EP4342032A1

EP4342032A1 - Prefabricated cable, cable plug connector arrangement, and electrical plug connection

Info

Publication number: EP4342032A1
Application number: EP22728212.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Thomas MIEDL; Martin Zebhauser; Walter Baldauf; Thomas Schmid; Michael Angerbauer
Original assignee: Rosenberger Hochfrequenztechnik GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Rosenberger Hochfrequenztechnik GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2021-05-21
Filing date: 2022-05-09
Publication date: 2024-03-27
Also published as: EP4092836A1; CN117355994A; WO2022243083A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a prefabricated cable, to a cable plug connector arrangement, and to an electrical plug connection. A prefabricated cable (1) has a shielding foil (4), a shielding braid (5) which surrounds the shielding foil (4), and a cable sheath (6) which surrounds the shielding braid (5). The shielding braid (5) is exposed from the cable sheath (6) at a plug-side end (8) of the prefabricated cable (1). The shielding foil (4) has a dielectric foil (9) made of a dielectric material, and a metal coating (101, 102) on an outer lateral surface and on an inner lateral surface of the dielectric foil (9). The metal coating (101) on the outer lateral surface is electrically conductively connected to the metal coating (102) on the inner lateral surface in a plug-side end region (11) of the shielding foil (4) via at least one electrically conductive connection (12). According to the invention, the at least one electrical connection (12) is passed through the dielectric foil (9) in a plug-side axial end region of the shielding foil (4) and/or at least partially covers an end face of the dielectric foil (9) at a plug-side axial end of the shielding foil (4).

Description

Pre-assembled cable. Cable connector assembly and electrical connector

The present application claims priority from European Patent Application No. 21175273.8, the contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a prefabricated cable with the features of patent claim 1 . The present invention also relates to a cable connector assembly having the features of patent claim 13. Finally, the present invention relates to an electrical plug connection having the features of patent claim 17.

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 braided shield combines the good shielding attenuation of the shielding foil at higher frequencies with the good shielding attenuation at low frequencies and the better mechanical properties, in particular the high breaking strength, of the braided shielding.

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.

For the general technical background, reference is also made to the following publications.

DE 200 16527 U1 relates to an electrical installation line that is also intended to be used for the transmission of communications engineering signals. The installation line has a shielding foil wrapped around the cable in such a way that there is some overlap of the outer aluminum layers in order to provide particularly effective shielding.

DE 102015 004485 A1 and EP 3 435482 A1 each describe methods for producing a coaxial connector arrangement.

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:

A pre-assembled cable having a shielding film, a shielding mesh that encloses the shielding film and a cable jacket that encloses the shielding mesh, wherein the braided shielding is exposed from the cable sheath at a plug-side end of the prefabricated cable, the shielding film having a dielectric film made of a dielectric material and a metallic coating on an outer lateral surface and on an inner lateral surface of the dielectric foil 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 via at least one electrically conductive connection.

An electrically conductive connection is thus formed between the metallic coating of the outer lateral surface and the metallic coating of the inner lateral surface.

According to the invention, the at least one electrical connection is routed through the dielectric film in a plug-side axial end area of the shielding film (e.g. through the vias described below, sharp-edged elements, but also by material displacement of the dielectric material of the film) and/or covered or covered At a plug-side axial end of the shielding film, it covers an end face or cross-sectional area of the dielectric film at least in some areas (e.g. through the clamping elements, wires, caps, solder, an outer conductor contact element or another connector component or even the shielding mesh mentioned below).

Preferably, the electrical connection is not an electrical connection due to the mere overlapping of the shielding foil along the perimeter of the cable.

The electrical connection preferably touches the end face of the dielectric film at the axial end or directly contacts the end face and its coatings.

The metallic coating of the outer lateral surface can also be referred to as the first metallic outer coating of the dielectric film and the metallic coating of the inner lateral surface as the second metallic outer coating of the dielectric film. The dielectric foil thus preferably forms, in cross section, a stack of the 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 dielectric film runs on an outside of the dielectric film that faces away from the outer lateral surface of the dielectric film; the two lateral surfaces particularly preferably extend on outsides of the dielectric film that run parallel to one another. The outer surface of the dielectric film preferably faces away from the cable center or from the longitudinal axis of the prefabricated cable and the inner surface of the dielectric 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. This short circuit prevents the formation of a potential difference between the two metallic coatings. 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.

