EP4293837A1 - Electrical connector - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical plug connector and for transmitting high-frequency signals, particularly in network technology, with a contact carrier (1) made of an insulating material, which has cavities in which an electrically conductive contact (3) is inserted, the contact (3) having a Connection area (4) for connecting the contact (3) to a conductor (4) of a wire (6) of a cable, the wire (6) being twisted in the cable. In order to increase the data transmission speed, it is proposed that the permittivity (ε_r) in the immediate vicinity of the contact (3) be reduced, for example by means of air chambers (9).

Description

field of technology

The invention relates to a plug connector for transmitting high-frequency signals with a contact carrier made of an insulating material, which has cavities in which an electrically conductive contact is inserted, the contact having a connection area for connecting the contact to a conductor of a wire of a cable, a coupling area, which can be designed as a socket for inserting a pin of an electrical mating connector or as a pin for inserting into a socket of an electrical mating connector, and forms a central region extending between the connection area and the coupling area.

State of the art

A connector, such as that used in network technology, has a contact carrier that has a large number of cavities, each of which contains an electrically conductive contact. The electrically conductive contact has a connection area with which the conductor of a wire of a cable is connected to the contact in an electrically conductive manner. The contact also has a coupling area which is designed as a socket or pin. A pin can be inserted into a socket of a mating electrical connector. The pin of an electrical mating connector can be inserted into a socket. A central region extends between the connection region and the coupling region, which usually has a lateral surface which is a circular cylinder lateral surface and with which the central region lies against the wall of the cavity. However, the contact and in particular the central region can also have a non-round cross section, for example the cross section of a rectangle. The contact is in place preferably in a clamp fit in the cavity. Such a connector is used in the DE 10 2016 104 465 A1 described. The wires of the cable are twisted together in pairs.

A connector for transmitting high-frequency signals is also available in the US 2007/0293097 A1 , the DE 10 2019 200 713 B3 and the US 10,658,791 B2 described. The WO 2018/104378 A1 describes a method for producing a socket contact.

Summary of the invention

In the case of connectors, especially those that are intended to transmit high-frequency signals for Ethernet and in particular according to the SPE standard, the two twisted wires of a single pair of wires are each connected to contacts of a connector, with the connectors, unlike the wires, running in a straight line. The twisting of the two wires of the cable is interrupted in the area of the plug connection in which the plug connector is connected to a mating plug connector. This interruption is a weak point for high-frequency data transmission.

The invention is based on the object of improving high-frequency data transmission in the area of the connector.

The problem is solved by the invention specified in the claims, the subclaims not only being advantageous developments of the solution specified in claim 1, but also independent solutions to the problem.

