the shielding film at the plug-side end of the prefabricated cable,
• if both the braided shielding and the shielding foil are folded back around the support sleeve, then there is at least one electrical connection, preferably a crimp connection, between the outer conductor contact element and the shielding film; If recesses, bushings, recesses and the like are formed on the shielding film or if the braided shielding is longer than the shielding film, an additional electrical connection, preferably a crimp connection, can be implemented between the outer conductor contact element and the braided shielding and

- In the event that no support sleeve is used, an electrical connection between the outer conductor contact element and the shielding braid can be provided primarily; if the shielding film is designed to be longer than the shielding braid, there can also be an electrical connection between the outer conductor contact element and the shielding film.

The installation of the pre-assembled cable in the connector opens up further possibilities for realizing an electrical connection between the metallic coatings of the shielding film.

While the previously described variants of an electrical connection between the metallic coatings of the shielding film are primarily in the radial direction to the longitudinal axis of the pre-assembled cable or the cable connector assembly, the variants of the electrical connection described below are primarily in the axial direction and/or in the rotational circumferential direction.

The braided shielding is connected to the shielding foil over a large area, i. H. the outer lateral surface of the shielding film is connected to the inner lateral surface of the shielding braid over a large area.

If the braided shield and the shielding foil snap back around the support sleeve, the braided shield is preferably longer than the shielding foil, a metallic element inside the connector, preferably the outer conductor contact element, can contact both the shielding foil and the braided shield that is longer than the shielding foil. The simultaneous contacting of braided shielding and shielding film through the metallic element, preferably through the outer conductor contact element, is made possible by a small thickness and a certain deformability of the shielding film in the pressing process, in particular in the crimping process. The joint contacting of the braided shielding and the shielding film by the metallic element, preferably through the outer conductor contact element, creates an electrical connection between the metallic coatings of the shielding film via the braided shielding and the metallic element or the outer conductor contact element.

If the shielding braid and the shielding foil do not snap back by a support sleeve, the shielding foil is preferably extended in relation to the shielding braid, a metallic element inside the connector, preferably the outer conductor contact element, can also contact both the shielding braid and the shielding foil that is longer than the shielding braid at the same time. This is about that too Shielding braid and the metallic element or the outer conductor contact element realizes an electrical connection between the metallic coatings of the shielding film.

An electrical connection between the metallic coatings of the shielding foil can also be made via a metallic element or the outer conductor contact element if this simultaneously contacts the shielding foil and the shielding braid located underneath through at least one cutout, bushing or recess formed in the shielding foil.

Another variant that can be used to create an electrical connection between the metallic coatings of the shielding film is the formation of a sharp-edged and/or pointed surface structure on the metallic support sleeve, the outer conductor contact element or another metallic element within the connector. In the crimping process, the sharp-edged and/or pointed surface structure through the shielding film and can electrically connect the metallic coatings of the shielding film to one another.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a support sleeve or an outer conductor contact element or another metal element within the connector is also conceivable, each having an embossed surface. In the assembled state, i.e. in the latent state, of the cable connector assembly, the embossed surface of the support sleeve, the outer conductor contact element or the other metallic element shapes the shielding film in such a way that dielectric material of the shielding film is displaced and the metallic coatings of the shielding film contact each other electrically. A result equivalent to that of the pre-processing of the pre-assembled cable explained above is thus achieved on the shielding film of the ready-made cable connector arrangement.

Finally, an electrical connection between the metallic coatings of the shielding film can be realized in that the front end of the shielding film, which is typically hollow-cylindrical, ends in a cavity within the connector, which is metallically delimited and thus closed. The metal boundary of the cavity can be a metal encapsulation or a metal wall, for example. The electrical connection between the metallic coatings of the shielding film is implemented via the metallic delimitation of the cavity.

In this context, it should be mentioned that the front end of the shielding film does not necessarily have to end inside the connector, but can also be led out of the connector. The technical measures explained above for the prefabricated cable to prevent an electromagnetic wave from being fed into the dielectric film of the shielding film can be used in an equivalent manner with a shielding film that is routed to the outside. In this case, penetration of high-frequency interference radiation, i. H. from external EMC, avoided from the outside in the shielding film.

