WO2008083834A1

WO2008083834A1 - Connector jack for industrial information networks comprising at least two contact points

Info

Publication number: WO2008083834A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/011369
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bert Bergner; Günter Feldmeier; Werner Boeck
Original assignee: Tyco Electronics Amp Gmbh
Priority date: 2007-01-11
Filing date: 2007-12-21
Publication date: 2008-07-17
Also published as: DE102007002466A1; DE102007002466B4; CN101584090A; JP2010516026A; CN101584090B

Abstract

The invention relates to a connector jack (1) for standard connections in industrial information networks, in particular an RJ45 jack for Ethernet-based applications. The connector jack (1) comprises a plug socket (3) which opens against a plug-in direction (Z) and a plurality of spring contacts (4). The spring contacts (4) each form an inclined surface (27) projecting into the plug socket (3) in the plug-in direction (Z). To allow a downwardly compatible, vibration-resistant connection, it is proposed according to the invention that the spring contacts (4) each form a further inclined surface (26) offset in the plug-in direction (Z) from the inclined surface (27).

Description

CONNECTOR JACK FOR INDUSTRIAL INFORMATIONNETWORKS COMPRISING AT

LEAST TWO CONTACT POINTS

The invention relates to a connector jack for standard connections in industrial information networks, in particular a RJ45 connector jack for Ethernet-based applications, comprising a plug socket which opens against a plug-in direction and comprising a plurality of spring contacts which each form an inclined surface into the plug socket in the plug-in direction.

In industry, as for some time in office technology, standardized data transfer methods from the information network and communications technology are used. Owing to its technical versatility and widespread use, this applies, in particular, to Ethernet-based data exchange in accordance with IEEE 802.3. In the field of office communications, the

8-pin modular connector in accordance with IEC 60603-7-1, also known as the RJ45 connector jack has been successfully used for line Ethernet transfer in connection systems. With these connectors, the spring contacts form an inclined surface towards which a respective plug-side contact travels with a corner thereof.

Owing to their wide and favorable availability, attempts have also been made to use the established RJ45 standard in industry. However, the performance of RJ45 plugs and connector jacks known from office technology is not sufficient, in particular, for industrial use. In particular, the mechanical load-bearing capacity of the connection and the impermeability to dust and moisture are inadequate.

The draft standard IEC 61076-3-106 discloses fourteen different solutions which have been proposed for adapting the RJ45 standard for industrial applications. In addition, products which take up the principle followed in the draft standard are known from the market. DE 10 2004 038 123 B4 and WO 02/0673287 A1 disclose electrical connections which are RJ45-compatible and have an enhanced mechanical load-bearing capacity, but which are only suitable to a very limited extent for use in environments which are at risk of pronounced vibrations.

A common feature of these known solutions is that the mechanical load-bearing capacity is achieved solely by the configuration of an outer sheath for the plug and the connector jack. The actual RJ45 connector, consisting of a jack and a plug is always an arbitrarily constructed standard office communications product. The fact that the RJ45 standard plug is not particularly suitable for use under pronounced mechanical stress, owing among other things to the generous IEC 60603-7-1 tolerances is still problematic. On account of the tolerances, there is always more or less pronounced play of the plug in the connector jack.

A further problem which does not arise in office technology is that the plug connection can be mounted on a machine in industrial applications and can thus be exposed to continuous vibrations. The play between connector jack and plug in the known RJ45 connections leads to relative movement on the contact point and consequently to damage of the contact surfaces, interruptions in contact and ultimately failure of the connection or loss of packets.

In view of these drawbacks, it is the object of the invention to provide a downwardly compatible connector jack for standard connections, in particular in accordance with the RJ45 standard, which improves the vibration protection of the plug connection for industrial applications.

This object is achieved for a connector jack of the type mentioned at the outset in that the spring contacts each form a further inclined surface which is offset from the inclined surface in the plug-in direction.