According to the invention, it is proposed that the electrical properties of the immediate surroundings of the contact are influenced in such a way that that zones are formed there in which the permittivity is reduced. This is preferably done through chambers that extend within the contact carrier and particularly preferably adjoin the contact. The space within the chambers has a reduced dielectricity. This can be done because the material inside the chambers has a lower dielectric constant than the contact carrier. The chambers are preferably air chambers in which there is ambient air or, optimally, a vacuum. These chambers reduce the permittivity (also called dielectric constant) in the area surrounding the contact. To reduce the permittivity (also called dielectric constant) in the immediate vicinity of the contact, air chambers are formed at least in a zone of the central region of the contact adjacent to the coupling region by means of spaced-apart projections projecting into the cavity. With these air chambers, the dielectric constant, which is 1 for air and 2 to 3 for the plastic usually used for the production of the contact carrier, is reduced. This reduction in the permittivity leads to an improvement in high-frequency transmission via the connector. The connector can be designed as a male connector in which the coupling area is designed as a pin. The plug connector can also be designed as a female plug connector in which the coupling area is formed by a socket. The air chambers can extend beyond a central region adjacent to the coupling region to beyond the coupling region. In the case of a female plug connector, the coupling area formed by two or more tongues can lie within the cavity of the contact carrier. The cavity of the contact carrier can also form projections in this area, which delimit the air chambers in a section of the central area that extends between the connection area and the coupling area. The projections and the free spaces extending between the projections can extend over the entire axial length the cavity, i.e. extend not only over a section of the central region, but also over the axial sections of the cavity in which the coupling area or the connection area is located. The air chambers can extend over an axial section of the central region which adjoins the connection region and/or in an axial section of the central region which adjoins the coupling region. However, the air chambers can also only extend in one of these axial sections. The air chambers can also extend from this axial section over the connection area or the coupling area. The projections that form the air chambers can extend over the entire length of the cavity. However, they can also only extend over an axial section of the cavity. According to a preferred embodiment, the axial length of the zone forming the air chambers is greater than half the length of the cavity receiving the contact. However, it can also be provided that the axial section of the central region to which the air chambers are assigned is longer than the axial section of the central region to which no air chambers are assigned. It can further be provided that the projections are spaced apart from one another in a circumferential direction around the contact. Free spaces then remain between individual projections projecting from a wall of the cavity, which form the air chambers. The projections may abut the shell wall of the contact to center the contact within the cavity. For this purpose, it can be provided that the projections form contact surfaces facing a central axis of the cavity, against which a lateral surface of the central region of the contact rests. The contact can have the shape of a circular cylinder in this area. The contact surfaces can then form trough-shaped grooves that nestle flat against the lateral surface of the contact. It can also be provided that the projections are longer in the axial direction than in the circumferential direction, so that they form ribs. The ribs and/or the air chambers preferably extend uninterruptedly over the entire area of the cavity Forms air chambers. According to a preferred embodiment, the ribs form separating elements with which air chambers running parallel to one another are separated from one another. The air chambers can then be formed by grooves or grooves, the walls of which are formed by the ribs. The grooves or grooves may have a bottom surface. This bottom surface can extend on an inner cylinder surface that runs coaxially to an axis of the cavity. The contact surfaces with which the ribs can rest on the lateral surface of the contact can also be formed by an inner cylinder lateral surface which runs coaxially to the axis of the cavity. In such a configuration, the air chambers are preferably closed in the radial direction, in the circumferential direction and at least in an axial direction. The contact can have several axial sections lying axially one behind the other. A first axial section can be formed from the edge of the connection area. A second axial section can be formed by the connection area, which can be designed as an axial bore into which the end of a wire can be inserted. The end of the wire can be crimped there. A third axial section can connect to the connection area. The second axial section and the third axial section preferably have the same circumferential contour, which can correspond to that of a circular cylinder. The third axial section of the contact can form the first region of the middle section. The third axial section of the contact can be followed by a fourth axial section of the contact, the circumferential contour of which corresponds to that of a circular cylinder, but which has a smaller diameter. Between a sixth axial section, which has the same circumferential contour as the fourth axial section, a fifth axial section can extend, which is formed by a bead which, together with the wall of the cavity or the ribs running there, develops a clamping function by displacing material into the Wall of the cavity or the ribs is pressed in. The fourth axial section and the sixth axial section and the optional fifth axial section of the contact preferably form the second axial section of the central region in which the chambers are located. The cavity essentially has two axial sections. In a first axial section, the cavity has a smooth-walled wall running on an inner surface of the cylinder, which either lies tightly against the lateral surface of the second and third axial sections of the contact or is spaced from it at a very small distance, this distance preferably only being a tolerance-related distance. The second axial section of the cavity forms the projections or the chambers. This axial section can be longer than the first axial section. The cavity can also have a third axial section, which is a region with a reduced cross-section that forms an opening through which either a pin adjoining the central region of the contact protrudes or through which a pin of a mating connector can pass in order to enter a socket of the contact. It can be provided that the contact carrier is inserted into a plug housing, for example a plastic housing or a metal housing. The contact carrier can then be encapsulated with a casting compound. In order to avoid that the casting compound enters the cavities and in particular into the chambers during the encapsulation of the contact carrier, at least a region of the middle section or the connection area can lie so close to the wall of the cavity that the entry of the casting compound into the chambers is effectively avoided is. It can be provided that the contact forms a radial bead, particularly in the connection area, which closes the cavity so that the entry of the casting compound is prevented. However, it can also be provided that the permittivity is reduced in the immediate vicinity of the contact by using a different material that inherently has a lower permittivity than the material of the contact carrier. For example, a casting compound can be used whose dielectric constant is lower. Then it can even be beneficial if the casting compound goes into the cavity penetrates to fill the chambers with the casting compound. It can also be provided that the surfaces extending between the projections, in particular the bottom surfaces of grooves, run on the same inner cylinder surface on which the smooth wall of the cavity also runs, which extends over the second axial section of the central region or over the connection region. The electrical connector can be connected to a cable. However, it is also provided that the electrical connector is a housing connector that is firmly connected to a housing. The connection area of the contacts can, for example, have soldering pins that are connected to a conductor track. The contact carrier can be arranged in a metal jacket. A sleeve element can be provided that has a thread. The thread can be an external thread or an internal thread. The pins of a male connector can be inserted into a socket of a female connector. The sleeve element of the male connector may have an external thread that can be screwed into an internal thread of the sleeve element of the female connector. However, external threads and internal threads can also be distributed the other way around. The contacts can be surrounded by an electrically conductive jacket in the coupling area. The jackets of the female contact and the male contact can be brought into an electrically conductive connection when the two connectors are brought into connection. The jacket can be connected to a shield.

