WO2015014738A1

WO2015014738A1 - Plug connector

Info

Publication number: WO2015014738A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/066012
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alexander GAUGLER
Original assignee: ATLANTIS Information Technology GmbH
Priority date: 2013-07-31
Filing date: 2014-07-25
Publication date: 2015-02-05
Also published as: DE102013012683A1; EP3028350A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a plug connector for transferring electrical power and/or data. The connector has a plug and a receptacle box for the plug. The plug is connected to a connection cable for connecting a component to a control or evaluation unit having the receptacle box, or is designed for such a connection. At least one memory component is provided in the plug connector. The memory component has software and/or source code which is designed to control the transfer of data and/or power between the component and the control or evaluation unit.

Description

connector

The invention relates to a connector according to the closer defined in the preamble of claim 1. Art also relates to a toy with such a connector.

Plug connections are known from the general state of the art.

Plug-in connections, which have a plug and a receptacle, are used to transmit, for example, power and / or data. The plug is usually firmly connected to a connecting cable or designed to receive a connecting cable. This serves

For example, to connect a component with a control or

Evaluation. The connection cable can be firmly connected to the component, so as to establish a connection between the component and the

Control or evaluation to create. Just as well, it would be conceivable that the connecting cable via another plug connection with the

corresponding component is connected.

The disadvantage of such structures is now typically that it is not apparent to the control or evaluation, which component

has been inserted, and how a transmission of data and / or power between the control or evaluation and this component is to be designed concretely. Although increasingly structures are used in which the component is identifiable by the control device. In this case, appropriate instructions or drivers for

Control of the component procured via the control device,

for example, downloaded from the Internet. However, this always requires a data connection and is correspondingly time-consuming and complex. In particular, in the field of electronics and in the miniaturized area of toys or models, it is common that the plug and receptacle each of several co-operating electrical

There are contacts, and that the plug is secured with a latching against unintentional pulling out of the plug. Typically, the locking latch is releasably formed by actuation of an unlocking element or simply during insertion and withdrawal and the individual contacts are adjacent. The contacts may be formed, for example, on one side by contact pins and on the other side by corresponding receiving boxes. However, this is extremely expensive and requires a lot of space across the direction of insertion typically.

Especially in the field of toys arises more often the problem that

Terminals with multiple ports, for example, for the transmission of data, signals, but also for the transmission of higher power are connected. In the previously known connector systems, this typically requires a very wide connector with a large number of individual contacts. However, this is then very cumbersome for the miniaturized applications and must, for example, when it is performed by a mounting plate for a model railroad or the like, removed and later re-connected with cables, since here usually - depending on the scale - holes on the order of Example 4 mm or 6.5 mm, which do not let such a plug through. Although narrower plugs are also known, but typically have only one channel or channels arranged side by side only channels for a very low current. Both multiple channels and higher currents require a larger size of the connector, which is undesirable, in particular for the reasons described above.

The object of the present invention is now to provide an improved connector according to the preamble of claim 1. According to the invention this object is achieved by a connector with the features in the characterizing part of claim 1. advantageous

Embodiments and developments of this idea will become apparent from the dependent therefrom dependent claims. The plug connection can preferably be used in a toy, in particular in a model railway.

In the connector according to the invention with the connection cable for connecting a component to a control or evaluation unit, it is provided that the connector has at least one memory module, which is provided with software and / or source code, wherein the software and / or the source code for controlling the Transmission of data and / or power between the component and the control or

Evaluation unit is formed. The integration of the memory module with software or corresponding source code in the connector, it is possible to provide the appropriate software for driving the component via the connector while doing without the integration of software and / or source code in the actual component.

This is a considerable advantage, in particular with miniaturized components, as occur, for example, in the field of model railways or the like.

The connector with the connection cable, which according to a particularly preferred embodiment of the idea with the component, such as a switch, a contact, a signal or the like, can be directly connected, then has in the region of the connector, and particularly preferably in the region of the plug the memory module, via which the entire functionality of the component, so for example a signal or a switch, driven, and / or can be evaluated. In the area of the component, therefore, no corresponding functionality must be provided. Nor does the control or evaluation unit have component-specific functionalities. It can be used a universal control or evaluation unit, which is correspondingly flexible. The component in turn can be simple and if necessary also be realized very small. For example, it only requires the consumers or actuators or sensors, as well as contacts or external signals. Their control via the control or evaluation then takes place based on the source code or the software, which is provided in the memory module of the connector.