The two successive inclined surfaces enable the spring contacts to touch the respectively allocated contact plugs at two respective contact points. The two contact points are allocated to the two respective inclined surfaces. With this configuration, moreover, plugs configured according to the standard can be used without restriction.

This is ensured by the trailing inclined surface, in the plug-in direction, demanded by the standard. The additional contact point on the leading inclined surface, in the plug-in direction, can be used for the additional contacting of standard plugs.

The idea of the invention can be further improved by a number of independent configurations each of which is advantageous in itself.

In an advantageous configuration, therefore, the spring contacts can form, between the inclined surfaces in the plug-in direction, a respective support which rests at least indirectly on a housing surrounding the plug socket when the plug is connected to the connector jack. This measure ensures that the spring force is distributed uniformly over the two contact points allocated to the inclined surfaces. The support contacts the spring contacts between the contact points so that the regions of the spring contacts located on both sides of the support form springs which operate independently of one another. The expression "indirect support on the housing" refers to the fact that further elements may be arranged between the housing and the support. In particular, the spring contact can be bent back into itself so that the support rests in a contacting manner on a different portion of the spring contact, thus reducing the signal paths.

According to a further advantageous configuration, the spring contact can project in a freely vibrating manner into the plug socket, in other words be fixed to the housing of the connector jack by one end. This allows high resilience of the spring contact and thus enhanced adaptability to different shapes of plug contacts.

The spring contact can also have a leg which extends against the plug-in direction and a leg which extends in the plug-in direction, which can be joined together, in particular, by a bend. The inclined surfaces can be formed on the legs extending the plug-in direction. This configuration makes the spring contact more flexible so it can follow vibrations more easily. The two legs of the spring contact are preferably superimposed in a plane, the lower leg close to the housing being connected to the housing of the connector jack.

Between the two inclined surfaces, the course of the spring contact can have a curved portion close to the housing, the curved portion being configured in the form of a direction-changing kink or a direction-changing bend and being able to form, in particular, the support.

A further curved portion can be arranged on a region of the spring contact remote from the housing at the end of the inclined surface located in the plug-in direction. With this configuration, the leading contact point, in the plug-in direction, is formed by the curved portion, in other words a kink or a bend, of the spring contact.

In terms of production engineering, the curved portions can easily be produced by bending, kinking or stamping. The curved portion makes the spring contact highly flexible. To minimize impairment of the fatigue strength, it is advantageous if the radius at the curved portion is not too small. In order to produce a defined contact pressure at one point rather than an undefined pressure at a plurality of points, the spring contact can have a contact surface which is curved transversely to the plug-in direction into the plug socket in the region of the contact points. As a result, the curved surface rolls on the plug contact at the contact points during a relative movement between the plug and the connector jack, and ensures spot contact.

It is also difficult to ensure good transfer characteristics at elevated frequencies with RJ45 plug connections. In particular near-end crosstalk at high frequencies in accordance with the IEC 60603-7-5 standard represents a huge challenge.

To improve the transfer characteristic at elevated frequencies, the distance between adjacent spring contacts can be increased by arranging connecting lines to the regions, projecting into the plug socket, of the spring contacts of the adjacent spring contacts in different respective planes. The connecting lines can be of any type. It is preferred in terms of production engineering if the connecting lines of connecting portions of the correspondingly lengthened spring contacts are each formed in one piece. To improve the transfer characteristic at elevated frequencies, moreover, the trailing inclined surface, in the plug-in direction, of adjacent spring contacts can end in different respective planes.

An alternative or additional measure for reducing crosstalk can involve crossing over the connecting lines or portions to the regions of the spring contacts projecting into the plug socket in the case of adjacent spring contacts.

The plug socket can form a substantially parallelepiped socket space for the plug, the spring contacts being arranged on a lateral surface of the socket space.