The connector according to the invention is intended for connecting a cable in the LAN area, whereby it corresponds to the SPE standard (single pair Ethernet). The connector is intended in particular for data transmission at speeds of more than 10 Mbit/s, 100 Mbit/s or 1000 Mbit/s over just a single twisted pair of wires. But it is also possible to use several twisted pairs of wires via which the above mentioned data rates are transmitted. The diameter of the contact in the area of the chambers can be between 0.4 and 3 mm, particularly preferably between 1 mm and 1.5 mm. The diameter of the contact in the area between the chambers and the connection area can be between 0.4 and 3 mm and particularly preferably between 1.5 and 2 mm. The radial width of the chamber can be between 0.2 and 1 mm. It is preferably between 0.2 and 5 mm. The ratio of the radial width of the chamber or a zone filled with a material with a lower dielectric constant to the diameter of the contact can be between a tenth and one. It is preferably between a fifth and a quarter. The chambers or the zones can extend between several ribs. Preferably, the chambers extend overall between four ribs, whereby the azimuthal width of a rib measured in the circumferential direction can correspond approximately to the azimuthal width of a chamber. However, the azimuthal width of the rib can preferably be smaller than the azimuthal width of the chamber or the zone. The ribs can be arranged in a symmetrical manner or in an asymmetrical manner around the contacts.

The zones with a reduced dielectric constant, which immediately adjoin the contact in the radial direction, can be formed from a material that has a lower dielectric constant than the material of the contact carrier. For this purpose, as has already been described above, a casting compound can be introduced into the cavities which directly adjoin the contact and which are formed by the contact carrier. However, it is also provided that the contact is coated with a material with a lower dielectric constant and that a contact coated in this way is inserted into the cavity. It is considered particularly advantageous if the zone of reduced permittivity and in particular the chamber directly adjoins the lateral surface of the contact.

The invention also relates to the use of such a connector for transmitting data. For this purpose, the connection areas of the contacts are connected to conductors of wires that are twisted and extend in a cable. Data is transmitted via the connector at speeds of at least 10 Mbit/s.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1

in einer perspektivischen Darstellung den Kontaktträger eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels eines elektrischen Steckverbinders,

Fig. 2

die Draufsicht auf den in Figur 1 dargestellten Steckverbinder,

Fig. 3

den Schnitt gemäß der Linie III-III in Figur 2,

Fig. 4

vergrößert den Ausschnitt IV in Figur 3,

Fig. 5

eine perspektivische Darstellung ähnlich der Figur 1, jedoch teilweise aufgebrochen,

Fig. 6

eine weitere perspektivische, teilaufgebrochene Darstellung des Kontaktträgers,

Fig. 7

einen Kontakt 3,

Fig. 8

den Kontaktträger ohne eingesetzte Kontakte,

Fig. 9

den Schnitt gemäß der Linie IX-IX in Figur 8,

Fig. 10

den Schnitt gemäß der Linie X-X in Figur 2,

Fig. 11

den Schnitt gemäß der Linie XI-XI in Figur 2,

Fig. 12

eine weitere Draufsicht auf den Kontaktträger,

Fig. 13

eine Seitenansicht des Kontaktträgers,

Fig. 14

den Schnitt gemäß der Linie XIV-XIV in Figur 13,

Fig. 15

den Schnitt gemäß der Linie XV-XV in Figur 12,

Fig. 16

eine Darstellung gemäß Figur 11 eines zweiten Ausführungsbeispiels,

Fig. 17

in einer perspektivischen Darstellung ein drittes und ein viertes Ausführungsbeispiel,

Fig. 18

eine perspektivische Draufsicht gemäß Pfeil XVIII in Figur 17 auf das dritte Ausführungsbeispiel,

Fig. 19

eine perspektivische Draufsicht gemäß Pfeil IX in Figur 17 auf das vierte Ausführungsbeispiel,

Fig. 20

eine Seitenansicht auf das dritte Ausführungsbeispiel,

Fig. 21

den Schnitt gemäß der Linie XXI-XXI in Figur 20 sowie eine Vergrößerung eines Ausschnitts davon,

Fig. 21a

den Kontakt 3 des dritten Ausführungsbeispiels,

Fig. 22

den Schnitt gemäß der Linie XXII-XXII in Figur 20 sowie eine Vergrößerung eines Ausschnitts davon,

Fig. 23

eine Seitensicht gemäß Pfeil XXIII in Figur 17 des vierten Ausführungsbeispiels,

Fig. 24

den Schnitt gemäß der Linie XXIV-XXIV in Figur 23,

Fig. 24a

den Kontakt 3 des vierten Ausführungsbeispiels,

Fig. 25

den Schnitt gemäß der Linie XXV-XXV in Figur 23 sowie eine Ausschnittsvergrößerung davon und

