EP4122056A1

EP4122056A1 - Shielded plug connector module

Info

Publication number: EP4122056A1
Application number: EP21714811.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Heiko Meier
Original assignee: Harting Electric Stiftung and Co KG
Current assignee: Harting Electric Stiftung and Co KG
Priority date: 2020-03-20
Filing date: 2021-03-10
Publication date: 2023-01-25
Also published as: DE102020107725B3; US20230114787A1; DE202021004428U1; CN115398755A; KR20220155343A; WO2021185410A1

Abstract

In order to improve the shielding of a plug connector module (1, 1') and of a plug connector modular system equipped therewith, in particular against high-frequency interference fields, according to the invention the insulation body (10, 10') of said module is form-fittingly surrounded all around by a shielding element (15, 15'). This additionally allows the earth connection of a metal plug connector modular frame (2) to a shield transfer element (14, 14') of the plug connector module (1, 1') and thus also an earth connection to a mating connector. Thus the shield element (15, 15') itself is also earthed all around and at multiple points, and as a result can suppress the effect of in particular high-frequency electrical and/or magnetic interference fields particularly well.

Description

Shielded connector module

description

The invention is based on a connector module according to the preamble of independent claim 1. The invention is also based on one

Modular connector system which has a metallic or at least partially metallic connector modular frame and at least one connector module according to claim 12.

Such connector modules are required as part of a modular connector system in order to be able to flexibly adapt a connector, in particular a heavy industrial connector, to certain requirements with regard to signal and energy transmission, for example between two electrical devices. As a result, a wide variety of, for example, optical and / or electrical analog and / or digital signals and / or electrical energy can be transmitted via a plug-in connection in a flexible manner as required.

For this purpose, the corresponding connector modules are usually inserted into matching connector modular frames, which are sometimes also referred to as holding frames, hinged frames, module frames or modular frames. The modular connector frames are therefore used to accommodate several connector modules of the same type and / or different from one another and to fasten them securely to a surface and / or a device wall and / or in a connector housing or the like.

The connector modules generally each have a substantially cuboidal insulating body. These insulating bodies can, for example, be made in two parts and consist of a contact carrier and consist of a retaining plate. This allows them to receive plug-in contacts in their contact chambers and fix them in them.

The plug contacts of different plug connector modules can be of the most varied of types. The function of one formed thereby

Connector is therefore very flexible. It can e.g. B. pneumatic modules, optical modules, modules for the transmission of electrical energy and / or electrical analog and / or digital signals can be accommodated in the respective insulating body or housing and are thus used in the modular connector system. Plug connector modules are also increasingly taking on measurement and data technology tasks and are therefore particularly sensitive to interference, in particular to electrical and / or magnetic interference fields and stray effects.

Connector modular frames are typically used to hold several of these modules in the connector housing. These can be formed from two frame halves which can be pivoted relative to one another and which are articulated to one another. The connector modules are provided with approximately rectangular latching lugs protruding on the narrow sides as retaining and polarization means for their fixation and correct alignment in the modular connector frame.

In the side parts of the frame halves there are recesses formed as openings that are closed on all sides, namely so-called

"Latching window is provided, into which the latching lugs plunge positively when inserting the connector modules into the connector modular frame. To insert the connector modules, the connector modular frame is unfolded, that is to say opened, the frame halves around the joints only being opened so far that the connector modules can be inserted. Then the frame halves are capped together, ie the The modular connector frame is closed, the retaining means reaching the recesses and a secure, form-fitting hold of the connector modules in the modular connector frame.

The designs of modular connector frames are diverse. For example, modular connector frames, each with a rigid base frame, can also be used. This can in particular in a die casting process, for. B. in the zinc die-casting process and can be on its long sides with several flexible cheek parts, z. B. be provided with stamped and bent parts made of resilient sheet metal. The cheek parts can snap-in center! such as locking windows or locking hooks or the like, on which the connector modules z. B. engage with their locking lugs. For example, two cheek parts can be provided for each connector model, that is to say one on each longitudinal side of the base frame, or one or more cheek parts can also be used which have several tabs. On every cheek part! and / or each tab can e.g. B. each be arranged a locking element. Such modular connector frames have the advantage that the connector modules can be individually introduced into and removed from the modular connector frame with little effort and, for example, also in an automated manner.