According to an advantageous development of the idea, it is provided that the software and / or the source code comprises a component-specific driver. Such a component-specific driver allows optimized use of the component in a very simple and efficient way. The component must be plugged into the universal control device only via the plug-in device with the connection cable. By the in the memory module

reserved driver can then be extremely easy by the

Control device carried out the desired control of the component. No data exchange is necessary for this because the driver in the plug-in connection does not first have to be downloaded to the control or evaluation unit so that no additional storage space needs to be kept available. Especially with a large number of different components or a high component variance, as for example on a large

In addition, the respective driver in the area of the memory module is always immediately available, without, for example, an Internet connection is necessary to the driver on the basis of a

Recreate identification number of component every time and / or to save between.

Especially with very small components or components with limited space, this represents a considerable advantage. For example, in the field of a model railway this is crucial. By the

Control device can then be very universal and thus flexible

Structure of the same very many individual components are ideally controlled, since their Functionality is stored in the driver in the connector. Thus it is not necessary, correspondingly much storage space in the area of

Control device or a specially tailored to the components

Provide functionality. The operation becomes extremely easy and efficient. The component can be plugged in as a terminal device and directly

be controlled or operated.

In a very advantageous development of the invention

Plug connection, it is further provided that the plug has a rectangular cross-section electrically non-conductive support member and a

Connection possibility for the multi-wire connection cable on the in

Plug-in direction has a side of the support element. Both in the area of the plug and in the area of the receptacle, there are several interacting electrical contacts. A locking latch is formed so that when inserting and ejecting the plug in the insertion direction, a latching takes place, in particular so that the plug does not have to be turned about or engaged by pressing a locking element or disengaged.

In this case, it is further provided that the electrical contacts of the plug are formed by a plurality of contact surfaces on the support element, which are arranged spaced apart in the insertion direction. Such

Displacement of the electrical contact surfaces of an arrangement next to one another in an arrangement in the insertion direction one behind the other allows a transversely to the direction of insertion very narrow construction of the plug, which can be easily passed through small holes for example. Nevertheless, can be determined by an appropriate selection and design of the number of

electrical contacts realize a sufficient amount of electrical contacts, for example, to transmit a variety of data and / or correspondingly large benefits. In a further particularly advantageous embodiment of the connector according to the invention, it is provided that the support element is formed of a board, and in the insertion direction a much greater length than transversely to

Has insertion direction. In the case of the much longer length in the sense of the invention, a ratio of the length of the plug in the plug-in direction, and here in particular a length of the later introduced into the receptacle part of the plug in the plug-in direction to understand which by at least a factor of 3 or more, in particular by a factor of 5 or more, longer than the maximum width of the corresponding board as a supporting element. In this embodiment, the electrical contact surfaces are formed by applied to the board, in particular printed electrically conductive surfaces, and the electrical contacts in the receptacle are resilient

Contact elements formed. As a result, a safe and reliable contact is achieved when plugging the plug into the receptacle in the insertion direction.

In a very advantageous development of the idea according to the invention, it is further provided that the electrical contacts on the plug are formed from at least two rows of contact surfaces arranged side by side transversely to the plug-in direction. Such an arrangement of in particular two juxtaposed rows of contact surfaces, which in turn according to the invention in the insertion direction one behind the other, the individual contact surfaces

is particularly efficient, since this reduces the number of possible

electrical contacts can be doubled without additional space. Thus, for example, eight contacts on a small connector with a maximum width of 3.5 - 3.8 mm are easily possible, so that, for example, power for driving a model train and at the same time or alternatively signals, for example, for driving switches, signals or the like, transmitted can be. There are still sufficient lines available to even a backward signal, for example, in a model train a confirmation signal that a switch was made to transmit. These exemplary application is only a preferred application for the connector in this embodiment according to the invention, this can of course be used accordingly in any other use.