To enable a plug introduced into the connector jack to be held with relatively great force, a retaining spring can additionally be provided on a lateral surface different from the lateral surface of the spring contacts according to a further advantageous configuration. An additional force is exerted on the plug by a retaining spring of this type, which is deflected when the plug is inserted, with the result that the plug is guided and positioned better in the jack. To enable the plug to be mounted in the connector jack with particularly high resistance to vibration and to compensate the play of the plug in the connector jack, at least one pair of opposing retaining springs can be provided.

The retaining springs extend into the region of the inclined surfaces, in particular in the plug-in direction, so they can rest, in particular, on the plastic tip of an RJ45 plug. The retention force of the retaining spring is preferably designed in such a way that the plug is fixed in the connector jack to a predetermined intensity in the case of vibrations. A relative movement of the plug in the connector jack begins only at higher vibration amplitudes than in formerly known products.

To allow additional latching of the plug in the connector jack, the plug can have an enlargement for receiving the retaining spring.

In a further advantageous configuration, the retaining springs can be configured as electrically conductive shielding spring contacts which connect a shield cladding or surrounding the connector jack to a shield of a plug introduced in the jack. In particular, the shielding spring contact of the shield can be formed, for example, by a punched-out and bent portion. With this configuration, the retaining spring performs a double role as a purely mechanical retaining spring in the region of the plastic tip of the RJ45 plug and as a shielding contact in the shielded portion of the plug located towards the cable.

The shielding spring contact can also have a configuration corresponding to the spring contacts, in particular therefore can form two inclined surfaces which are superimposed in the plug-in direction and are separated from one another by a support.

A spring element of which the direction of action is counter to the direction of action of the spring contacts can also project into the plug socket. When the plug is inserted and the spring element is deflected, it can be ensured by the press-on force of the spring element that the contact forces differ only slightly from one another over a range of connector jacks and plugs.

The insertion of the plug into the connector jack can be simplified by an entry bevel which surrounds the opening of the plug socket, located against the plug-indirection, and widens against the plug-in direction. The mechanical load-bearing capacity of an assembled arrangement of the plug and the connector jack can also be increased if the length of the socket of the connector jack in the plug-in direction exceeds the standard dimension and if the socket comprises plug guides which extend in the plug-in direction, are preferably opposed to one another in pairs and have the form of planar guide surfaces, the distance between the plug guides being designed according to the minimum dimensions of the standard tolerance. In the inserted state, corresponding regions of the plug rest as far as possible completely flat on the plug guides. The lengthening of the plug and therefore of the plug guides reduces the movability of the plug in the connector jack, while forces acting on the plug connection are simultaneously led over a larger area to reduce surface pressure. The design of the spacing of the guide surfaces in compliance with the minimum dimensions of the standard tolerance ensures compatibility with the standard, while the movability of the plug is simultaneously minimized.

Finally, the connector jack can have a retaining member for locking a plug constructed specifically for this purpose, for example by screwing or locking. The retaining members of the connector jack are connected rigidly and non-movably to the printed circuit board so any mechanical stress on the plug and the cable is transmitted via the connector jack directly onto the printed circuit board.

The invention is described by way of example hereinafter by means of various embodiments illustrated in the drawings. The different features in different embodiments can optionally be combined with one another, as suggested by the foregoing. If an advantage associated with a specific feature is unimportant in a specific application, this feature can also be omitted.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a connector jack according to the invention,

Fig. 2 shows a schematic perspective arrangement of a spring contact of the connector jack of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 shows an arrangement comprising the connector jack of Fig. 1 and a plug introduced incompletely into the connector jack in a schematic perspective sectional view, Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a further embodiment of the connector jack and the plug,

Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a further embodiment of the plug,

Fig. 6 to 9 show further embodiments of the spring contacts each in a schematic side view, partly in section, and

Fig. 10 is a schematic perspective view of a further embodiment of the connector jack according to the invention.

The construction of a connector jack 1 according to the invention is initially described with reference to Fig. 1. The connector jack 1 comprises a substantially parallelepiped housing 2 which can be formed from an injection-molded plastic material.