State of the art

In the prior art, the said modular connector systems with such connector modules using such a modular connector frame, also known as a holding frame, module frame, hinged frame or module frame, are disclosed in numerous publications and publications in many different variants, shown at trade fairs and are often found in the industrial environment in Form of heavy load connectors in use. For example, they are in the publications DE 102013 106279 A1, DE 102012 110907 A1,

DE 102012 107270 A1, DE 202013 103611 Ü1, EP 2510590 A1,

EP 2510589 A1, DE 202011 050643 U1, EP 0860906 A2,

DE 29601 998 U1, EP 1 353412 A2, DE 102015 104562 Al

5 EP 3067993 A1, EP 1 026788 A1, EP 2979326 A1, EP 2917974 A1.

From said document EP 0860906 B1, a connector module frame in the form of an articulated frame for holding connector modules and for installation in

Connector housing or known for screwing to wall surfaces. The connector modules are in the

Plug connector modular frame used. Retaining means are provided on the connector modules which interact with windows provided on opposite side parts of the connector modular frame, the windows consisting of rectangular recesses which are designed as through openings in the side parts of the connector modular frame that are closed on all sides.

The modular connector frame is designed as an articulated frame and consists of two frame stacks that are articulated to one another, the separation of the modular connector frame being provided transversely to the side parts of the frame. In the fastening ends of the modular connector frame, joints are arranged in such a way that the side parts move when the

Align the modular connector frame on a mounting surface at right angles to the mounting surface, whereby the connector modules enter into a form-fitting connection with the modular connector frame via the retaining means. In practice, such 30 connector modular frames are usually in one

Die-casting process, in particular in a zinc die-casting process, manufactured. The document DE 102015 114703 A1 discloses a further development of such a modular connector frame designed as a hinged frame. The modular connector frame disclosed therein has at least one fixing means, via which the frame halves can be fixed to one another in two positions, an open position and a closed position, which considerably simplifies handling.

The publication DE 202013 103611 U1 shows two frame halves which can be screwed together extremely stably, can be manufactured inexpensively using stamping and bending technology and can be screwed together. pneumatic modules are suitable. The modular connector frame assembled in this way has only very low creep properties even under high long-term mechanical stress. However, it is disadvantageous that the effort involved in adding or replacing a plug connector module is extremely high.

However, it has been shown in practice that such modular connector frames require complex operation during assembly. For example, such modular connector frames have to be unscrewed and / or unlocked from the connector housing as soon as even a single module is to be replaced. In the process, the other connector modules, whose removal was not even desired, may also fall out of the connector modular frame and then have to be reinserted before the frame halves are screwed together and / or before the frame halves are locked. Finally, even before the frame halves are joined together, all the connector modules must be in the position intended for them at the same time, so that when the frame halves are joined together, they are finally in the To be fixed connector modular frame, which complicates the assembly.

The document EP 1 801 927 B1 discloses a one-piece modular connector frame made of plastic material! consists. The modular connector frame is designed as a circumferential collar and has several wall segments separated by slots on its plug-in side. In each case two opposing wall segments form an insertion area for a connector module, the wall segments having window-like openings which serve to accommodate projections formed on the narrow sides of the connector module. Furthermore, a guide groove is provided in each of the wall segments. The guide groove is formed above the openings by means of an outwardly offset window web which has an insertion bevel on the inside. In addition, the

Connector module on locking arms that act on the narrow sides in the direction of the cable connections, are formed, and lock below the lateral collar wall, so that two independent Rastmittei fix the connector module in the modular connector frame. This plastic frame has the disadvantage that it does not allow PE protective grounding because it does not have any electrically conductive material

The publication DE 102013 113975 B4 discloses a modular connector frame, in particular made of die-cast zinc, for a heavy connector for receiving similar and / or different connector modules. The modular connector frame consists of a base frame with a rectangular cross-section and two opposite side parts. A cheek part, consisting of a flexible material, in particular resilient sheet metal, is attached to each of the side parts. When inserting a connector module into the connector modular frame perpendicular to the frame plane, these are Cheek parts initially bent outwards from the side part. In particular, the cheek parts can have tabs with locking windows, which are suitable for individually locking the connector modules at their locking lugs in the connector modular frame. The connector modules can thus be used individually and with little