In a further very favorable variant of the invention

Plug connection, it may now be further provided that the latching lock is formed by at least one recess in the support element and at least one corresponding thereto at least partially elastic locking element in the receptacle. Such a configuration, which only a recess or, for example, two recesses in the

Requires supporting element is particularly efficient because it does not burden the support member with additional components, which would increase the size of the plug. In the area of the receptacle, where typically more space is available, then the corresponding at least partially elastic

Locking elements arranged, which in the inserted state of

Plug the connector into the corresponding recesses.

In a very favorable development of this idea, it may be provided that the locking element is designed as a part of an insulated cable core arranged perpendicular to the insertion direction and perpendicular to the surface of the support element. Instead of using a conceivable spring or a portion of a spring steel pin, in particular, a simple cable core with insulation can be introduced. As a result of the insulation, it is sufficiently elastic that the plug deforms accordingly when it is plugged in, and the cable core subsequently reforms again and locks into the recess. The construction is extremely simple, efficient and cost-effective.

In a further extremely favorable embodiment of

plug-in connection according to the invention is now provided that the electrical contacts of the plug in the form of the contact surfaces on the support element and the cooperating electrical contacts, in particular spring contacts, the receptacle are arranged in a defined grid, one of the electrical contacts either on the plug or in the receptacle in the insertion direction relative to the grid is less than the length of the electrical contact in the insertion direction. Such a displaced arrangement of a single electrical contact either in the receptacle or on the plug allows very simple and efficient detection of whether the plug connection is made or the plug is already fully inserted, or not yet. The displacement of the one electrical contact relative to the grid in the plugging direction ensures that, for example, in a comparison of the electrical contacting of a pair of contacts without displaced contact and the pair in which a contact is moved, it can be determined whether the plug is fully inserted is, then both couples make contact or not, then one of the couples would not make contact. Thus, the insertion, but also the unplugging of the plug from the receptacle can be easily recognized. In particular, the detection of a removal of the plug from the

Aufnahmedose can be of decisive advantage, since with the

Detecting the Aussteckens the electrical power can be turned off, so that the successively arranged in the plug-in electrical contacts of the plug when pulling no unwanted contact with other electrical contacts of the receptacle, as those who are assigned to get. As a result, it can be prevented, for example, that electrical power is transmitted via a data channel or the like.

In a particularly favorable and advantageous development of this idea, it is provided that the arranged differently from the grid electrical contact is formed by one of the contact surfaces on the support member which in the insertion direction by less than, in particular half, length of the contact surface in the insertion direction, in particular in the direction of

Connection possibility for the cable, shifted. Such Displacement of one of the contact surfaces in the direction of the cable connection, for example, by almost half a length of the contact surface in the insertion direction, has proved to be particularly efficient in terms of the above-described topic of detecting insertion and removal, without the

Length of the plug unnecessarily increase. For example

Printed contact surface is the shift by a corresponding print mask also very easy and efficient to produce.

In an advantageous development of the connector according to the invention, it is further provided that the support element has on one side a protruding nose, wherein the receiving box has an insertion opening for the plug, which leaves room for the support member and on its one side protruding nose. This protruding nose with a

Corresponding insertion prevents the plug can be inserted the wrong way round, as the nose is an anti-rotation and allows the positionally accurate introduction of the plug into the receptacle as the only possible way of plugging. The nose can also be designed as a stop, so that a targeted stop between the one side of the nose and a corresponding counter-element or on a corresponding mating surface of the receptacle the way by which the plug can be moved into the receptacle, limited accordingly.

In a further very advantageous embodiment of the invention

Plug connection, it is further provided that is arranged on the support member of the memory module. The support element, in particular in its design as a board, can accommodate the memory module.

In this embodiment, with the memory module on the support element, it can now also be provided in a very favorable embodiment that the nose is formed by a housing which covers the memory module. The nose, which on the one hand ensures that the plug in the desired Rotation direction is introduced into the receptacle, can now also be used to form a secure cover housing for the memory module, in which it is safe and reliable from damage, for example, in a slightly oblique insertion of the plug or the like protected. Again, the nose / housing continue to function as a stop.