Finally, an electrical plug connection is also covered by the invention. The above to the pre-assembled Cables and the technical measures already explained for the cable connector arrangement in order to prevent an electromagnetic wave from being fed into the shielding film can be transferred to the electrical connector in an equivalent manner.

The electrical plug connection includes the already explained cable connector arrangement with a connector and a mating connector that corresponds to the connector. In order to implement the electrical plug connection, at least the plug connector and the mating plug connector are electrically connected to one another on the inner conductor and outer conductor side.

Finally, a shielding film for an electrical cable is also covered by the invention. The shielding film has a film made of a dielectric material, which has a metallic coating on its lateral surfaces, in particular a metallic coating on a first lateral surface (for example the lateral surface referred to above as "outer lateral surface") and a second lateral surface (for example the lateral surface referred to above as "inner Lateral surface "designated lateral surface) has. An electrically conductive connection is set up between the electrical coating or between the two metallically coated lateral surfaces.

The shielding film can, for example, be produced in such a way that the electrically conductive connection between the two lateral surfaces already exists, for example by bushings being introduced into the dielectric material or by the dielectric material already being manufactured with corresponding bushings through which extends the metal to be applied as part of the coating and thus produces the electrically conductive connection between the lateral surfaces in the manner of vias.

It can also be provided that the foil is also metallically coated on the edges or side surfaces or processed in some other way, whereby the electrically conductive connection between the two lateral surfaces can be established via the edges or side surfaces of the foil.

The technical measures already explained above for the prefabricated cable, for the cable connector arrangement and for the plug connection in order to prevent an electromagnetic wave from being fed into the shielding film can be transferred to the shielding film in an equivalent manner.

The above configurations and developments can be combined with one another as desired, insofar as this makes sense. Further possible configurations, developments and implementations of the invention also include combinations of features of the invention described above 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. 1A, 1B

eine Längsschnittdarstellung eines vorkonfektionierten Kabels und eines Ausschnitts davon nach dem Stand der Technik,

Fig. 2A,2B

eine Seitenansicht eines ersten und zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels eines vorkonfektionierten Kabels,

Fig. 3A,3B

eine Längsschnittdarstellung eines dritten Ausführungsbeispiels eines vorkonfektionierten Kabels und eines Ausschnitts davon,

Fig. 4A,4B

eine Längsschnittdarstellung eines vierten Ausführungsbeispiels eines vorkonfektionierten Kabels und eines Ausschnitts davon,

Fig. 5A,5B

eine Längsschnittdarstellung eines fünften Ausführungsbeispiels eines vorkonfektionierten Kabels und eines Ausschnitts davon,

Fig. 6A,6B

eine Längsschnittdarstellung eines sechsten Ausführungsbeispiels eines vorkonfektionierten Kabels und eines Ausschnitts davon,

Fig. 7

eine Längsschnittdarstellung eines Ausschnitts eines siebten Ausführungsbeispiels eines vorkonfektionierten Kabels,

Fig. 8

eine Längsschnittdarstellung eines Ausschnitts eines achten Ausführungsbeispiels eines vorkonfektionierten Kabels,

Fig. 9A,9B

eine Längsschnitts- und eine Querschnittsdarstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Steckverbinders,

Fig. 9C

eine Seitenansicht einer weiteren Ausprägung eines vorkonfektionierten Kabels für einen erfindungsgemäßen Steckverbinder,

Fig. 10A, 10B

eine Längsschnittdarstellung und eine Seitenansicht einer weiteren Ausprägung eines erfindungsgemäßen Steckverbinders,

Fig. 11

eine Längsschnittdarstellung einer weiteren Ausprägung eines erfindungsgemäßen Steckverbinders und

Fig. 12

eine Querschnittsdarstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen elektrischen Steckverbindung.