Effort from the cable connection direction and inserted in the plug-in direction into the modular connector frame and removed again in the opposite direction. The plugged-in connector module is held firmly and stably by the base frame of the connector modular frame in the frame plane. In their insertion direction, perpendicular to the plane of the frame, they can lock with their locking lugs between opposing cheek parts. This design basically has the advantage that the connector modules can be plugged in and removed individually without the attachment of the others

Connector modules is affected. The design also allows the connector modular frame to be made of metal and to have a PE contact or to be equipped with such, and thus enables the protective grounding of a metallic connector housing into which the connector modular frame is screwed, and to a certain extent also an electrical and / or magnetically shielding function of the connector modules.

Basically, the prior art has the disadvantage that even when using metallic plug connector modular frames, the electrical

The shielding of individual connector modules is not always sufficient.

As a result, in particular electrical signals that are transmitted via connector modules can be disrupted by electrical and / or magnetic fields that arise outside the respective connector module but within the connector modular frame. Such disturbances can, for example, by the one electrical energy supply with alternating current. Furthermore, electrical and / or magnetic fields that arise outside the modular connector frame can also interfere with said electrical signals within the connector module.

For a radiation-free transmission of signals, the document EP 1 398853 B1 proposes that a plug connector module have an electrically conductive shell housing with a plug insert in a holding body made of insulating material. The connector module is held in a module carrier device by means of latching means, which in turn is integrated into a connector housing. Within the shell housing, an electrically conductive contact is provided for the shielding of a signal-carrying cable, so that several connector modules with independent ground potentials as well as connector modules that transmit a power supply, pneumatics or the like can be arranged in the module carrier device without influencing one another. With this design it has proven to be disadvantageous for many applications that there is no screen transfer and thus no direct equipotential bonding of the screen between the plug connector module and a plug connector module of a mating connector plugged in with it. This has proven to be disadvantageous in particular for high-frequency signals.

In order to counter this problem, the document DE 102018 108968 A1 discloses that both connector modules plugged together each have a screen transfer element. With this screen transfer element there is a cable connection side to each

Connector module connected cable, e.g. B. with a braided shield connected. Cover the screen transfer elements one side surface of the connector module in each case over a large area and can be electrically contacted with one another on the plug-in side. Both screen transfer elements are made of a metallic material, which in particular has good electrically conductive properties. The wave resistance, also called wave impedance, can be significantly reduced by means of these screen transfer elements.

When operating this design, however, it has been found to be disadvantageous that the cross section of the IV socket connection of the connected cable is often too small. Furthermore, this still does not guarantee direct equipotential bonding between a metallic plug connector modular frame and the screen transfer elements. The shields known from the prior art are interrupted at least on the narrow sides of the essentially cuboid connector modules. Connector modules already available on the market cannot be retrofitted accordingly with the known shielding devices.

The German Patent and Trademark Office researched the following prior art in the priority application for the present application:

DE 102015015 189 B3, DE 202006012687 U1,

DE 202018 101 278 U1 and WO 2019/113524 A1.

Task

The object of the invention is to improve the shielding of a connector module and a connector modular system equipped therewith in order to thereby achieve a particularly high quality of the through the connector module! to ensure transmitted electrical signals and in particular to minimize the negative influence of high-frequency electrical and / or magnetic interference fields on the signal quality of these signals. The object is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims.

A connector module has a substantially cuboidal insulating body made of an electrically insulating material.

It also has a plug-in side and a parallel opposite cable connection side. The cable connection side and the plug side are connected to one another via continuous contact chambers. The contact chambers are used to accommodate electrically conductive plug contacts.

Furthermore, the insulating body has two broad sides running perpendicular to its cable connection and plug-in side and opposite one another in parallel and, at right angles thereto, two narrow sides opposite one another in parallel. A latching lug for fixing the connector module in a connector modular frame is formed on each of these two narrow sides. These two mutually opposite locking lugs differ from one another in their shape and / or size in order to ensure correct orientation of the connector module in the connector modular frame as a polarization means.