As already mentioned, the connector according to the invention can their

special advantages always play when a variety of

various functions should be performed by a single universal control device, and at the same time the space in the area of the components is limited accordingly. The particularly preferred application of the connector according to the invention is therefore in the connection of components of a toy with a control device for the

Toy. Such toys may include various components, such as elements corresponding to the software in the

Plug connection are controlled.

In particular, miniaturized worlds are conceivable here, as they occur, for example, in dollhouses, dioramas or, in particular, in the area of model railways. The components can then be corresponding components with a movement and / or illumination as well as switches or sensors, for example the already mentioned turnouts or signals of a model railway, but also lights, for example in houses on a model railway layout

Dollhouses or the like. Also, simple sensors used as switches are conceivable, for example, to signal the position of a switch. The component can also be realized as an adapter, which has connections for other components or devices, in particular existing old devices of a model railway. In addition, special lighting effects are conceivable, for example the

Representation of fire in a model railway layout or as a campfire in the area of a model railway layout, a diorama or the like. The complete functionality for the component can be stored in the memory module, so that the controller is relieved in terms of space and tasks.

Advantageous embodiments and further developments and a particularly preferred use of the connector according to the invention will become apparent from the embodiments, which are illustrated below with reference to the figures.

Showing:

Figure 1 embodiments of connectors according to the invention. Figure 2 is a three-dimensional view of a possible connector according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 in the partially open state under a different angle;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the one side of a support member of the plug;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the opposite side of the support member of the plug;

Figure 6 is a side view of a nose for mounting on the support member of the plug;

Figure 7 the plug in three-dimensional view together with the

edose belonging locking elements;

Figure 8 is a view of two electrical contacts of the receptacle; 9 is a side view of the - in the - not shown as such

Receptacle plug inserted plug and the functional elements of the receptacle; and

Figure 10 is a view of the receptacle with insertion for the

Plug.

In the illustration of Figure 1, two embodiments of a

Detect connector 1. By way of a connecting cable 25, the latter in each case connects a component 26 to a control or evaluation unit 30. The structure can be realized, for example, on a model railway, so that the components 26 represent, for example, signals, points or the like. They are connected via the connection cable 25 with a central or decentralized control or evaluation unit 30 of the model railway, for example.

The connection cable 25 may be formed as a single or preferably multi-core cable. The connecting cable 25 has at one end a plug 2, which can be seen in the illustration of Figure 1 respectively at the left end of the connecting cable 25. This plug 2 is designed such that, as in the upper exemplary embodiment of the connecting cable 25, it can be seen to fit into a corresponding receptacle 3 of the control unit 30 and thus be connected to it for the transmission of data and / or power. The control unit 30 may have a plurality of such receptacle 3, in the embodiment shown here, for example, two pieces. Now it is so that in each case a memory module 17 is arranged in the connector 1, and here in particular in the region of the plug 2. This arranged in the interior of the plug 2 memory module 17 has a software and / or a source code, which is designed to control the transmission of data and / or services to the component 26. In particular, it is this is a component-specific driver or the software includes such a component-specific driver.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in the illustration of FIG. 1, the connecting cable 25 is firmly connected to the component 26. This structure is particularly simple and can be made very small. Depending on the configuration of the plug 2, the structure can be realized in such a way that the connection cable 25 and the plug 2 easily fit through a small bore, for example in the plate of a model railway, so as to be below the actual

Model railway to be guided efficiently to the control or evaluation unit 30. The plug 2, which can be used here, can be realized in particular in the form described below.

In the illustration of the second embodiment of the connector 1, in the illustration of Figure 1 below, the structure is largely the same. Again, a receiving socket 3 for the plug 2 is present, which in the

Representation is not shown explicitly. The only difference of the connector 1 in the embodiment shown below compared to the embodiment shown above is that at the

Plug 2 opposite end of the connection cable 25 a

Plug-in device 27 is arranged with a further plug 2. These

Plug-in device 27 connects the connecting cable 25 releasably connected to the component 26, so here the execution is different than in the above

Variant with hardwired connection between the

Connection cable 25 and the component 26. Otherwise, the correspond

Superstructures. Since a component-specific driver is typically present in the memory module 17, it is advantageous if the plug-in device 27 is realized in such a way that it is inserted uniquely into the component 26 which is suitable for the respective component-specific driver in the memory module 17. For this purpose, in particular a mechanical and / or optical, for example by colored Marking, realized coding should be provided to one here

easy to enable compatible connection.