The present invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments given in the schematic figures of the drawing. They show:

Figures 1A, 1B

a longitudinal sectional view of a pre-assembled cable and a section thereof according to the prior art,

2A,2B

a side view of a first and second embodiment of a pre-assembled cable,

3A,3B

a longitudinal sectional view of a third embodiment of a pre-assembled cable and a section thereof,

4A,4B

a longitudinal sectional view of a fourth embodiment of a pre-assembled cable and a section thereof,

Figures 5A, 5B

a longitudinal sectional view of a fifth embodiment of a pre-assembled cable and a section thereof,

Figures 6A, 6B

a longitudinal sectional view of a sixth embodiment of a pre-assembled cable and a section thereof,

7

a longitudinal sectional view of a section of a seventh embodiment of a pre-assembled cable,

8

a longitudinal sectional view of a section of an eighth exemplary embodiment of a prefabricated cable,

9A, 9B

a longitudinal section and a cross-sectional view of a connector according to the invention,

Figure 9C

a side view of a further form of a pre-assembled cable for a connector according to the invention,

Figures 10A, 10B

a longitudinal sectional view and a side view of a further embodiment of a connector according to the invention,

11

a longitudinal sectional view of a further embodiment of a connector according to the invention and

12

a cross-sectional view of an electrical connector according to the invention.

The accompanying drawing figures are intended to provide a further understanding of embodiments of the invention. They illustrate embodiments and, together with the description, serve to explain principles and concepts of the invention. Other embodiments and many of the foregoing advantages will become apparent by reference to the drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily shown to scale with respect to one another.

In the figures of the drawing, elements, features and components that are the same, have the same function and have the same effect--unless stated otherwise--are each provided with the same reference symbols.

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

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Although the present invention has been fully described above on the basis of preferred exemplary embodiments, it is not restricted to them, but rather can be modified in a variety of ways.

Out of Figure 1A shows a pre-assembled cable 1 according to the prior art. This pre-assembled cable 1 has at least one inner conductor 2, an insulation element 3 enclosing the inner conductor 2, a shielding film 4 enclosing the insulation element 3, a shielding braid 5 enclosing the shielding film 4, a cable jacket 6 enclosing the shielding braid 5 and a support sleeve 7.

The shielding film 4 and the shielding mesh 5 form the outer conductor of the prefabricated cable 1. As usual, the at least one inner conductor 2 is exposed from the insulation element 3 at a plug-side end 8 of the prefabricated cable 1. Analogously, the insulating element 3 is exposed from the shielding film 4 and from the braided shielding 5 and the braided shielding 5 from the cable jacket 6 at the plug-side end 8 of the prefabricated cable 1 . On the shielding film 4 exposed by the cable jacket 6, the support sleeve 7 is preferably connected to the shielding mesh 5 by means of a crimp connection. The plug-side end of the braided shielding 5 is folded back around the support sleeve 7 .

How out Figure 1B shows, the hollow-cylindrical shielding film 4 has a dielectric film 9 and a metallic coating 10 ₁ and 10 ₂ on the outer lateral surface and on the inner lateral surface. How out Figure 1A and in particular from the enlarged section Z in Figure 1B It can be clearly seen that the end face in the plug-side end region 11 of the shielding film 4 is not coated with metal.

An electromagnetic wave, which is coupled into the prefabricated cable 1 in an electrical connector, not only reaches the usual waveguide, which is formed in the insulating element 3 between the inner conductor 2 and the metallic coating 10 ₂ on the inner surface of the shielding film 4, but also in a waveguide connected in series thereto, which is formed in the dielectric film 9 of the shielding film 4 between the metallic coatings 10 ₁ and 10 ₂ on the outer lateral surface and on the inner lateral surface. As a result, the actual waveguide of the shielded cable 1 is deprived of signal energy of the electromagnetic wave to be transmitted. The transmission factor of the shielded cable deteriorates disadvantageously.

In order to minimize or preferably prevent coupling of an electromagnetic wave into the shielding film 4 of the prefabricated cable 1, the metallic coatings 10 ₁ and 10 ₂ are applied according to the invention on the outer and inner lateral surface of the shielding film 4, preferably in the plug-side end region 11 of the shielding film 4, electrically connected to each other.

In a first exemplary embodiment of a prefabricated cable 1 according to the invention, the electrical connection between the metallic coatings 10 ₁ and 10 ₂ on the outer and inner lateral surface of the shielding film 4 is made by metallizing the front end of the shielding film 4 according to Figure 2A . With such an embodiment of a prefabricated cable 1, the coupling of an electromagnetic wave into the shielding film 4 is prevented in the best possible way. The electromagnetic wave cannot penetrate into the shielding film 4 at all. The front end of the shielding film 4 can be completely coated with metal during the manufacturing process or completely covered with a metal body.