The connector module is positively surrounded on its broad and narrow sides by a circumferential shield element, with the shield element each covering more than 50% of the area of the broad and narrow sides

Covers narrow sides. This means that the screen element covers more than 50% of the two broad sides and that the screen element covers more than 50% of the two narrow sides. Furthermore, the shield element is designed to be open on both the cable connection side and the plug-in side of the module. The shield element thus has openings on the cable connection side and on the plug-in side of the insulating body. A modular connector system has an at least partially metallic connector modular frame and such a connector module, the shielding element for producing an additional electrically conductive connection to the

Modular connector frame has at least one outwardly directed contact tab on at least one of its narrow side walls and is in electrical connection with the modular connector frame via this outwardly directed contact tab.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims and the following description.

The invention has the advantage that the signals transmitted by the connector module are not disturbed by electrical and / or magnetic fields arising outside the connector module, or that such a disturbance is at least largely suppressed. In a preferred embodiment, the plug connector module has at least one electrical plug contact with a cable connection section and a plug section. The plug contact is inserted into at least one contact chamber of the insulating body. Its cable connection section is accessible from the cable connection side of the insulating body in order to advantageously enable the connection of an electrical conductor of a cable, and its plug-in section protrudes into the plug-in area of the insulating body in order to advantageously enable a plug-in connection with a mating connector in the

Is designed essentially as a cuboid frame, softer, corresponding to the cuboid shape of the connector module, two one of the opposite narrow side walls and at right angles thereto two opposite broad side walls. This is particularly advantageous because it allows the shield element to be pushed onto the connector module, in particular from the plug-in direction and preferably with an accurate fit. Advantageously, both connector modules provided for this purpose and a large number of connector modules already on the market can be provided with such a shield element in this way. At its cable connection-side opening on the narrow side walls, the shield element preferably has recesses which at least partially encompass the latching lugs on three sides. The latching lugs of the connector modules then protrude at least partially through the cutouts. This is particularly advantageous because the locking lugs can fulfill their function in this way despite the shielding element, which consists in locking on the modular connector frame and ensuring the correct polarization, i.e. alignment, of the connector module in the connector modular frame,

In a further preferred embodiment, the screen element can consist of a sheet metal part. In particular, it can be designed as a stamped and bent part and bent at right angles on four parallel bending edges. Furthermore, the shield element can have fastening means on two thereby adjoining fastening edges for their mutual fastening, so that the shield element is particularly advantageously shaped into a closed, ie circumferential shape, in particular the said cuboid frame. These fastening means can preferably consist of a dovetail connection that is particularly easy to manufacture and also stable. In particular, the shielding element can be a stamped and bent part, which can advantageously be manufactured inexpensively and inexpensively and used for shielding.

It is also of particular advantage if, in addition to the preferably one-piece shield element, the plug connector module also has at least one, in a further embodiment several, for example two, shield transfer elements. This at least one screen transfer element can be arranged on one of the two broad sides of the connector module. For this purpose, the connector module can each have a corresponding recess on its corresponding broad side in an advantageous embodiment, into which the screen transfer element can preferably be inserted in a form-fitting manner. This has the advantage that the cuboid shielding element can be pushed onto the connector module provided with the at least one plug-in transfer element without any problems, without being hindered by it. The at least one screen transfer element can be formed from sheet metal. In particular, it can be a stamped and bent part. The screen transfer element can be designed to be essentially flat. This means that, in particular, a contact area of the screen transfer element for contacting a contact transfer element of a mating connector can be slightly removed from a main plane of the screen transfer element, e.g. B. in the form of a slight rounding for large-area electrical contact with a contact surface of a screen transfer element of the mating connector.

The essentially flat shield transfer element can also be used for ground connection to the cable On the cable connection side, have a shield connection area, which is placed around the shield of the cable, for example in the form of a squeeze contact / crimp contact, and is opened by means of a tool, e.g. B, a pair of pliers can be pressed together.

In a preferred embodiment, the shield element can have at least one, preferably a plurality of inwardly bent contact tabs for making electrical contact with the shield transfer element. This is advantageous because it enables a common ground contact to be established, in particular in the sense of a common grounding at as many contact areas as possible, in order to generate a shield that is particularly good even for high-frequency interference signals. These inwardly directed contact tabs can advantageously be arranged in a broad side wall because, on the one hand, they can then directly contact the screen transfer element underneath. In addition, this can be an advantage because it leaves enough space in the corn sidewalls to store z. B. to arrange outwardly directed contact tabs for contacting a metallic connector module frame and / or inwardly directed latching tabs for locking the shielding element on the connector module. The latter are particularly advantageously latched on the narrow side of the connector module because these narrow sides are preferably free of the screen transfer element, so that the latching cannot be hindered by them.