Fig. 26

den Schnitt gemäß der Linie XXVI-XXVI in Figur 23 sowie eine Ausschnittsvergrößerung davon.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

in a perspective view the contact carrier of a first exemplary embodiment of an electrical plug connector,

Fig. 2

the top view of the in Figure 1 connector shown,

Fig. 3

the cut according to the line III-III in Figure 2 ,

Fig. 4

enlarges section IV in Figure 3 ,

Fig. 5

a perspective view similar to this Figure 1 , but partially broken,

Fig. 6

another perspective, partially broken-up representation of the contact carrier,

Fig. 7

a contact 3,

Fig. 8

the contact carrier without inserted contacts,

Fig. 9

the cut according to the line IX-IX in Figure 8 ,

Fig. 10

the cut according to the line XX in Figure 2 ,

Fig. 11

the cut according to the line XI-XI in Figure 2 ,

Fig. 12

another top view of the contact carrier,

Fig. 13

a side view of the contact carrier,

Fig. 14

the cut according to the line XIV-XIV in Figure 13 ,

Fig. 15

the cut according to the line XV-XV in Figure 12 ,

Fig. 16

a representation according to Figure 11 a second embodiment,

Fig. 17

in a perspective view a third and a fourth exemplary embodiment,

Fig. 18

a perspective top view according to arrow XVIII in Figure 17 to the third exemplary embodiment,

Fig. 19

a perspective top view according to arrow IX in Figure 17 to the fourth exemplary embodiment,

Fig. 20

a side view of the third exemplary embodiment,

Fig. 21

the cut according to the line XXI-XXI in Figure 20 as well as an enlargement of a section of it,

Fig. 21a

the contact 3 of the third exemplary embodiment,

Fig. 22

the cut according to the line XXII-XXII in Figure 20 as well as an enlargement of a section of it,

Fig. 23

a side view according to arrow XXIII in Figure 17 the fourth embodiment,

Fig. 24

the cut according to the line XXIV-XXIV in Figure 23 ,

Fig. 24a

the contact 3 of the fourth exemplary embodiment,

Fig. 25

the cut according to the line XXV-XXV in Figure 23 as well as an enlarged detail of it and

Fig. 26

the cut according to the line XXVI-XXVI in Figure 23 as well as an enlarged section of it.

Description of the embodiments

The Figures 1 to 15 only show the contact carrier 1 of an electrical connector, which in the exemplary embodiment is a female connector. The contact carrier shown is coated with a casting compound and/or can be inserted into a housing. Such a connector surrounded by a casting compound is used as a male connector in the Figures 17 and 23 shown. A connector designed in this way, either as a female or male connector, is intended for an Ethernet connection and in particular be used in accordance with the SPE standard. Two twisted wires extend in a cable (not shown). The two strands of the particularly shielded cable are connected in a connection area 4 with a contact 3 made of metal. This can be done using a crimp connection or a soldered connection. The cross-sectional area of the contact carrier can be covered by a rectangular area whose side length is 6 mm or 4.45 mm.

The Indian Figure 15 Contact carrier 1 shown is made of plastic and in particular polyamide and has a dielectric constant that is between 2 and 3. The contact carrier 1 has two cavities 2 that run parallel to one another and are open on both sides. The cavities 2 are designed the same and have several axial sections that differ in cross-sectional design. The contact carrier 1 essentially has two sections, a front section 22 with a first cross-sectional area and an end face that forms two insertion openings 21 and a rear section 23 which has a second cross-sectional area that is enlarged compared to the front section 22. The axial distance between the two cavities can be between 2.5 and 4 mm, preferably about 2.8 mm.

A first axial section 201 has a first diameter and a smooth-walled inner wall. The first axial section 201 is formed by a circular cylindrical cavity. The first axial section 201 is followed by a second axial section 202, which essentially differs from the first axial section 201 in that the wall of the cavity 2 of the second axial section 202 forms ribs 8 which run parallel to one another in the axial direction. The ribs 8 form projections that extend over the entire axial length of the second axial section 202. There are a total of four rib-shaped projections 8 lying opposite each other in pairs are provided, each of which forms side flanks 13 and a contact surface 12. A groove which forms an air chamber 9 extends between two immediately adjacent projections 8. The groove has a bottom surface 14 which runs on an inner cylindrical surface running around a central axis 11. The contact surfaces 12 also extend on an inner cylinder surface running around the central axis 11. However, the diameter of this inner cylinder surface is smaller than the diameter of the inner cylinder surface on which the bottom surface 14 extends. This diameter can be identical to the diameter by which the inner cylindrical surface of the first axial section 201 extends around the central axis 11. The diameter of the smooth-walled area 201 is approximately 2 mm. The circular area in the second axial section 202 delimited by the contact surfaces 12 is approximately 1.2 mm.