If the at least one electrical connection is at a distance from the axial end of the shielding film on the connector side, a distance from the axial end of less than a quarter of the wavelength of an electromagnetic wave to be transmitted during operation of the cable or the connector arrangement should preferably be provided in order to prevent the undesirable transformation to avoid an open circuit to the axial end, which can occur with a short circuit positioned at a multiple of l/4 distance.

The individual electrical connection can be an electrically conductive connection element, for example a metal cap, a metal pin, a metal sleeve, a metal wire, a metal clip, a metal plate, a metal spring, a connection element made of an electrically conductive elastomer--i.e . H. an elastomer with integrated metal particles -, 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 several electrically conductively connected, i.e. 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 electrical connection can therefore be passed through the dielectric film by displacement of material in certain areas.

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 arranged at the same axial position or in a narrowly limited axial position range of the shielding film distributed 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. Provision can particularly preferably be made for the at least one electrical connection to cover the entire end face of the dielectric film at the axial end of the shielding film on the connector side.

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.

Several short-circuit bridges can be introduced via the electrical connections, which divide the shielding film into several individual waveguide structures. The cut-off frequency can therefore be influenced by reducing the distances between the electrical connections, so that coupling in the relevant frequency ranges can no longer take place.

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 individual electrical connection between the metallic coatings of the shielding film can in each case also be 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 embodiment 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 results in a latent, i. H. a permanent electrical connection between the metallic coatings of the shielding foil.

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 film. 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. To further simplify the repulsion, are preferably several recesses or slot-shaped recesses are 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 film.

In a further form of a pre-assembled cable, the strips of the shielding film, which are each formed between two recesses in the shielding film that are adjacent to one another, are each folded in such a way 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 pre-assembled cable in order to feed in a prevent electromagnetic wave in the shielding film, can be transferred to the cable connector assembly equivalent.

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.

The connection between the outer conductor contact element of the connector and the shielding of the cable can take place in various ways, with some advantageous options being described as examples below: when using a support sleeve, only the shielding mesh 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 braided shield and at the plug-side end of the pre-assembled cable, an electrical connection can be made between the outer conductor contact element and the shielding film. If both the braided shield and the shielding film are folded back around the support sleeve, there is at least one electrical connection 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 electrical connection, preferably a crimp connection, can also 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 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. Here, too, an electrical connection between the metallic coatings of the shielding film is realized via the braided shielding and the metallic element or the outer conductor contact element.

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, ie in the latent state, of the cable connector arrangement, the embossing surface of the support sleeve, the outer conductor contact element or the other metallic element shapes the shielding film in such a way that the dielectric material of the shielding film is displaced and the metallic coatings of the shielding film make electrical contact with one another. 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 technical measures already explained above for the prefabricated cable and the cable connector arrangement in order to prevent an electromagnetic wave from being fed into the shielding film can be transferred to the electrical plug connection 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 dielectric 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"). 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 introducing bushings into the dielectric material or by already manufacturing the dielectric material with corresponding bushings, through which the material to be applied as part of the coating passes Metal extends and thus produces the electrically conductive connection between the lateral surfaces in the manner of vias.

It can also be provided that the edges or side surfaces of the dielectric film are also metallically coated 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 dielectric film.

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

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:

1A.1B shows a longitudinal sectional representation 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 prefabricated cable,

3A, 3B show a longitudinal section of a third exemplary embodiment of a prefabricated cable and a section thereof, 4A, 4B show a longitudinal sectional view of a fourth exemplary embodiment of a prefabricated cable and a section thereof,

5A, 5B shows a longitudinal sectional view of a fifth exemplary embodiment of a prefabricated cable and a section thereof,

6A, 6B show a longitudinal sectional view of a sixth exemplary embodiment of a prefabricated cable and a section thereof,

7 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a section of a seventh exemplary embodiment of a prefabricated cable,

8 shows a longitudinal sectional representation of a section of an eighth exemplary embodiment of a prefabricated cable,

9A, 9B show a longitudinal section and a cross-section of a device according to the invention

connector,

9C shows a side view of a further embodiment of a prefabricated cable for a connector according to the invention,

10A.10B shows a longitudinal section and a side view of a further embodiment of a connector according to the invention,

11 shows a longitudinal sectional representation of a further embodiment of a connector according to the invention and

12 shows a cross-sectional illustration of an electrical plug connection 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.