The shielding element is thus grounded several times and can thereby suppress the influence of, in particular, high-frequency electrical and / or magnetic fields on the electrical signals transmitted through the connector module. Exemplary embodiment

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings and is explained in more detail below. Show it:

1a, b two connector modules in the unmated and mated state;

2a, b, each of the two connector modules in an exploded view;

3a, b two insulating bodies of the connector modules;

4a, b show the connector modules, each with a shield element; 5 shows two plug-in connector modular systems, each with a plug-in connector modular frame and a plug-in connector module.

The figures contain partially simplified, schematic representations. In some cases, identical reference symbols are used for identical, but possibly not identical elements. Different views of the same elements could be scaled differently.

FIGS. 1a and 1b show a plug connector module 1 and ^{a mating plug module 1 'that} can be plugged in therewith and is basically constructed in a comparable manner both in an unmated and in a mutually plugged state. For verbal simplification, the connector module 1 and the mating connector module are also jointly referred to below as connector modules 1, 1 '.

Each of these connector modules 1, 1 ^' has a substantially cuboidal insulating body 10, 10 ^' . The connector modules 1, 1 also each have a frame-shaped shield element 15, 15 ^' which surrounds the insulating body 10, 10 ^{' in a} form-fitting manner. For this purpose, the shield element 15, 15 ^' is also essentially cuboid and has two narrow side walls 153 ^' and two broad side ^{walls 154 '} at right angles thereto.

The respective shield element 15, 15 ^'also has on its narrow side walls 153 in Fig. 1b designated, inwardly directed rastias 151, 151 ^' for its attachment to the insulating body 10, 10 ^' and outwardly directed contact tabs 152, 152 ^' for electrical contact of a modular connector frame 2, into which the connector modules can be inserted and in which they can be ^{fixed by means of their latching lugs 122, 122 '} , although this is only shown explicitly in FIG. 5.

In addition, each Schirmeiement 15, 15 ^'on one of its two opposing wide side walls 154, ^154' an inwardly directed contact tab 156, 156 ^'for the electrical contacting of its essentially flat screen transfer element 14, ^14' has. In the plugged-in state shown in FIG. 1b, the screen transfer elements 14, 14 ^' contact one another by means of their contact sections 141, 141, which are designated in FIG. 1a, and thus also ensure a mutual ground connection of their screen elements 15, 15 ^' .

2a and 2b show the connector modules 1, 1 'each in an exploded view. The connector modules 1, 1 ^' each have a contact carrier 11, 11', several plug contacts 13, 13 ^' and a holder 12, 12 ^' . It is easy to imagine that the respective contact carrier 11 11 ^' and the associated holding plate 12, 12 ^{' are brought} together and locked together in order to jointly form the respective insulating body 10, 10 ^' shown in more detail below and thus the plug contacts 13, 13 ^' in continuous contact chambers 100, 100 ^' to fix.

In the present example, the plug contacts 13, 13 ^'of the plug connector module 1 are designed as socket contacts 13 and those of the mating plug module 1 ^{' are designed} as pin contacts 13 ^' .

^{Furthermore, locking lugs 121, 122 'are} integrally formed on the holding plates 12 on the narrow side.

In addition, an essentially flat screen transfer element 14, 14 ^' and a frame-shaped, cuboidal screen element 15, 15 ^{' are} each shown as separate individual parts in the exploded view. Both the screen transfer element 14, 14 ^' and the screen element 15, 15 ^' are produced by means of a stamping and bending technique. While the screen transfer element 14, 14 ^' is essentially flat, the screen element 15, 15 ^{' is} bent at right angles on four edges and formed into a closed frame on two thereby adjoining fastening edges by means of a dovetail connection as fastening means. Of course, other fastening means are also known to the person skilled in the art.