In a second exemplary embodiment of a prefabricated cable 1 according to the invention, a plurality of discrete electrically conductive connections 12 are formed between the metallic coatings 10 ₁ and 10 ₂ on the outer and inner lateral surface of the shielding film 4 . These individual electrically conductive connections 12 are preferably implemented in equidistant angular segments of the cross section of the shielding film 4 . Compared to an implementation variant of the prefabricated cable 1 according to the invention, in which only a single electrically conductive connection 12 is formed between the metallic coatings 10 ₁ and 10 ₂ of the shielding film 4, the capacitance per unit length of several electrically conductive connections 12 is at the front end of the shielding film 4 and thus the coupling of an electromagnetic wave into the shielding film 4 is reduced. The formation of electrically conductive connections 12 between the metallic coatings 10 ₁ and 10 ₂ of the shielding film 4 can on the connector side End portion 11 of the shielding film 4 be limited. The individual electrically conductive connections 12 can each be implemented via an individual metallic coating, via an individual metallic cover or via an electrical connection element, which is explained below.

In a third embodiment (cf. Figures 3A, 3B ) the electrically conductive connection 12 can be implemented via a metallic connecting element 13 spaced apart from the front end of the shielding film 4 . This can be, for example, a single metallic wire, a single metallic clamping element or a single metallic retaining clip. If the metallic connecting element 13 spaced from the front end of the shielding film 4 extends over the entire front surface of the shielding film 4, this can be done according to FIG Figures 3A and 3B For example, a slotted metallic hollow ring can be used. Each of the metallic connecting elements 13 spaced apart from the shielding film 4 preferably contacts the metallic coatings 10 ₁ and 10 ₂ of the shielding film 4 in a materially or non-positive manner.

In a fourth embodiment (cf. Figures 4A, 4B ) the electrically conductive connection 12 can in each case be formed via a metallic connecting element 14 which rests on the front end of the shielding film 4 . This can be, for example, a single metal clamping element or a single metal retaining clip. In the case of a metallic connecting element 14 which is in contact with the front end of the shielding film 4 and extends over the entire front face of the shielding film 4, it can, according to FIG Figures 4A and 4B for example by one act metallic annular cap with U-shaped cross-sectional profile. The connection between the at least one metallic connecting element 14 and the metallic coatings 10 ₁ and 10 ₂ of the shielding film 4 is also preferably made in a materially or non-positive manner.

In a fifth embodiment, the electrically conductive connection 12 according to the Figures 5A and 5B be realized in each case via a metallic via 15 of the shielding film 4 in the end region 11 of the shielding film 4 . The metal through-connection 15 can be implemented mechanically, for example, by clamping a suitably shaped metal element into the shielding film 4 or by means of metallic coating of a bushing previously formed mechanically or possibly thermally in the shielding film 4 or the film 9 . The metal vias 15 should preferably be distributed evenly over the circumference of the shielding film 4 . The via 15 can according to the Figures 5A and 5B be realized as a passage between the two metallic coatings 10 ₁ and 10 ₂ within the shielding film 4, but also as a recess or as a notch between the two metallic coating 10 ₁ and 10 ₂ at the edge of the shielding film 4.

In a sixth embodiment (cf. Figures 6A, 6B ), the electrically conductive connection 12 can be realized via a pointed and/or sharp-edged surface structure 16 of the support sleeve 7, which, in particular when the pre-assembled cable 1 is pressed or crimped with the outer conductor contact element of the connector, completely penetrates the shielding film 4 and the metallic coatings 10 ₁ and 10 ₂ of the shielding film 4 electrically connects to each other. The in the Figures 6A and 6B each schematic The tip 16 shown, which is formed on the outer surface of the support sleeve 7, penetrates the shielding mesh 5 that has been folded back and the shielding film 4 that has also been folded back.

Due to the sharp edges and the steepness of the tip 16, an electrical contact between the metallic coatings 10 ₁ and 10 ₂ of the shielding film 4 is secured via the pointed and/or sharp-edged surface structure 16 of the metallic support sleeve 7 . As an alternative to the metallic support sleeve 7, another metallic element can also be used within the connector, for example the outer conductor contact element, with a pointed and/or sharp-edged surface structure 16, which is pressed against the shielding film 4 that has been folded back or not, thereby damaging the metallic coatings 10 ₁ and 10 ₂ of the shielding film 4 electrically connects to each other.