FIG. 1A shows a prefabricated 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 foil 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 .

As can be seen from FIG. 1B, the hollow-cylindrical shielding film 4 has a dielectric film 9 and a metallic coating 1Ch and 102 on the outer lateral surface and on the inner lateral surface. As can be clearly seen from FIG. 1A and in particular from the enlarged detail Z in FIG. 1B, 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 I O2 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 ICH and IO2 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 10i and IO2 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 10i and 102 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 FIG. 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 ICH and IO2 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 pre-assembled cable 1 according to the invention, in which only a single electrically conductive connection 12 is formed between the metallic coatings I CH and I O2 of the shielding film 4, the capacitance per unit length for 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 ICH and IO2 of the shielding film 4 can be limited to the plug-side end region 11 of the shielding film 4. 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 exemplary embodiment (cf. FIGS. 3A, 3B), the electrically conductive connection 12 can in each case be realized 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 face of the shielding film 4, a slotted metallic hollow ring, for example, can be used for this according to FIGS. 3A and 3B. Each of the metallic connecting elements 13 spaced apart from the shielding film 4 preferably contacts the metallic coatings ICH and 102 of the shielding film 4 in a materially or non-positive manner.

In a fourth exemplary embodiment (cf. FIGS. 4A, 4B), the electrically conductive connection 12 can in each case be formed via a metallic connecting element 14 resting on the front end of the shielding film 4 . This can be, for example, a single metallic clamping element or a single be a metallic retaining clip. According to FIGS. 4A and 4B, a metal connecting element 14 lying on the front end of the shielding film 4 and extending over the entire front surface of the shielding film 4 can be, for example, a metal ring-shaped cap with a U-shaped cross-sectional profile. The connection between the at least one metallic connecting element 14 and the metallic coatings 10i and 102 of the shielding film 4 is also preferably made in a material or non-positive manner.

In a fifth embodiment, the electrically conductive connection 12 according to FIGS. 5A and 5B can be realized via a metal through-connection 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 feedthrough previously formed mechanically or possibly thermally in the shielding film 4 or the dielectric film 9 . The metal vias 15 should preferably be distributed evenly over the circumference of the shielding film 4 . According to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the via 15 can be implemented as a passage between the two metallic coatings 10i and IO2 within the shielding film 4, but also as a recess or as a notch between the two metallic coatings ICH and IO2 at the edge of the shielding film 4.

In a sixth embodiment (cf. Fig. 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 is particularly important when pressing or crimping the prefabricated cable 1 with the outer conductor contact element of the connector completely penetrates the shielding foil 4 and electrically connects the metallic coatings 1C and 1C> ₂ of the shielding foil 4 to one another. The tip 16 shown schematically in FIGS. 6A and 6B, which is formed on the outer surface of the support sleeve 7, completely 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 ICH and IO2 of the shielding film 4 is ensured 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 inside 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, which has been folded back or not, and in doing so the metallic coatings ICH and IO2 of the shielding film 4 electrically connects to each other.

In a seventh exemplary embodiment, the electrically conductive connection 12 between the metallic coatings ICH and IO2 of the shielding film 4 according to FIG. In an eighth exemplary embodiment (cf. FIG. 8), the electrically conductive connection 12 between the metallic coatings 1Ch and IO2 of the shielding film 4 is formed by mutual electrical contacting 18 of the metallic coatings ICH and IO2. For this purpose, the shielding film 4 is processed in its connector-side end region 11 at least at one point in such a way that the dielectric film 9 located between the two metallic coatings ICH and ICh of the shielding film 4 is displaced and the two metallic coatings I CH and IC of the shielding film 4 are mutually electrically to contact.