The contact section 141 of the screen transfer element 14 of the connector module 1 is punched slightly fork-shaped and is slightly bent ^{for better contact with the flat contact section 141 'of} the screen transfer element 14 ^' of ^{the mating connector 1 '.} Therefore, for reasons of clarity, the contact bags of the contact section 141, which are not designated in any more detail, have light weight Contact rounding on. Still both are

Screen transfer elements 14, 14 ^{'to be} regarded as essentially flat.

On the cable connection side, the screen transfer elements 14, 14 ^' each have a cable connection area 142, 142 ^' . This can, for example, be placed around the braided shield of a connected cable with pliers or another suitable tool and mechanically fastened to it and electrically connected to it by means of a crimp connection.

11 in FIGS. 3a and 3b are the two of the respective contact carrier 11 ^'and the associated support plate 12, ^12' assembled insulating body 10, 10 ^'to be seen. The insulating bodies 10, 10 ^' are essentially cuboid and consist of an electrically insulating material. ^{On the side of the insulating bodies 10, 10 '} shown at the bottom in this drawing, the respective conical sections 141, 141 ^{' are}

To see screen transfer elements 14, 14 ^' . On the cable connection side, the cable connection areas 142, 142 ^'of the screen transfer elements 14, 14 ^' can be seen to some extent.

The insulators 10, 10 ^'have on their respective Haitepiatte 12, ^12' a cable connection side 127, 127 ^'. In parallel opposite the insulating body has 10, 10 ^'at its contact carrier 10, ^10' to said mating area 110, 110 ^'with a mating side 111, ^111'. the

Sieckseite 111, 111 ^' and the cable connection side 127, 127 ^' are connected to one another via the contact chambers 100, 100 ^' passing through the insulating body 10, 10 ^'. The contact chambers 100, 100 ^′ serve to accommodate the plug contacts 13.

Furthermore, the insulating bodies 10, 10 ^' each have two perpendicular to the contact 111, 111 ^' and cable connection side 127, 127 ^' and Broad sides 104, 104 ^' lying parallel to one another, and at right angles thereto, two narrow sides 103, 103 ^{', which} are parallel to one another and are opposite one another. A latching lug 121, 122, 121 ^' , 122 ^{' is} formed on each of the two narrow sides 103, 103 ^' , only one latching lug 121, 122 ^' being visible in this illustration because the other latching lug 121, 122 from the insulating body 10 , 10 ^'is covered.

In FIGS. 4a and 4b, the connector modules 1, 1 ^'are each shown in two views. The associated insulator 10, 10 ^'are narrow sides 103 at their broad-104 ^and' of the 360 ° circumferential Schirmeiement 15, 15 ^{'form-locking} surrounded, wherein the shield element 15, ^15' are each the largest part of the surface - and thus more than 50% the surface - the broad 104, 104 ^' and the narrow sides 103, 103 ^' covers. For this purpose, the respective ^{shield element 15, 15 'is} pushed onto the plug-in side of the respective insulating body 10, 10 ^' . Furthermore, the shield element 15, 15 ^' is designed to be open both on the cable connection side 127, 127 ^' and on the plug-in side 111, 111 'of the insulating body 10, 10 ^' . For this purpose, the shielding element 15, 15 ^' is also essentially cuboid and has two narrow side walls 153 ^' and two broad side ^{walls 154 '} at right angles thereto.

The shielding element 15, 15 ^'has inwardly directed latching tabs 151, 151 ^' on the Schmais sidewalls 153, 153 ^' for fixing it to the insulating body 10, 10 ^' .

In addition, the Schirmeiement 15, 15 ^'150 on its narrow side walls 103 at its cable connection side opening recesses ^150' has showing the Rasinasen 121, 121 ^', 122 ^122' at least partially surround on three sides. the

Latching lugs 121, 121 ^' , 122, 122 ^{' of} the connector modules 1, 1 ^' protrude thus through the recesses 150, 150 ^' . This is particularly advantageous because the locking lugs 121, 121 ^' , 122, 122 ^' can fulfill their function in this way in spite of the respective shield element 15, 15 ^'. This function can be seen particularly clearly in FIG. It consists in the latching lugs 121, 122, 121 ^' , 122 ^{' of} the plug connector ^{module 1, 1 '} latching onto latching windows 20, 20 ^{' of} a plug connector modular frame 2. Due to their different sizes, they ensure the correct polarization, ie alignment, of the respective connector module 1, 1 ^' in the connector modular frame 2. In this case, the connector modular frame 2 is an articulated frame that was manufactured in a zinc die-casting process.