The housing 2 surrounds a plug socket 3 in the form of a recess which opens outwards against a plug-in direction Z that can also have a parallelepiped construction. The plug socket 3 has a symmetrical configuration in a center plane M and is constructed to receive a complementary plug 33 (Fig. 3), which is to be introduced in the plug-in direction Z.

The connector jack 1 comprises a plurality of spring contacts 4 which project from a lateral surface 5a of the housing 2 into the plug socket 3. Eight of the spring contacts 4 which extend parallel to the plug-in direction Z are provided in the connector jack 1 of, for example, an RJ45 type shown in Fig. 1. The configuration of the spring contacts 4 is described in detail below with reference to Fig. 2.

The plug socket 3 is also provided with planar supporting guide surfaces 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 , 12, 13 which extend in the plug-in direction Z and oppose one another in respective pairs in directions X, Y which extend perpendicularly to the plug-in direction Z and are parallel to sides of the plug socket 3. The pairs of guide surfaces 6, 9 and 10, 13 are mutually opposed in the Y direction and the pairs of guide surfaces 7, 12 and 8, 11 are mutually opposed in the X direction. A distance A between the guide surfaces 7, 8 and 11 , 12 in the X direction corresponds to a minimum dimension according to a plug standard of the respective connection system, for example, an RJ45 plug according to IEC 60603-7-1. The same applies to a distance B between the guide surfaces 6, 9 and 10, 13. A length L of the guide surfaces 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 in the plug-in direction Z is greater than a standard length of the respective plug standard, in order to guide the plug 33 (Fig. 3) over a greater length in the connector jack 1 and to reduce its clearance for tilting movements.

An aperture O of the plug socket 3 is surrounded by an entry bevel 14 which widens against the plug-in direction Z and simplifies the insertion of the plug 33 (Fig. 3) into the plug socket 3 through the aperture O.

In addition to the spring contacts 4, the connector jack 1 comprises a pair of spring elements 16 which additionally fix the plug 33 (Fig. 3) in the plug socket 3 and compensate the play of the plug 33 (Fig. 3) in the connector jack 1. The spring elements 16 arranged symmetrically with respect to the center plane M of the connector jack 1 projects from a lateral surface, remote from the spring contacts 4, of the connector jack 1 in the direction Y into the plug socket 3 so that its effect opposes the effect of the spring contacts 4. Each of the spring elements 16 preferably forms two support areas 16a which lie in succession in the plug-in direction Z and on which the inserted plug 33 (Fig. 3) rests. The support areas 16a are formed by curved portions, remote from the housing 2, in the form of bends or kinks which adjoin respective inclined surfaces 16b in the plug- in direction Z.

At least one pair of retaining springs 18 which counteract one another can also be formed on lateral surfaces 5b of the plug socket 3 which oppose one another in the X direction. As shown in Fig. 1 , the retaining springs 18 can have a forked configuration and form, for example, three retaining points 18a which project into the plug socket 3 and press against the inserted plug 33 (Fig. 3). Similarly to the support areas 16a of the spring elements 16, the retaining points 18a of the retaining springs 18 are formed by curved portions in the course of the retaining springs 18, for example by kinks or bends.

The retaining points 18a are each arranged adjacent to inclined surfaces 18b extending in the plug-in direction Z.

The retaining springs 18 have a curved profile, at least at the leading retaining points 18a, in the plug-in direction Z, into the plug socket 3. This can be achieved, for example, by impressing a groove in the side remote from the plug socket 3. in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the retaining springs 18 and the spring elements 16 act as shielding spring contacts which make electrically conductive contact with shielding of the plug 33 (Fig. 3) inserted into the connector jack 1. For this purpose, the spring elements 16 and the retaining springs 18 are preferably shaped integrally on a shielding plate 19 surrounding the plug socket 3. As shown in Fig. 1, the shielding plate 19 externally surrounds the housing 2 of the connector 1. The shielding plate 19 is manufactured from a web of material, is folded around the housing 2 and is held together by interlocking elements 20. The spring elements 16 and retaining springs 18 are formed by punched-out projections of the shielding plate 19 and, surrounding a rim 21 directed against the plug-in direction Z₁ are bent into the plug socket 3 through the aperture O.