In the embodiment of the connector 1 shown below, for example, it would be conceivable to use a correspondingly large plug for the plug 2, which in the conventional manner has the poles next to one another and requires comparatively much installation space. In the area of the control or evaluation unit 3, however, this is not critical in the vast majority of cases. In contrast, could be implemented in the embodiment shown here as a plug-in device 27 in the form described below, the connector 1 and the plug 2.

In the illustration of Figure 2, the connector 1 is shown according to a possible very compact embodiment of the invention. These

Connector 1 is intended to be used in particular for the application in the field of toys, in particular model railways. These

Application is purely exemplary, the connector 1 according to the invention can also be used in all other areas in which power and / or data must be transmitted.

The connector 1 comprises the plug 2, which comes to rest in the receptacle 3 in the inserted state, as can be seen in the illustration of Figure 2. The receptacle 3 is formed of two sub-elements 3.1 and 3.2, which are in particular designed as complementary substantially U-shaped shells, which are simply plugged together during assembly and preferably locked together. Of the plug 2 itself is in the illustration of Figure 2 is essentially a small part of a support member 4 and a shrink tube 5 can be seen, which surrounds the cable ends connected under it to the support member 4. The real thing

Connecting cable 25, which would lead away in the illustration of Figure 2 to the right, is not shown for simplicity of illustration. The entire connector 1 is mounted in the representation of Figure 2 by way of example under a receiving plate 6.

In the illustration of Figure 3, the structure with dismantled connection cable 25 and dismantled shrink tube 5 and the disassembled sub-element 3.2 of the receptacle 3 is shown again. The view is in this time

Comparison with the representation of Figure 2 from below, so that the plug 2 is very well visible with its support member 4. The support element 4 is rectangular in cross-section and may preferably be formed from a circuit board. It tapers in the area where it is not plugged into the receptacle 3. In these in the representation of Figure 2 denoted by 7 tapered portion of the support member 4 are individual pads 8 as a connection option 8 for wires of the connection cable 25, to which the wires not shown here, which are passed through a threading 9, can be soldered. In this case, the tapered region 7 is tapered to such an extent that it is not or at least not substantially larger in its outer diameter than the maximum width b of the support element, which is shown below in FIG. 3 , In the representation of Figure 3 below the plug 2 and in particular in electrical connection with the receiving plate 6, the electrical contacts of the receptacle 3 are in contact blocks 10, of which only the electrically insulating side panels are clearly visible. However, these contact blocks 10 will be discussed in more detail later. On the support element 4 of the plug 2, a nose 1 1 can be seen on the opposite side of the cable to receive the cable side, which at its front in the insertion direction S end, which is designated in the illustration of Figure 3 with 12, a stop with the receiving box 3 forms and thus limits the movement of the plug 2 in the insertion direction S. The electrical contacts of the plug 2 are not visible in the illustration of Figure 3, but are realized corresponding to the contact blocks 10 of the receptacle 3 on the underside of the plug 2, not visible in FIG.

In the plan view of Figure 4, just this underside of the plug 2 is shown. In this case, the width b of the plug is shown, which is ideally the maximum width or the maximum diameter of the entire structure. The structure will not be higher in height, for example, the nose 1 1 and / or the later aufgezogenen shrink tubing 5 than this width, so that a total of a very slender construction arises, which exemplifies the case of application for the model width b of 3.8 mm. It can thus be passed through the typically 4 mm large holes, which are usually the smallest standard in model making, without the need to dismantle the plug 2 and cable. In addition to two further pads 8 on the underside of the plug 2 in particular eight individual contact surfaces 13 on the plug. 2

or to recognize its support element 4. These contact surfaces 13 are arranged in two rows spaced in the insertion direction S one behind the other and can, as will be explained later, with the

corresponding electrical contacts 10 of the receptacle 3 are brought into contact. The plug 2 also has two holes 14, via which the nose 1 1 can be positioned and fixed accordingly. The plug 2 also has two recesses 15 in the region of its one end, which cooperate with elastic locking elements 16, of which one can be seen in the illustration of Figure 3, and which are shown later in detail in the context of the representation of Figure 6.