However, it is clear to the person skilled in the art that any other modular connector frame is equally suitable for this application, provided it is at least partially made of metal in order to ensure the electrical conductivity required for the ground connection.

In this illustration, two identical plug connector modular frames 2 are shown, of which one houses the plug connector module 1 and the other houses the mating plug connector module 1 ^' . Everyone

The modular connector frame 2 has two opposing side walls 21, 22 which differ in the size of the latching windows 210, 220 arranged therein. It is easy to see that due to the various large locking windows 210, 220 a misorientation of the connector modules 1, 1 ^{′ is} prevented.

The connector modules 1, 1 ^'are not only mutual plug contact but are is clearly visible as well as in Fig. 1b, also to improve the screening and / or ground with their screen interface units 14, ^14' also connected over a large area electrically. To this end, the two screen transfer elements 14, 14 ^' contact one another via their contact sections 141, 141 ^' . In addition, the shielding elements contact 15, 15 ^'with their outwardly facing contact lugs 152, ^152' to respective metal connectors Modular frame 2 and with the inwardly bent contact tabs 156, 156 ^'the respective shield connection element 14, ^14' and thus provide a ground at several points and thus for particularly good shielding against high-frequency interference fields,

Even if various aspects or features of the invention are each shown in combination in the figures, it is clear to the person skilled in the art - unless stated otherwise - that the combinations shown and discussed are not the only possible ones. In particular, corresponding units or feature complexes from different exemplary embodiments can be exchanged with one another.

List of reference symbols

1, 1 'connector modules; (Connector module, mating connector module)

10, 10 ^' insulator

100, 100 ^' contact chambers

103, 103 'narrow side

104, 104 'broadside

11, 11 ^' contact carrier

110, 110 ^' mating area

111, 111 mating side

12, 12 ^' retaining plate

121, 121 ', 122, 122' Lugs 127, 127 'Cable connection side

13, 13 'plug contacts (socket contacts, pin contacts)

14, 14 'umbrella transfer element

141, 141 'contact section of the screen transfer element

142, 142 'Cable connection area of the

Shield transfer element

15, 15 'screen element

150, 150 'notches

151, 151 'locking tabs of the umbrella element

152, 152 'outwardly directed contact tabs

153, 153 'narrow side wall

154, 154 'broad side wall

156, 156 'inwardly directed contact tabs

2 modular connector frames

21, 22 side walls of the

Connector modular frame

210, 220 snap-in window of the modular connector frame

Claims

Expectations

1. Plug connector module (1, 1 ^' ), having an essentially cuboid-shaped insulating body (10, 10 ^' ) made of an electrically insulating material, the insulating body (10, 10) having a plug-in area (110, 110 ^' ) with a plug-in side (111, 111 ^' ) and parallel opposite to it has a cable connection side (127, 127 ^' ), with the cable connection side (127, 127 ^' ) and the plug side (111, 111 ^' ) connected to one another via continuous contact ^{chambers (100, 100 '} ) for receiving electrically conductive plug contacts (13, 13 ^' ) are connected, the insulating body (10, 10 ^' ) also having two narrow sides (103, 103 ^' ) running perpendicular to its cable connection (102, 102 ^' ) and plug-in side (111, 111 ^{') and parallel opposite one another.} ) and at right angles to it has two parallel opposite broad sides (104, 104 ^' ), with a locking lug (121, 121 ^' , 122, 122 ^' ) for fixing the connector module (1, 1 ^' ) in a connector on each narrow side Binder modular frame (2) is formed, these two opposing locking lugs (121, 121 ^' , 122, 122 ^' ) differ in their shape and / or size, so as a polarization means a correct orientation of the connector module (1, 1 ') in To ensure modular connector frame (2), characterized in that the connector module (1, 1 ^' ) continues to be at its wide (104,

104 ^' ) and narrow sides (103, 103 ^' ) are surrounded by a circumferential screen element (15, 15 ^' ) in a form-fitting manner, the screen element (15, 15 ^' ) each having more than 50% of the area of the wide (104-, 104 ^') ) and the narrow sides (103, 103 ^' ) and each has an opening both on the cable connection side (127, 127 ^' ) and on the plug side (111, 111 ^' ) of the insulating body (10, 10 ^').