The air chambers 9 extending between the projections 8 thus have walls which extend approximately in the radial direction and which are formed by the side flanks 13.

The second axial section 202 is followed by a third axial section 203, which is formed by a constriction, i.e. a region 16 with a reduced cross-section, which extends around an opening 17.

The third axial section 203 is followed by a fourth axial section 204, which in turn has an enlarged diameter and which forms an insertion opening 21 for a pin of an electrical mating connector.

The Figure 7 shows one of the two contacts 3, each of which is in a cavity 2. The contact 3 has several axial sections.

A first axial section 301 is formed by a first axial end of the contact 3, which forms a connection region 4 which is connected to the conductor 5 of a wire 6. For this purpose, the connection area has 4 (see Figure 11 ) an axial opening into which the conductor 5 can be inserted. By mechanically compressing the first axial section 301, a tensile and electrically conductive connection can be established between the contact 3 and the conductor 5. A solder connection is an alternative mechanical and electrical connection between the conductor 5 and connection area 4.

The second axial section 302 extends in the axial direction over the aforementioned axial cavity, which forms the connection region 4.

A third axial section 303 extends from the second axial section 302 to a step. The second axial section 302 and the third axial section 303 each have the shape of a circular cylinder and have an outer wall that merges flush with one another. The third axial section 303 differs from the second axial section 302 essentially in that the second axial section 302 is hollow, while the third axial section 303 is solid.

A fourth axial section 304 adjoins the third axial section 303 to form a step. The fourth axial section 304 also has a lateral surface that has the shape of a circular cylinder. However, the circular cylinder has a smaller diameter than the circular cylinder that forms the jacket wall of the second axial section 302 and the third axial section 303.

A fifth axial section 305 is formed by an optional bead 19, which is a mechanical restraint means for restraining the contact 3 in the cavity.

A sixth axial section 306 is, so to speak, a continuation of the fourth axial section. It has a lateral surface that runs on the same circular cylindrical surface on which the lateral surface of the fourth axial section 304 runs. The fourth and sixth axial sections 304, 306, like the third axial section 303, are solid.

A seventh axial section 307, which adjoins the sixth axial section 306, forms a coupling region 7. In the exemplary embodiment, the coupling area 7 is formed by two tongues 20. However, more tongues 20 can also be provided, which enclose a socket into which a pin of a mating connector can be inserted.

The outer diameter of the second axial section 302 of the contact 3 is only slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the first axial section 201 of the cavity 2, so that it is ensured that the contact 3 can be inserted into the cavity 2. The Indian Figure 10 Visible gap is only due to tolerance. It is optimal if the outer lateral surface of the second axial section of the contact 3 rests on the inner wall of the first axial section 201 of the cavity 2, so that when the contact carrier 1 is overmolded, no casting compound enters the cavity 2 and in particular not into the second axial section 202 of the cavity 2.

The second and third axial sections 302, 303 can have a diameter in the range between 1.8 and 2 mm. The fourth axial section 304 and the sixth axial section 306 may have a smaller diameter of approximately 1.2 mm.

The Figure 4 shows a cross section through a central region 10 of the contact 3 extending in the second axial section 202 of the cavity.

The central region 10 of the contact 3 extends over the axial sections 303, 304, 305 and 306, i.e. between the connection region 4 and the coupling region 7. The central region 10 can also extend over the second axial section 302.

A first axial section 10' of the central region 10 extends over the first axial section 201 of the cavity 2, so that this axial section 10' of the central region 10 rests in all-round contact on the wall of the cavity 2.

A second axial section 10" of the central region 10, which extends from the step to the coupling region 7, lies in the second axial section 202 of the cavity 2, in which the ribs extending in the direction of the central axis 11 extend. Only the contact surfaces 12 lie in this region , i.e. the surfaces of the ribs formed by the projections 8 facing the central axis 11 on the jacket wall of the contact 3. The sections of the jacket wall of the contact 3 lying between them form boundary surfaces of the air chambers 9, which extend between the projections 8 designed as ribs Air chambers 9 are thus delimited on the one hand by the bottom surface 14 and the section of the free surface of the contact 3 opposite it and on the other hand by the side flanks 13 of two adjacent ribs 8.

The air chambers 9 have an axial limitation through the step formed between the third axial section 303 and the fourth axial section 304.

With the air chambers 9, the permittivity in the vicinity of the second axial section 10" is reduced compared to the permittivity in the first axial section 10'. While the permittivity within the contact carrier 1 made of plastic is approximately 2 to 3 and the permittivity in air is approximately 1 the spatially averaged permittivity in the central region 10 or in the second axial section 10" of the central region 10 between 1 and the permittivity of the material of the contact carrier 1.