Furthermore, in the illustration of Figure 4, the insertable into the receptacle 3 length L of the plug 2 is shown. The plug is especially so

stated that the ratio L / b is greater than 3, preferably slightly greater than 5. In the illustration of Figure 5, the opposite surface of the plug 2 and the support member 4 can be seen. This side of the surface is already known from the representation of FIG. 3 with the nose 11 mounted on it, which one of the representations of FIG. 6 can be seen once again individually. With demounted nose 1 1 can now be seen that below the preferably hollow running nose 1 1 in an optional embodiment of the plug 2, a memory module 17, can be provided on the support member 4. By this in the embodiment, preferably hollow inside nose of this memory module 17 is covered and is protected from the risk of damage, possible tearing or the like. Of the

Structure of the plug 2 is shown in Figure 7 in three-dimensional form with built-up, but here behind the support member 4 hidden nose 1 1 and attached heat shrink tubing 5 again to recognize. The plug 2 is intended to be introduced into the receptacle 3, not shown, wherein it can be seen that the two recesses 15 each with an elastic locking element 16, which is perpendicular to the insertion direction S and perpendicular to the largest areal extent of the plug 2. These elastic locking elements 16 may in particular be short sections of cable cores, which are provided with an electrical insulation. They are then so flexible by the electrical insulation, that in the insertion direction S in front of the recesses 15 lying end 18 of the support member 14 can be pushed past the elastically deforming cable cores and this engages in the recesses 15 accordingly. This creates a very simple and inexpensive

Locking latch, which can dispense entirely on specially prepared spring elements or the like.

The recognizable in the representation of Figure 6 nose 1 1, which also as

Positioning nose could be designated, for example, color can be configured so as to form a color system together with a color design of the corresponding receptacle 3, in which

it is ensured that the respective connector 2 in the correct receptacle. 3 is inserted. However, such an approach is not absolutely necessary, as in the memory module 17, a corresponding information with which terminal the plug 2 is connected via the cable, can be deposited. After insertion into any receptacle 3, the contents of the memory module 17 can then be read, so that the with the

Receptacle 3 corresponding electronics is clear which terminal has been inserted here. In addition, as already stated above, a corresponding driver can be loaded from the memory module 17.

Accordingly, the control of the terminal can be done, for example, with appropriate signals, a suitable power or the like. The result is practically a structure in which a plug 2 can be plugged into each receptacle 3 offered, without the user having to worry about whether receptacle 3 and connector 2 are exactly the system requirements that he wanted to connect. The result is a "plug and play" system.In addition, in the memory module 17 also a certain

Functionality are stored, such as logic queries or the like.

The memory module 17 on the plug 2 can preferably be read out via some of the resulting electrical contacts during insertion. It is just as possible to use electromagnetic waves

for example, according to the RFID standard or by means of NFC (Near Field

Communication) read or describe. For this purpose, an additional inductance could be placed on the plug 2, which could then also be covered by the ideally hollow inside nose 1 1 and thus electrically isolated and secured against damage. The advantage of a contactless writing on the memory block 17 would be that standardized plug 2 could be mounted as a universal plug and finally packed. Describing, for example, which accordingly characterizes the terminal connected to the plug 2, could then take place only after the final assembly, namely the attachment of the plug 2 to the respective terminal, for example before or after the final packaging. This is one Case of the manufacturer of the terminal or of those who mounted the connector 2 to the terminal. This makes it much easier to manufacture the plug 2 as such, because only one universal plug, which is then individually configurable in its memory module 17, would have to be maintained.