In addition to the previously explained exemplary embodiments of an electrically conductive connection 12 between the metallic coatings ICH and ICb of the shielding film 4, which can already be carried out on the prefabricated cable 1, exemplary embodiments for 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, described:

In the cable connector arrangement 100 according to the invention as shown in FIGS. 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 .

For better folding back of the shielding film 4 around the support sleeve 7 and the shielding mesh 5, the shielding film 4 is cut at least once, preferably several times, starting from the front end of the shielding film 4 in the longitudinal direction of the prefabricated cable 1, as can be seen in FIGS. 9B and 9C. The cutouts 21 formed as a result preferably have a cutout width of the same or a similar size as the width of the strips 22 of the shielding film 4 formed between two cutouts. Alternatively, only slit-shaped recesses 21 are conceivable.

As a result of the pressing or crimping process, according to FIG The metallic coating I O2 formed on the inner lateral surface of the folded-back shielding film 4 by the outer conductor contact element 20 and the simultaneous electrical contacting of the metallic coating 10i of the folded-back shielding film 4 formed on the outer lateral surface by the shielding braid 5 is thus an electrically conductive connection 12 between the metallic coatings 10i and IO2 of the shielding film 4 is formed. The braided shielding 5 and the outer conductor contact element 20 thus together form the electrically conductive connection 12 between the metallic coatings 10i and I O2 of the shielding film 4. Additional contacting between the outer conductor contact element 20 and the braided shield 5 takes place with a braided shield 5 that is axially longer than the shielding film 4, additionally in the axially longer region 23 of the braided shield 5, as indicated in FIG. 9A.

The electrically conductive connection 12 between the metallic coatings 10i 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 mesh 5 can be additionally increased by in each case at least one bushing 24 in the individual strips 22 of the folded-back shielding film 4, preferably several passages 24, and/or at least one recess 25, preferably several recesses 25, are formed on the edges of the individual strips 22 of the folded-back shielding film 4 according to FIG. 9C.

In a further exemplary embodiment of a cable connector arrangement 100 according to the invention as shown in 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 corresponds to the longitudinal extension of the non-folded area 27 of the individual strip 22 is oriented at an angle greater than 0° and less than 90°, preferably at an angle of 45°, to one another.

In this way, both the metallic coating 10i 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 IO2 of the folded area 26 of each strip 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 10i and 102 of the shielding film 4.

In a further embodiment of the cable connector arrangement 100 according to the invention as shown in Figure 11, the plug-side end 11 of the shielding film 4 ends in a metallically delimited cavity 28 within the connector 19. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in Figure 11, the metallic delimitation 29 of the cavity 28 can be in a 20 associated area be trained. It is essential that the metallic boundary of the cavity 28, i. H. the metallic area of the outer conductor contact element 20 electrically contacts the metallic coatings 10i and 102 of the shielding film 4 and thus forms the electrically conductive connection 12. The front end of the shielding film 4 does not necessarily have to touch the metallic boundary of the cavity 28 as shown in FIG. 11, 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 .

Finally, FIG. 12 shows an electrical plug connection 30 between a plug connector 19 and a corresponding mating connector 31 . The inner conductor 2 of the pre-assembled For this purpose, the cable 1 is connected to an inner conductor contact element 32 of the connector 19, for example via a crimped or soldered connection. An insulation 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 prefabricated cables 1 and 41 are electrically connected to one another at their plug-side ends via a metallic connecting element 14 according to FIGS. 4A and 4B.

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

PATENT CLAIMS

1 . Pre-assembled cable (1) having a shielding film (4), a shielding mesh (5) which encloses the shielding film (4), and a cable jacket (6) which encloses the shielding mesh (5), the shielding mesh (5) being attached to a plug-side End (8) of the prefabricated cable (1) is exposed from the cable sheath (6), the shielding film (4) having a dielectric film (9) made of a dielectric material and a metallic coating (10i, IO2) on an outer surface and on an inner lateral surface of the dielectric film (9), and wherein the metallic coating (10i) on the outer lateral surface is electrically conductive with the metallic coating (IO2) on the inner lateral surface of the shielding film (4) via at least one electrically conductive connection (12). is connected, characterized in that the at least one electrical connection (12) each a) in a plug-side axial end portion of the shielding gsfolie (4) is passed through the dielectric film (9); and/or b) an end face of the dielectric film (9) is covered at least in regions on a connector-side axial end of the shielding film (4).