A slot 22 in the front surface directed against the plug-in direction Z of the housing 2 can be used for further fixing of the shielding plate 19.

Finally, the housing 2 in the plug socket 3 forms two stops 23, 24, which are placed in the Z direction and are directed towards one another, that form a recess 25 there between for receiving a plug-side latching member 37 (Fig. 3).

The construction of the spring contacts 4 will now be described with reference to Fig. 2. In this embodiment, the reference numerals used in Fig. 1 will be used for the already described elements.

The spring contacts 4 are shaped from punched material or wire material and comprise two separate inclined surfaces 26, 27 which are arranged in succession in the plug-in direction Z and are each allocated a contact point 28, 29. The inclined surfaces 26, 27 are mutually superimposed in the projection in the plug-in direction Z, an end 27a of the inclined surface 27, in the plug-in direction Z, projecting further into the plug socket 3 than the inclined surface 26.

The inclined surfaces 26, 27 extend at an inclination to the direction Y and the plug-in direction Z into the plug socket 3 (Fig. 1). In the plug-in direction Z, the inclined surface 26 ends at the contact point 28 in a curved portion 30 of the course of the spring contact 4 representing a change of direction in the course of the spring contact 4, in other words a kink or a bend. The contact point 29 is arranged in a region of the inclined surface 27. A further curved portion 30 is arranged after the curved portion 28 remote from the housing 2, in the plug-in direction Z, in other words the contact point 28, at a beginning of the inclined surface 27. The course of the spring contact 4 therefore has a double kink or double bend structure in the projection in the direction Y in the region between the inclined surfaces 26, 27.

At the contact points 28, 29, the spring contact 4 preferably has a concavely profiled cross-section, so the cross-section in the direction X is curved into the plug socket 3 (Fig. 1). For this purpose, the spring contact 4 can be configured as a hollow profile, for example with a groove on the side remote from the plug socket 3.

To improve the transfer behavior at high frequencies, the inclined surfaces 27, in the plug-in direction Z, end in different respective planes I, Il which are mutually spaced in the direction Y. Similarly, connecting lines or portions 31 which connect the spring contacts 4 with contacts arranged outside the connector jack 1 (Fig. 1) also end at planes III, IV also spaced from one another in the direction Y. As shown in Fig. 2, the connecting portions 31 can also be formed in one piece by the spring contacts 4.

A further improvement in the crosstalk characteristic can be achieved if the connecting portions 31 of adjacent spring contacts 4 cross over in the direction X. This can be achieved if the connecting portions 31 have offset portions 32 which lie in a plane substantially parallel to the direction X and the plug-in direction Z and cross over in the direction Y projection.

Independently of the arrangement of the connecting portions 31 and the ends 27a in different planes, the contact points 28 and the contact points 29 each lie in a plane in the case of adjacent spring contacts 4, to ensure that the connection is compliant with the standards.

Fig. 3 is a section through the connector jack 1 from Fig. 1 with the plug 33 incompletely introduced therein. The plug 33 comprises plug contacts 34 which are arranged in parallel in respective slots 35. The slots 35 are open in the plug-in direction Z and downwardly against the direction Y, and have a width in the direction X that corresponds at least to a width of the spring contacts 4. The slots 35 with the plug contacts 34 located therein are aligned in the plug-in direction Z with the spring contacts 4. When the plug 33 is inserted into the plug socket 3, the inclined surface 26, in the plug-in direction Z, first enters the slot 35 and contacts the plug contact 34. As the plug 33 is pressed further into the plug socket 3 in the plug-in direction Z, a leading corner region 34a of the plug contact 34 slides along the inclined surface 26 until the leading contact point 28 rests on the underside of the plug contact 34, while the spring contact 4 is simultaneously pressed down in a direction of arrow P. If the plug 33 is now pushed further, it strikes the inclined surface 27 and presses the inclined surface 27 with a leading corner region down in the direction of the housing 2. In a final position of the plug 33, the corner region of the plug contact 34 rests on the contact point 29. The contact point 28 simultaneously contacts the plug contact 34 from below.