Another special feature of the plug 2 or his

electrical contact surfaces 13 can now be seen in particular in Figures 4 and 7. One of the contact surfaces 13, which is designated by 13 ', is designed to be slightly displaced relative to the grid of the other contact surfaces 13 in the direction of the tapered end 7 of the support element 4. As can be seen from the illustration of the contact blocks 10 of the receptacle 3 in the illustration of Figure 3, the corresponding electrical

Contact elements 19 of the contact blocks 10, whose detailed structure is described in more detail below and can be seen in Figure 8, however, unchanged and adhere to the predetermined pitch. The in the insertion direction S at

Inserting to the rear of the grid deviating contact surface 13 'thus allows the generation of a signal, whether the plug 2 has reached its final position. If the contact produced via the contact surface 13 'is compared, for example, with the obliquely opposite upper front contact surface 13 in the insertion direction S in the illustration of FIG. 7, then this contact surface 13 can always be in contact and the contact surface 13' is not in contact has determined that the insertion process is not completely completed. Conversely, when canceling the contact in the area of the contact surface 13 ', but still existing

Contact in the area of one of the other contact surfaces 13 are found that the plug 2 is pulled out and probably will continue to be pulled out. In this case, about the electronics, for example, the

Power supply of the electrical contacts of the contact blocks 10 of

Shooting receptacle 3 are interrupted accordingly, so that power, which, for example, in the direction of insertion S when plugging in the back Contact element 19 of the receiving box 3 is transmitted, not when passing on a contact surface 13 meets, on which this power

is undesirable. Due to the shape of the plug 2 at its receiving the wires of the

Connecting cable 25 facing away from the tip, which is denoted by 18 in the illustrations of Figures 4 and 5, could optionally achieve a mechanical coding, which is not shown here. In this case, a positive position between the connector 2 and the receptacle 3 would be called without the no insertion signal, because the nose 1 1 in the region of its end 12 does not reach the stop. This would of course have to be generated by the positive contact a difference measure, which is greater than the offset dimension in the insertion direction to the rear offset contact surface 13 'for generating the plug signal. The mechanical

Coding can be combined in particular with the color system mentioned above.

Depending on the application, a plurality of contact surfaces 13, for example inextricably electrically connected to each other in the plug 2, whereby higher currents, in the dimensions described above up to 6 A, can be achieved. The contact surfaces 13 would then be one

common line connection with higher cable cross-section

which also meets such security requirements, the parallel connection of multiple single wires with low

Power cross section for the purpose of higher current carrying capacity prohibit.

In general, the connection cable 25 or its cores, in particular in the case of a larger conductor cross-section and thus greater thickness, could also be soldered flat, that is to say initially only lying on the support element 4 of the connector 2 on the soldering surfaces 8. This can be relatively large on both sides

Solder surfaces 8 are formed, resulting in the use of eyelets or Holes can not be achieved in an optimal way, even if this would of course be conceivable in principle. As a result of the embodiment of the soldering surfaces 8 shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, a relatively small but in particular uncritical loading of the cable in the plugging direction S can be achieved. This effect can be further enhanced by threading the wires of the cable over the threaded hole 9 arranged on the tapered end 7 of the support element 4. An additional

Strain relief can thus be dispensed with, in particular for the intended applications. Before the cable would tear off, the arrangement of cable and plug 2 would be loaded by a pull on the cable so far that typically yield the elastic elements 16 and the plug 2 is pulled by the cable from the receptacle 3 accordingly. The system thus acts after exceeding the locking force of the elastic

Locking elements 16, self-relieving. The already repeatedly addressed contact blocks 10 of the receptacle 3 are in a three-dimensional view in Figure 8, again with a view - with reference to Figure 2 - from obliquely below, ie from the side on which the plug 2 is inserted, to recognize. In this case, two spring contacts 19 can be seen in the illustrated embodiment, which are ideally applied in the form of open ring sections with flat undersides for electrical connection. This can ideally be done with SMD placement machines. The top of the spring contacts 19 is the resilient electrical connection with the corresponding contact surfaces 13 and 13 'on the plug 2. The spring contacts 19 are ideally designed so that they form a rounded V-shape and thus ensures a smooth insertion of the plug 2 as well is like a corresponding pulling the plug 2. So they allow a very good bidirectional sliding. Ideally, the arrangement in groups of two, which are summarized mechanically to the contact block 10 of the receptacle 3, but electrically isolated from each other accordingly. The spring contacts 19 are located with the receiving plate 6 or on the receiving plate 6 conductive structures 20 by investment or a moderate

Contact pressure connected without these are passed through the receiving plate 6 itself. Ideally, the spring contacts 19 are arranged in the desired grid and only the contact surface 13 'on the plug 2 deviates from the grid for generating the above-described plug signal.