A male electrical connector can differ from the female connector shown in the figures in that the solid sixth axial section 306 of the contact 3 extends to the opening 17 and a pin projects through the opening 17, which is inserted into a socket of an electrical mating connector can be. The pin can have a smaller diameter than the section of the contact extending in the area of the air chambers 9. The diameter of the pin can correspond to the diameter of the opening 17, for example.

At the one in the Figure 16 In the exemplary embodiment shown, the area of the cavity 2 forming the air chambers 9 extends to the rear end of the cavity 2, so that the air chambers 9 or the spaces between the ribs are free there, which basically allows the casting compound to enter if it has a low dielectric constant. In the exemplary embodiment there, the end of the cavity 2 is closed with a bead 24 of the connection area 4 of the contact 3 in order to prevent the casting compound from penetrating into the cavity 2.

The Figures 17 , 18 , 20 to 22 show a third embodiment, which is also designed as a female connector. The previously specified possible dimensions of the elements of the connector correspond to the dimensions specified above. The connector can be used with the same male (in the Figures 17 , 19 , 23 to 26 shown) connector can be connected to which the one in the Figures 1 to 16 connector shown can be connected.

The plug connector 101 has on its back, which is shown in the figures above, locking elements 31 with which the plug connector can be connected to a housing. The contacts 3 have connection areas 4 on their back, which are designed as soldering pins that can be soldered to a conductor track of a circuit board. The contact carrier 1 is inserted here in a sleeve element 27, which is made of metal and which has an external thread onto which a fastening nut can be screwed in order to fasten the plug connector 101 to a housing or the like.

The front of the sleeve element 27 has an internal thread into which an external thread of a male plug connector can be screwed, for example a plug connector as in the Figures 23 to 26 is shown.

A front section 22 of the contact carrier 1 projects beyond a bottom surface of a screw-in opening that forms the internal thread. A metallic jacket 29 arises from the bottom surface and surrounds the front section 22 with a circumferential distance. A can be inserted into the resulting cavity Frame 29 'of the mating connector can be inserted. The jacket 29 can form contact springs or detent springs which protrude into the cavity surrounding the front section 22, for example in order to establish a conductive connection with the frame 29 'or to establish a detent connection with the frame 29'.

The Figures 21 and 21a show a cross section of a contact carrier 1, in whose cavities 2 a contact 3 is inserted. The contact 3 has a connection area 4 formed by a soldering pin and a coupling area 7 which is formed by two tongues 20. The connection area 4 forms a first axial section 301, which is followed by a second axial section 302, which, like the first axial section 301, protrudes from the cavity 2. The second axial section 302 has a larger diameter than the first axial section 301. A third axial section 303 adjoining it forms a bead 24 which closes the cavity 2.

An adjoining fourth axial section 304 again has a reduced diameter. The wall of the third axial section 303 runs at a radial distance from a bottom surface 14 of a chamber 9 extending between the bottom surface 14 and the peripheral wall of the contact 2, which is an air chamber in the exemplary embodiment.

In the exemplary embodiment, several ribs 8 arranged in the circumferential direction around the contact 3 are provided, which form contact surfaces 12 which are supported on the outer surface of the contact 3. The effect of the projections formed by the ribs 8 is the same as described above. There is air in the spaces between the projections, which reduces the permittivity in the area around contact 3.

The fourth axial section 304 is followed by a fifth axial section 305, which is essentially a short material thickening and forms a bead 19.

The sixth axial section 306 adjoining the fifth axial section 305 in turn forms the air chamber 9. The sixth axial section 306 is followed by a seventh axial section 307, which forms a coupling area 7 with two tongues 20, into which a plug of a contact of a mating connector can be inserted. With regard to the remaining design features, reference is made to the above statements on the first and second exemplary embodiments.

The Figures 17 , 19 and 23 to 26 describe a fourth embodiment, which is designed as a male connector 100 that is compatible with the female connectors of the previously described embodiments.

The connector 100 has a jacket 29 made of metal, in which a first contact carrier 1 is located. In the jacket 29 there is also a second contact carrier 25, also made of plastic. The two contact carriers 1, 25 are arranged one behind the other axially with respect to the direction of extension of the contacts 3. The two contact carriers 1, 25 can be made of different materials. But they can also be made of the same material. The two contact carriers 1, 25 can also be connected to one another using the same material.

The jacket 29 forms a frame 29 'which surrounds coupling areas 7 of two contacts 3.

The jacket 29 carries a sleeve element 27, which can be rotated relative to the jacket 29 and which can have an external thread that can be screwed into the internal thread, for example of the third exemplary embodiment.

A first axial section 301 of the contact 3 forms a connection area 4, which can be connected to a conductor 5 of a wire 6 of a cable in the manner described above, for example by crimping.