In a seventh exemplary embodiment, the electrically conductive connection 12 between the metallic coatings 10 ₁ and 10 ₂ corresponds to the shielding film 4 7 formed via a soldered connection 17 or an electrically conductive paste 17 which rests against the front end of the shielding film 4 .

In an eighth embodiment (cf. 8 ) the electrically conductive connection 12 between the metallic coatings 10 ₁ and 10 ₂ of the shielding film 4 is formed by mutual electrical contacting 18 of the metallic coatings 10 ₁ and 10 ₂ . For this purpose, the shielding film 4 is processed in its plug-side end region 11 at least one point in such a way that the between the two metallic coatings 10 ₁ and 10 ₂ of the shielding film 4 located dielectric film 9 is displaced and the two metallic coatings 10 ₁ and 10 ₂ of the shielding film 4 contact each other electrically.

In addition to the previously explained exemplary embodiments of an electrically conductive connection 12 between the metallic coatings 10 ₁ and 10 ₂ of the shielding film 4, which can already be carried out on the prefabricated cable 1, exemplary embodiments of an electrically conductive connection 12 in the interaction between the prefabricated cable 1 and other components, in particular the outer conductor contact element of the connector:

In the inventive cable connector assembly 100 according to FIG Figures 9A and 9B the prefabricated cable 1 is inserted into the connector 19. The shielding film 4 folded back around the support sleeve 7 and the braided shielding 4 also folded back around the support sleeve 7 are pressed, in particular crimped, to the outer conductor contact element 20 of the connector 19 .

To better turn back the shielding film 4 to the support sleeve 7 and the braided shielding 5, the shielding film 4, as from the Figures 9B and 9C emerges, starting from the front end of the shielding film 4 in the longitudinal direction of the prefabricated cable 1 at least once, preferably several times, cut. The recesses 21 formed in this way preferably have a recess width of the same or a similar size as the width of the respective recesses between two trained strips 22 of the shielding film 4 on. Alternatively, only slit-shaped recesses 21 are conceivable.

Through the pressing or crimping process according to Figure 9B Stranded areas of the braided shielding 5 in each case into the cutouts 21 formed between the strips 22 of the shielding film 4 and contact the areas of the outer conductor contact element 20 located in the area of the cutouts 21. Through the electrical contacting of the metallic coating 10 ₂ formed on the inner lateral surface of the folded-back shielding film 4 the outer conductor contact element 20 and the simultaneous electrical contacting of the metallic coating 10 ₁ formed on the outer lateral surface of the folded-back shielding film 4 through the shielding mesh 5, an electrically conductive connection 12 is thus formed between the metallic coatings 10 ₁ and 10 ₂ of the shielding film 4. The braided shielding 5 and the outer conductor contact element 20 together form the electrically conductive connection 12 between the metallic coatings 10 ₁ and 10 ₂ of the shielding film 4.

Additional contacting between the outer conductor contact element 20 and the braided shielding 5 takes place in the case of a braided shielding 5, which is lengthened axially compared to the shielding film 4, additionally in the axially lengthened area 23 of the braided shielding 5, as shown in FIG Figure 9A is indicated.

The electrically conductive connection 12 between the metallic coatings 10 ₁ and 10 ₂ of the shielding film 4 by means of an electrical contact between the Outer conductor contact element 20 and the folded-back shielding braid 5 can be additionally increased by having at least one bushing 24, preferably several bushings 24, and/or at least one recess 25, preferably several openings 25, in the individual strips 22 of the folded-back shielding foil 4 on the edges of the individual strips 22 of the folded-back shielding film 4 according to Figure 9C are trained.

In a further exemplary embodiment of a cable connector arrangement 100 according to the invention Figures 10A and 10B the strips 22 of the shielding film 4 folded back around the support sleeve 7 are folded at their front end in such a way that the longitudinal extension of the folded area 26 is at an angle greater than 0° and less than 90° to the longitudinal extension of the non-folded area 27 of the individual strip 22, preferably at an angle of 45° to one another.

In this way, both the metallic coating 10 ₁ of the non-folded area 27 of each strip 22 of the shielding foil 4 formed on the outer lateral surface of the shielding foil 4 and the metallic coating 10 ₂ of the folded area 26 of each strip formed on the inner lateral surface of the shielding foil 4 22 of the shielding film 4 with the shielding mesh 5 in electrical contact. The braided shielding 5 thus forms the electrical connection between the metallic coatings 10 ₁ and 10 ₂ of the shielding film 4.