The plug 33 has a leading housing portion 36, in the plug-in direction Z, made of a plastic material in which the slots 35 are also formed and the plug contacts 34 are arranged. The latching member 37 has a handle 38 and is formed in one piece in an elastically deflectable manner by the leading housing portion 36.

A shield 39 made, for example, of sheet metal, surrounds the plug 33 externally over a portion directed towards a cable 40. In the completely inserted state, the shield 39 is contacted by the retaining points 18a, located toward the aperture O, of the spring elements 16 and the retaining spring 18 configured as shielding spring contacts. The support areas 16a and the retaining points 18a, in the plug-in direction Z, of the spring elements 16 and the retaining springs 18 preferably rest on the leading housing portion 36 of the plug 33.

Fig. 3 finally shows that the connecting portions 31 of the spring contacts 4 end outside the connector jack 1 in attachment contacts 41 accessible from outside the connector jack 1.

Fig. 4 shows a further embodiment of a connector jack 1 and of the plug 33, the same reference numerals being used for elements which are already described above. For the sake of brevity, only the differences from the embodiments illustrated in Fig. 1 to 3 and described above will be discussed. In Fig. 4, the plug 33 is surrounded by an additional sheathed housing according to IEC 61076-3-106. The connector jack 1 is additionally provided with a collar 43 surrounding the aperture O on its front surface 42 directed towards the plug-in direction Z.

An offset 44, the external contour of which corresponds substantially to an internal contour of the collar 43, is arranged on the plug 33. The offset 44 is insertable into the collar 43 and is capable of striking the front surface 42.

An additional sheath 45 between the offset 44 and a cable fastening means 46 forms a socket, not shown in Fig. 4, for the collar 43, in which the collar 43 can be inserted and locked.

In the embodiment in Fig. 4, the mechanical connection between the cable (not shown) attached to the cable fastening member 46 of the plug 33 and a device (not shown) retaining the connector jack 1 is produced by latching the collar 43, the offset 44, and the sheath 45. To keep the leading housing portion 36, in the plug-in direction Z, of the plug 33 free of play, without imposing excessive requirements on the accuracy of the manufacture of the plug socket 3 and the leading housing portion 36, the spring elements 16, and the retaining springs 18 provide a resilient mounting in the direction X and the direction Y, as described above.

Therefore, the configuration of the connector jack 1 described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3 can also be applied with RJ45 connectors having a particularly high mechanical load- bearing capacity.

Fig. 5 shows an alternative configuration of the plug 33. The plug 33 comprises the leading housing portion 36 which is provided with an indentation 47 on a lateral surface associated with the retaining spring 18. The indentation 47 has the function of receiving the trailing retaining points 18a, in the plug-in direction Z, of the retaining spring 18, while the leading retaining points 18a closer to the aperture O still have the function of contacting the shield 39 of the plug 33.

Different embodiments of the spring contact 4 will now be described with reference to Figs. 6 to 9, like reference numerals being used for like above-described elements. The embodiments in Figs. 6 to 8 all have a double kink structure, as described above in conjunction with Fig. 2.

Figs. 6 to 8 each show in a broken line an undeformed state of the spring contact 4, as assumed when the plug 33 is not inserted into the connector jack 1. The final position of the spring contact 4 adopted when the plug 33 is completely inserted is shown in a solid line.

As shown in Figs. 6 to 9, the two contact points 28, 29 contact the plug contact 34 in the end position at two points which are spaced from one another in the plug-in direction Z. In accordance with the standard, the contact point 29 touches the plug contact 34 at the leading corner region 34a in the plug-in direction Z. The bend directed towards the plug contact 34 on the leading contact point 28 touches the plug contact 34 on an underside thereof extending in the plug-in direction Z.