This axial section 301 is adjoined by a second axial section 302, the outer wall of which runs at a small distance from an inner surface of the cavity 2, so that a chamber 9" is formed. This chamber 9" can be filled with air and form an air chamber. The chamber 9" can also be filled with casting compound 26 when the contact carrier 1 is encapsulated.

The second axial section 302 is followed by a third axial section 303, which is designed as a bead 24 and which prevents any potting compound that may penetrate into the chamber 9" from flowing further into the cavity 2.

A fourth axial section 304 adjoining the third axial section 303 is designed to be thinner than the second axial section 302. Air chambers 9 adjoin this fourth axial section 304. With regard to the design of the air chambers 9, reference is made to the above statements.

The air chambers 9 are adjoined by air chambers 9 'formed by the second contact carrier 25 in the exemplary embodiment, which have a somewhat smaller have radial extent. However, it is also provided that the air chambers 9 'have the same axial width as the air chambers 9, especially when the contact carrier 1 is connected to the contact carrier 25 using the same material.

The fourth axial section 304 merges into a thin sixth axial section 306, forming a truncated cone surface formed by a fifth axial section, which continues to a seventh axial section 307, which forms the coupling region 7 in the form of a pin 28. While the sixth axial section 306 extends in close contact with the wall of the cavity of the contact carrier 25 there, the seventh axial section 307 protrudes freely from an extension 30 to form the pin 28, which extends into an insertion opening 32 for inserting a section of a mating connector extends.

In this embodiment, the air chambers 9, 9' extend over at least half the length of the contact 3, which extends through the cavity 2. Particularly preferably, the air chambers 9, 9 'extend to immediately adjacent to the connection area 4 or to immediately adjacent to the coupling area 7 or to the root formed by the fifth axial section 305 of the sixth axial section 306 forming the pin.

The above statements serve to explain the inventions covered by the application as a whole, which independently develop the prior art at least through the following combinations of features, whereby two, more or all of these combinations of features can also be combined, namely:

An electrical plug connector, which is characterized in that in the immediate vicinity of the contact 3, at least in a section 10" of the central region 10 zones are provided, which have a lower dielectric constant ε _r compared to the insulating material of the contact carrier 1.

An electrical connector, which is characterized in that in order to reduce the dielectric constant ε _r , 8 chambers 9, 9 ', 9" are formed by means of spaced-apart projections projecting into the cavity 2, in which air or a material opposite the material of the contact carrier 1 can be made of different materials.

An electrical connector characterized in that the projections 8 form axially extending ribs.

An electrical plug connector, which is characterized in that the projections 8, which are approximately equally spaced in the circumferential direction, have contact surfaces 12 facing a central axis 11 of the cavity 2, against which a lateral surface of the central region 10 of the contact 3 centered in the cavity 2 rests.

An electrical plug connector, which is characterized in that two adjacent projections 8, which separate chambers 9, 9 ', 9" running next to one another in the circumferential direction from one another and form grooves with side flanks 13 facing one another, which in cross section are on a central axis 11 coaxially extending circular arc line extending bottom surface 14 and which is closed by a section of the lateral surface of the central region 10.

An electrical connector, which is characterized in that the contact 2 rests with its entire peripheral surface against the wall of the cavity 2, at least in the connection area 4, or closes the cavity 2 with a bead 24, so that when the contact carrier 2 is encapsulated with a casting compound Entry of the casting compound into the chambers 9 is prevented.

An electrical plug connector, which is characterized in that at least the central region 10 of the contact 3 has sections, each with a circular cross section, which have different diameters from one another, the section running over the zone 15 forming the chambers 9, 9 ', 9" having a has a smaller diameter than a section extending over the connection area 4 or an adjacent section of the central area 10.

An electrical connector, which is characterized in that the only two contacts 3, which are axially spaced apart by approximately 2 to 10 mm, preferably 2.5 to 4 mm, in an axial section 302, 303 adjacent to the connection area 4 have a diameter of approximately 0.4 to 3 mm, preferably 1.5 to 2 mm and the axial section 304, 306 having the chambers 9, 9 ', 9" have a diameter in the range of 0.4 to 3 mm, preferably 1.0 to 1.4 mm and/or that the ratio of the radial width of the chambers 9, 9', 9" to the diameter of the contact is in a range between a tenth and one and preferably in a range between a fifth and a quarter.

An electrical connector, which is characterized in that the cavity 2 is in its end spatially assigned to the coupling area 7 has a reduced cross-section area 16, which forms an opening 17 for the pin to enter.

A use of an electrical connector, wherein the connection area 4 of the contacts are connected to the conductors 5 of twisted wires 6 of a cable and transmit data via the connector at speeds of more than 10 Mbit/s, 100 Mbit/s or 1000 Mbit/s become.