In a further embodiment of the cable connector assembly 100 according to the invention figure 11 ends the plug-side end 11 of the shielding film 4 in one metallically limited cavity 28 within the connector 19. In the in figure 11 illustrated embodiment, the metallic boundary 29 of the cavity 28 can be formed in an area belonging to the outer conductor contact element 20 . It is essential that the metallic boundary of the cavity 28 , ie the metallic area of the outer conductor contact element 20 , makes electrical contact with the metallic coatings 10 ₁ and 10 ₂ of the shielding film 4 and thus forms the electrically conductive connection 12 . The front end of the shielding foil 4 does not necessarily have to be as shown in figure 11 shown touching the metallic boundary of the cavity 28, but can also be spaced from the metallic boundary of the cavity 28 by air or a dielectric or another electrically conductive material. A further metallic element arranged in the plug connector 19 can also be used to form a metallically delimited cavity 28 .

Out of 12 Finally, an electrical plug connection 30 between a connector 19 and a corresponding mating connector 31 emerges. For this purpose, the inner conductor 2 of the prefabricated cable 1 is connected to an inner conductor contact element 32 of the plug connector 19, for example via a crimped or soldered connection. An insulating element 33 of the connector 19 is arranged between the outer conductor contact element 20 and the inner conductor contact element 32 for mutual spacing and for electrical insulation. The outer conductor contact element 20 of the connector 19 is inserted in a connector housing 34 .

The mating connector 31 is equivalently connected in a connector assembly 200 with a pre-assembled cable. An outer conductor contact element 36 is arranged in a connector housing 35 of the mating connector 31 . The outer conductor contact element 36 of the mating connector 31 is electrically connected to the corresponding outer conductor contact element 20 of the connector 19 . An inner conductor contact element 37 of the mating connector, which is electrically connected to the corresponding inner conductor contact element 32 of the connector 19, is spaced apart from the outer conductor contact element 36 via an insulator element 38 of the mating connector 31 and is electrically insulated. The connector housing 34 of the connector 19 is mechanically connected to the connector housing 35 of the mating connector 31 via a latching connection 39, for example. The inner conductor contact element 37 is connected to the inner conductor 40 of the prefabricated cable 41 inserted and fastened in the mating connector 31 . In the prefabricated cable 41 , the inner conductor 40 is surrounded by an insulator element 42 , the insulator element 42 by a shielding film 43 , the shielding film 43 by a shielding mesh 44 and the shielding mesh 44 by a cable jacket 45 . A support sleeve 46 is fastened to the braided shielding 44 exposed by the cable jacket 45 . The exposed braided shielding 44 is folded back around the support sleeve 46 and electrically connected to the outer conductor contact element 36 by means of pressing or crimping.

The two metallic coatings of the shielding foils 4 and 43 of the two pre-assembled cables 1 and 41 are connected at their plug-side ends via a metallic connecting element 14 according to FIG Figures 4A and 4B electrically connected to each other.

Instead of a cable connector, the mating connector 31 can also alternatively be designed as an adapter, as a printed circuit board or housing connector or the like.

Claims (15)