The spring contact 4 is fastened in the respective housing 2 at an end Q.

The differences in the embodiments of Figs. 6 to 9 are described in brief hereinafter.

Figs. 6 to 8 show that the region between the two inclined surfaces 26, 27 rests at least indirectly on the housing 2 when the plug 33 is inserted. The curved portion 30 in which the spring contact 4 has a bend directed towards the housing 2 acts as a support E which is pressed towards the housing 2 by the plug 33. In Fig. 9, on the other hand, the spring contact 4 projects so as to vibrate freely, in other words without formation of the support E, into the plug socket 3. The embodiments of Figs. 6 to 8 also have the common feature that the curved portion 30 is located in the plug-in direction Z between the two contact points 28, 29 and between the two inclined surfaces 26, 27, so that the portions of the spring contact 4 formed by the inclined surfaces 26, 27 form partial springs which act independently of one another on either side of the support E to allow reliable contacting of the plug contact 34. In the embodiment of Fig. 6, the spring contact 4 is bent back from the trailing part of the connector jack 1 in the plug-in direction Z lying in a plane substantially parallel to the direction X and the direction Y to form two legs 4a, 4b, which are connected by a bent portion 4c extending over approximately 290 degrees to 350 degrees. One of the legs 4a close to the housing 2 extends along the lateral wall 5a against the plug-in direction Z and forms the connecting portion 31. The leg 4b extending in the plug-in direction Z forms the inclined surfaces 26, 27 and the curved portion 30. In the inserted state of the plug 33, the curved portion 30 forming the support E, on the leg 4b, contacts the leg 4a and thus shortens the signal path. In this case, the leg 4a rests on the lateral wall 5a, at least in certain regions.

In Fig. 7, the connecting portion 31 continues the inclined surface 26 substantially continuously against the plug-in direction Z towards the housing 2. This embodiment is beneficial, in particular if the attachment contacts 41 (Fig. 3) are arranged on the underside or front side of the connector jack 1.

In the embodiment of Fig. 8, the inclined surface 26 is markedly shortened and basically only just provided. The inclined surface 27 passes directly into the connecting portion 31 in the plug-in direction Z.

In the embodiments in Figs. 7 and 8, the resting of the curved portion 30 on the housing 2 or a printed circuit board 48 (Fig. 10) can be used for contacting purposes and therefore to improve the crosstalk characteristic.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 9 forms the two contact points 28, 29 without the support E. For this purpose, the spring contact 4 extends against the plug-in direction Z into the plug socket 3. The construction of the spring contact 4 in the embodiment of Fig. 9 is otherwise similar to the construction of the spring contact 4 in the embodiment of Fig. 6 with the two legs 4a, 4b and the bent portion 4c. The difference from the embodiment of Fig. 6 is that the leg 4a extending against the plug-in direction Z extends at a distance from the housing 2 and is fixed only at the end Q. The leg 4a is freely movable. When the plug 33 is inserted, the spring contact 4 remains at a distance from the housing 2.

Owing to the freely vibrating configuration of the spring contact 4, the angle of the inclined surface 26 to the horizontal can be adjusted according to the position of the plug 33 in such a way that both the contact points 28, 29 invariably rest on the plug contact 34. The curved portion 30 spaced from the plug contact 34 together with the tension of the spring contact 4 produced by the plug 33 allows the spring contact 4 to be adapted to different positions of the plug 33 by a tilting movement about the leading corner region 34a of the plug contact 34. This variation allows a shorter distance between the two contact points 28, 29 in the plug-in direction Z and therefore allows the use of plugs 33 with short plug contacts 34.

In a modification of the embodiment of Fig. 9, the curved portion 30, when the plug 33 is inserted, can rest on the leg 4a which still has a freely resilient configuration.