2. Pre-assembled cable (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one electrical connection (12) is spaced from the axial end of the shielding film (4) on the connector side, but preferably by less than a quarter of the wavelength during operation of the cable (1) with the cable (1) to be transmitted electromagnetic wave.

3. Prefabricated cable (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one electrical connection (12) covers the entire end face of the dielectric film (9) at the plug-side axial end of the shielding film (4).

4. Prefabricated cable (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the electrically conductive connection (12) between the metallic coating (I CH) on the outer lateral surface and the metallic coating (IO2) on the inner lateral surface in an associated passage (24) of the shielding film (4) is formed.

5. Prefabricated cable (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the electrically conductive connection (12) between the metallic coating (I CH) on the outer surface and the metallic coating (I O2) on the inner surface each in one associated recess (25) formed on a boundary of the shielding film (4) or in each case adjacent to the shielding film (4) or in each case at a distance from the shielding film (4).

6. Pre-assembled cable (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a plurality of electrically conductive connections (12) between the metallic coating (10i) on the outer lateral surface and the metallic coating (IO2) on the inner lateral surface, which are preferably arranged in equidistant angular sections to each other are formed.

7. Prefabricated cable (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in 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 and the metallic coatings (10i, IO2) on the outer lateral surface and on the inner lateral surface of the shielding film (4) make electrical contact.

8. Prefabricated cable (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the metallic coating (10i) on the outer surface and the metallic coating (IO2) on the inner surface such via the electrically conductive connection (12) to each other are electrically connected such that an area between the metallic coatings (10i, IO2) is completely metallically filled.

9. Prefabricated cable (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the exposed braided shield (5) is surrounded by a support sleeve (7), the exposed braided shield (5) and the shielding film (4) surrounding the support sleeve (7) are folded back, the folded-back shielding braid (5) having at least one area which is exposed in each case by the folded-back shielding film (4).

10. The prefabricated cable (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that starting from a front end of the folded-back shielding film (4), a plurality of recesses (21) are formed in the folded-back shielding film (4), which are each parallel to one another in a longitudinal axis direction of the prefabricated Cable (1) run, with a respective strip (22) of the folded-back shielding film (4) being formed between two recesses (21) formed adjacent to one another.

11. Prefabricated cable (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that 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).

12. Cable connector arrangement (100), comprising a prefabricated cable (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11 and a 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), the outer conductor contact element (20) being electrically connected to the braided shielding (5) and/or to the shielding film (4).

13. Cable connector arrangement (100) according to claim 12, characterized in that the braided shielding (5) is exposed at least in one area by the shielding film (4), the metallic coating (10i) on the outer lateral surface and the metallic coating (IO2 ) of the inner lateral surface of the shielding film (4) are electrically connected via 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).

14. Cable connector arrangement (100) according to Claim 13, characterized in that the planar electrical connection is formed by means of the outer conductor contact element (20) or another metallic element in the connector (19), which is in each case planar on the surface of the exposed braided shielding (5) and rests on the surface of the shielding film (4).

15. Cable connector arrangement (100) according to one of Claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the outer conductor contact element (20) or another metallic element in the connector (19) each has a sharp-edged and/or pointed surface structure (16), which in each case has the shielding film (4) penetrates between the metallic coating (10i) on the outer lateral surface and the metallic coating (IO2) on the inner lateral surface.

16. Cable connector assembly (100) according to any one of claims 12 to 15, characterized in that the connector-side end region (11) of the shielding film (4) ends in a cavity (28) of the connector (19), which is preferably completely metallic delimited, wherein the electrically conductive connection (12) between the metallic coating (10i) on the outer lateral surface and the metallic coating (IO2) on the inner lateral surface is formed by the metallic boundary (29) of the cavity (28).

17. Electrical plug connection (30), comprising a cable connector arrangement (100) according to one of claims 12 to 16 and a corresponding mating connector (31), wherein the plug connector (19) and the mating connector (31) each have an inner conductor and outer conductor side with each other electrically are connected.