Prefabricated cable (1) having a shielding film (4),
a shielding braid (5) which encloses the shielding foil (4), and
a cable jacket (6) which encloses the braided shield (5),
the braided shield (5) being exposed from the cable jacket (6) at a plug-side end (8) of the prefabricated cable (1),
wherein the shielding film (4) has a film (9) made of a dielectric material and a metallic coating (10 ₁ , 10 ₂ ) on an outer lateral surface and on an inner lateral surface of the foil (9),
characterized,
that the metallic coating (10 ₁ ) on the outer lateral surface is electrically conductively connected to the metallic coating (10 ₂ ) on the inner lateral surface of the shielding film (4), preferably in an end region (11) of the shielding film (4) on the connector side is. Prefabricated cable (1) according to claim 1,
characterized,
that the electrically conductive connection (12) between the metallic coating (10 ₁ ) on the outer lateral surface and the metallic coating (10 ₂ ) on the inner lateral surface is formed in an associated passage (24) of the shielding film (4). Prefabricated cable (1) according to claim 1 or 2
characterized,
that the electrically conductive connection (12) between the metallic coating (10 ₁ ) on the outer lateral surface and the metallic coating (10 ₂ ) on the inner lateral surface in each case in an associated recess (25) formed on a boundary of the shielding film (4) or is formed adjacent to the shielding film (4) or spaced apart from the shielding film (4). Prefabricated cable (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 3,
characterized,
that several electrically conductive connections (12) are formed between the metallic coating (10 ₁ ) on the outer lateral surface and the metallic coating (10 ₂ ) on the inner lateral surface, which are preferably arranged in equidistant angular sections to one another. Prefabricated cable (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 4,
characterized,
that the shielding film (4) is processed in at least one punctiform or planar area in such a way that the dielectric film (9) is displaced in the punctiform or planar areas and the metallic coatings (10 ₁ , 10 ₂ ) on the outer Contact lateral surface and on the inner lateral surface of the shielding film (4) electrically. Prefabricated cable (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 5,
characterized,
that the metallic coating (10 ₁ ) on the outer surface and the metallic coating (10 ₂ ) on the inner lateral surface are electrically connected to one another via the electrically conductive connection (12) in such a way that an area between the metallic coatings (10 ₁ , 10 ₂ ) is completely metallically filled. Prefabricated cable (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 6,
characterized,
that the exposed braided shielding (5) is surrounded by a support sleeve (7), the exposed braided shielding (5) and the shielding film (4) being folded back around the supporting sleeve (7), the folded-back braided shielding (5) having at least one area, which is exposed in each case by the folded-back shielding film (4). Prefabricated cable (1) according to claim 7,
characterized,
that , starting from a front end of the folded-back shielding film (4), a plurality of cutouts (21) are formed in the folded-back shielding film (4), which each run parallel to one another in a longitudinal axis direction of the prefabricated cable (1), wherein between two cutouts formed adjacent to one another ( 21) a strip (22) of the folded-back shielding film (4) is formed in each case. Prefabricated cable (1) according to claim 8,
characterized,
that each strip (22) is folded in such a way that at least a partial area of a folded area (26) of the strip (22) makes electrical contact with the braided shielding (5). Cable connector arrangement (100), having a prefabricated cable (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9 and
a plug connector (19) which is connected to the prefabricated cable (1) at the plug-side end (8) of the prefabricated cable (1),
wherein the connector (19) contains at least one outer conductor contact element (20),
wherein the outer conductor contact element (20) is electrically connected to the braided shielding (5) and/or to the shielding film (4). Cable connector assembly (100) according to claim 10,
characterized,
that the braided shielding (5) is uncovered by the shielding film (4) in at least one area, the metallic coating (10 ₁ ) on the outer lateral surface and the metallic coating (10 ₂ ) on the inner lateral surface of the shielding foil (4) having a flat electrical connection between a surface of the shielding film (4) and a surface of at least one area of the shielding mesh (5) exposed by the shielding film (4). Cable connector assembly (100) according to claim 11,
characterized,
that the flat electrical connection is formed by means of the outer conductor contact element (20) or another metallic element in the plug connector (19), which in each case lies flat on the surface of the exposed braided shielding (5) and on the surface of the shielding film (4). Cable connector assembly (100) according to any one of claims 10 to 12,
characterized,
that the metallic support sleeve (7) or the outer conductor contact element (20) or another metallic element in the connector (19) each have a sharp-edged and/or pointed surface structure (16), which in each case has the shielding film (4) between the metallic coating (10 ₁ ) on the outer surface and the metallic coating (10 ₂ ) penetrates on the inner surface. Cable connector assembly (100) according to any one of claims 10 to 13,
characterized,
that the connector-side end area (11) of the shielding film (4) ends in a cavity (28) of the connector (19), which is preferably completely metallic, with the electrically conductive connection (12) between the metallic coating (10 ₁ ) on the outer lateral surface and the metallic coating (10 ₂ ) is formed on the inner lateral surface by the metallic boundary (29) of the cavity (28). Electrical plug connection (30), comprising a cable connector arrangement (100) according to one of Claims 10 to 14 and a corresponding mating connector (31), the plug connector (19) and the mating connector (31) being electrically connected to one another on the inner conductor and outer conductor sides.

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