All features disclosed are essential to the invention (individually, but also in combination with one another). The disclosure content of the associated/attached priority documents (copy of the prior application) is hereby fully included in the disclosure of the application, also for the purpose of including features of these documents in the claims of the present application. The subclaims, even without the features of a referenced claim, characterize with their features independent inventive developments of the prior art, in particular in order to make divisional applications based on these claims. The invention specified in each claim may additionally have one or more of the features provided in the above description, in particular with reference numbers and/or in the list of reference numbers. The invention also relates to designs in which individual features mentioned in the above description are not implemented, in particular to the extent that they are clearly dispensable for the respective intended use or can be replaced by other technically equivalent means.

List of reference symbols

1 Contact carrier 23 rear section 2 cavity 24 bead 3 Contact 25 Contact carrier 4 Connection area 26 Potting compound 5 Director 27 Sleeve element 6 Vein 28 Pen 7 Coupling area 29 Coat 8th head Start 29' Frame 9 air chamber, chamber 30 appendage 9' air chamber, chamber 31 Locking element 9" air chamber, chamber 32 Insert opening 10 Middle range 100 Connectors 10' first axial section 101 Connectors 10" second axial section 201 first axial section 11 Central axis 202 second axial section 12 investment area 203 third axial section 13 side flank 204 fourth axial section 14 floor area 301 first axial section 15 Zone of air chambers 302 second axial section 16 reduced cross-section area 303 third axial section 304 fourth axial section 17 opening 305 fifth axial section 18 appendage 306 sixth axial section 19 bead 307 seventh axial section 20 Tongue 21 Insert opening ε _r Dielectric constant 22 Front section

Claims (12)

Electrical connector for transmitting high-frequency signals with a contact carrier (1) made of an insulating material, which has cavities (2) in which there is an electrically conductive contact (3), wherein the contact (3) has a connection area (4) for connecting the contact (3) to a conductor (5), a coupling area (7), which can be designed as a socket for inserting a pin of an electrical mating connector or as a pin for inserting into a socket of an electrical mating connector, and forms a central area (10) extending between the connection area (4) and the coupling area (7). , characterized in that in the immediate vicinity of the contact (3), at least in a section (10") of the central region (10), zones are provided which have a lower dielectric constant (ε _r ) compared to the insulating material of the contact carrier (1). Electrical connector according to claim 1, characterized in that in order to reduce the dielectric constant (ε _r ), chambers (9, 9 ', 9") are formed by means of spaced-apart projections (8) projecting into the cavity (2), in which there is air or a material that is different from the material of the contact carrier (1). Electrical connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the projections (8) form ribs extending in the axial direction. Electrical connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the approximately equally spaced in the circumferential direction Projections (8) have contact surfaces (12) pointing to a central axis (11) of the cavity (2), against which a lateral surface of the central region (10) of the contact (3) centered in the cavity (2) rests. Electrical connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two adjacent projections (8), which separate chambers (9, 9 ', 9") running next to one another in the circumferential direction from one another and form grooves with side flanks (13) facing one another, which has a bottom surface (14) which extends in cross section on a circular arc line coaxial with the central axis (11) and which is closed by a section of the lateral surface of the central region (10). Electrical connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the contact (2) rests with its entire circumferential surface against the wall of the cavity (2) at least in the connection area (4) or closes the cavity (2) with a bead (24). that when the contact carrier (2) is encapsulated with a casting compound, the entry of the casting compound into the chambers (9, 9', 9") is prevented. Electrical connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the central region (10) of the contact (3) has sections, each with a circular cross section, which have different diameters from one another, the chambers (9, 9 ', 9 ") forming zone (15) has a smaller diameter than a section extending over the connection area (4) or an adjacent section of the central area (10). Electrical connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the only two contacts (3) which are axially spaced apart by approximately 2 to 10 mm, preferably 2.5 to 4 mm, in an axial section (302, 303) adjacent to the connection area (4). have a diameter of approximately 0.4 to 3 mm, preferably 1.5 to 2 mm, and the axial section (304, 306) having the chambers (9, 9', 9") have a diameter in the range 0.4 to 3 mm , preferably from 1.0 to 1.4 mm. Electrical connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ratio of the radial width of the air chambers (9, 9 ', 9") to the diameter of the contact is in a range between a tenth and one and preferably in a range between a fifth and a quarter lies. Electrical connector according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cavity (2) has, in its end spatially assigned to the coupling region (7), a region (16) with a reduced cross-section, which forms an opening (17) for the entry of the pin. Use of an electrical plug connector according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the connection area (4) of the contacts is connected to the conductors (5) of twisted cores (6) of a cable and data transmission at speeds of more than 10 Mbit/s is possible via the plug connector, 100 Mbit/s or 1000 Mbit/s can be transmitted. Electrical connector or use, characterized by one or more of the characterizing features of one of the preceding claims.

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