2. Plug connector module (1, 1 ^' ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the plug connector module (1, 1 ^' ) has at least one electrical plug contact (13, 13 ^' ) with a cable connection section and a plug section which is inserted into one of the contact chambers (100 , 100 ^' ) of the insulating body (10, 10 ^' ) is inserted, with its cable connection section being ^{accessible from the cable connection side (127, 127 '} ) of the insulating body (10, 10 ^' ) and with its plug-in section in the plug-in area (110, 110 ^' ) of the insulating body (10, 10 ^' ) protrudes,

3. connector module (1, 1 ^' ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shield element (15, 15 ^' ) is designed essentially as a cuboid frame, softer, corresponding to the cuboid shape of the connector module (1, 1 ^' ) , has two narrow side walls (153, 153 ^' ) opposite one another and at right angles thereto two opposite broad side walls (154, 154 ^' ).

4. connector module (1, 1 ^' ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the screen element (15, 15 ^' ) at its cable connection-side opening on its narrow side walls (153, 153 ^' ) has recesses (150, 150 ^' ), which the latching lugs (121, 121 ^' , 122, 122 ^' ) at least partially encompass three sides, whereby the latching lugs (121, 121 ^' , 122, 122 ^' ) of the connector ^{modules (1, 1 '} ) at least partially through the recesses (150, 150 ^') ) protrude.

5. connector module (1, 1 ^' ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shield element (15, 15 ^' ) consists of a sheet metal part, which is designed as a stamped and bent part and bent at right angles at four parallel bending edges is, wherein the screen element (15, 15 ^' ) has fastening means on two thereby adjoining fastening edges for their mutual fastening and thus for producing a closed frame shape.

6. Plug connector module (1, 1 ^' ) according to claim 5, characterized in that the shield element (15, 15 ^' ) is a stamped and bent part.

7. connector module (1, 1 ^' ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connector ^{module (1, 1'} ) in addition to the shield element (15, 15 ^' ) on at least one of its two broad sides (104, 104 ^' ) furthermore at least has a separate screen transfer element (14, 14 ^' ).

8. plug connector module (1, 1 ^' ) according to claim 7, characterized in that the at least one screen transfer element (14, 14 ^' ) is formed in one piece as a stamped and bent part made of sheet metal and is essentially flat.

9. connector module (1, 1 ^') according to one of claims 7 to 8, characterized in that the at least one Schirmübergabeeiement (14, ^14' stands) with the screen member (15, 15 ^') in electrical contact.

10. Plug connector module (1, 1 ^' ) according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the at least one screen transfer element (14, 14 ^' ) has a cable connection area (142, 142 ^' ) for ground connection to the cable on the cable connection side.

11. Plug connector module (1, 1 ^' ) according to one of claims 9 to 10, characterized in that the screen element (15, 15 ^' ) for making electrical contact with the screen transfer element (14, 14 ^' ) on at least one of its broad side walls (154 , 154 ^' ) has inwardly bent contact tabs (156, 156 ^' ).

12. Plug connector module (1, 1 ^' ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the shield element (15, 15 ^' ) for producing an additional electrically conductive connection to an at least partially metallic plug connector ^{modular frame (2) on at least one of its narrow side walls (153, 153 ')} ) has at least one outwardly directed contact tab (152, 152 ^' ).

13. Modular connector system, comprising an at least partially metallic connector modular frame (2) and at least one connector module (1, 1 ^' ) arranged therein and fixed in accordance with claim 12, characterized in that the shield element (15, 15 ^' ) is connected to the connector modular frame (2) the outwardly directed contact tab (152, 152 ^' ) is in electrical connection.

14. Modular connector system according to claim 13, characterized in that the at least one connector module (1, 1 ^' ) is fixed in the modular connector frame (2) and is also polarized in a predetermined orientation in that its latching lugs (121, 121 ^' , 122, 122 ^' ) engage positively in latching windows (210, 220) of different sizes which the modular connector frame (2) has on two opposite side walls (21, 22).