Finally, Fig. 10 shows a further embodiment of the connector jack 1 which is rigidly fixed to the printed circuit board 48 by an interlocking or material fit, for example by means of a soldered joint 49. On the front surface 42 directed against the plug-in direction Z, the connector jack 1 comprises a retaining member 50 by which the plug 33 can be fixed rigidly to the connector jack 1. The retaining member 50 can be, for example, a screw connection or a rigid latching member. The configuration of the plug socket 3 corresponds to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and allows, in particular, a floating mount of the leading housing portion 36 of the plug 33 pointing in the plug-in direction Z. Owing to the retaining member 50 and the soldered joint 49 to the printed circuit board 48, all forces acting on the cable 40 or the plug 33 are transferred directly to the printed circuit board 49 without this force passing via the spring contacts 4.

Claims

1. Connector jack (1) for standard connections in industrial information networks, in particular for an RJ45 plug (33) for Ethernet-based applications, comprising a plug socket (3) which opens against a plug-in direction (Z) and comprising a plurality of spring contacts (4), which each form an inclined surface (27) projecting into the plug socket (3) in the plug-in direction (Z), characterized in that the spring contacts (4) each form a further inclined surface (26) which is offset from the inclined surface (27) in the plug-in direction (Z) and is superimposed by the inclined surface (27) in a projection in the plug- in direction (Z).

2. Connector jack (1) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the spring contacts (4) touch a respectively allocated plug contact (34) on two respective contact points (28, 29) in the inserted state.

3. Connector jack (1) according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the spring contacts (4) in the plug-in direction Z form between the inclined surfaces (26, 27) a respective support (E) which rests at least indirectly on a housing (2) surrounding the plug socket (3) when the plug (33) is connected to the connector jack (1).

4. Connector jack (1) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the spring contact (4) projects in a freely vibrating manner into the plug socket (3).

5. Connector jack (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the course of the spring contact (4) between the two inclined surfaces (26, 27) has a curved portion (30) close to the housing (2).

6. Connector jack (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the leading inclined surface (26) in the plug-in direction (Z), ends in a contact point (28), remote from the housing (2), of the spring contact (4).

7. Connector jack (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spring contact (4) is curved transversely to the plug-in direction (Z) into the plug socket (3) in a region of an end (28), located in the plug-in direction (Z), of the leading inclined surface (26) in the plug-in direction (Z).

8. Connector jack (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one retaining spring (18) projecting into the plug socket (3) is provided on a lateral surface (5b) different from a lateral surface (5a) on which the spring contacts (4) are arranged.

9. Connector jack (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the at least one retaining spring (18) is arranged ahead of the leading contact point (28) in the plug-in direction (Z).

10. Connector jack (1) according to either claim 8 or claim 9, characterized in that at least one pair of retaining springs (18), which act against one another, is provided.

11 . Connector jack (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the retaining spring (18) forms two separate inclined surfaces (18b) located in succession in the plug-in direction (Z).

12. Connector jack (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one spring element (16) projecting into the plug sockets (3) and counteracting the spring contacts (4) is provided.

13. Connector jack (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a length (L) of the plug socket (3) in the plug-in direction (Z) exceeds a dimension predetermined by a plug standard, in that the plug socket (3) forms guide surfaces (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 , 12, 13) extending in the plug-in direction (Z) on mutually opposed lateral surfaces (5a, 5b) and in that the distance (A, B) between the plug guides corresponds approximately to the smallest dimensions of the standard tolerance.

14. Arrangement comprising a connector jack (1) and a plug (33) characterized in that the connector jack (1) is configured according to any one of the preceding claims.

15. Arrangement according to claim 14, characterized in that the spring contacts (4) touch the respectively associated plug contact (34) on the two respective contact points

(28, 29), the two contact points (28, 29) being associated with the respective inclined surfaces (26, 27).

16. Arrangement according to either claim 14 or claim 15, characterized in that the plug (33) forms at least one indentation (47) which cooperates with the retaining spring (18).

17. Arrangement according to any one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that the plug (33) is resiliently mounted in the connector jack (1), at least in the directions transverse to the plug-in direction (Z).