In the illustration of Figure 9, the inserted plug 2 in the

Receptacle 3, which itself is not shown to recognize. Between the two shells 3.1 and 3.2 of the receiving box 3, not shown, the elastic locking elements 16 and the contact blocks 10 are shown with their spring contacts 19. After insertion of the plug 2 into the end position shown in Figure 9, the spring contacts 19 come into contact with the corresponding contact surfaces 13 and 13 ', so that a contact is ensured in the desired manner.

The fact that the contact blocks 10 are prefabricated, they can be positioned with high manufacturing accuracy, so that even manufacturing tolerances of 0.1 mm or less are easily complied with. Ideally, the mechanical part of the receptacle 3 in the form of the two complementary

Shells 3.1, 3.2 regardless of the receiving plate 6 and the contact blocks 10 of the receptacle 3 made and preferably mated and locked after inserting the contact blocks 10 and the locking elements 16. The two shells 3.1, 3.2 together form the positioning aid and the mechanical guide for the plug 2 in two axes, they form the latching function for the plug 2 and the mechanical end stop for the plug 2 via the locking elements 16

or the nose 1 1 off. In addition, they can be the optional

mechanical coding, which has been described above included. The shells 3.1 and 3.2 of the receptacle 3 ideally contain no electrical functionality. They are only for recording and the Functional elements 10, 16 of the plug 2 and are mounted in the final assembled state on the receiving plate 6, which can be done in any desired spatial directions. For mounting positioning marks and locking elements 23 may ideally be provided, which can be seen in Figures 2 and 10. In addition, screws 24, which can be seen in Figure 1, for

Fixation on the receiving plate 6 are used accordingly. In principle, it would also be possible to realize the connection only by screws 24 waiving the locking elements. The construction, as can also be seen in particular in the illustration of Figure 2, requires no carrying out the electrical contacting of the contact springs 19 through the receiving plate 6, since they rest on the electrical contacts 20 accordingly and are contacted automatically when snapping or tightening , Since the resilient element in the form of the contact springs 19 and the elastic

Locking elements 16 are all arranged in the area of the receptacle 3, eliminating the need to install such elements in the region of the plug 2, which makes this even smaller in its necessary final dimensions.

Finally, in the illustration of FIG. 10, a top view of the mounted receiving box 3 without the receiving plate 6 can be seen. In this case, two of the contact springs 19 can be seen. About a first rectangular opening, the plug 2, not shown here can be inserted analogously to the representation in Figure 9. Above the first rectangular opening 21 is another rectangular opening 22, which is formed to the passage of the nose 1 1. By this construction, it is ensured in each case that the nose 1 1 in the illustration of Figure 10 facing up, otherwise plugging the plug 2 into the receptacle 3 is not possible. As a result, an accidental rotation of the plug 2 is safely and reliably excluded, as already indicated. For the example in the field of toys or model making has already been stated that the width b of the plug 2, for example, for the smallest standard standard, at 3.8 mm. Accordingly, the

Opening, in particular the rectangular opening 21, have a maximum width of about 4 mm, the opening 22 has a smaller width. This is

ensures that even when used by children no contact with the electrical contacts, for example by the insertion of a finger, can take place. Another advantage of this compact design is the protection against dirt, and especially in hobby applications critical, the low

Probability that lines with external voltages unintentionally reach the contacts, even as long as no plug 2 is inserted into the receptacle 3. Additional protection can also be achieved electronically by the upstream actuators or sensors since, for example, an electrical voltage can only be supplied to the spring contacts 19 when the plug-in signal described above is generated.

Between plug 2 and the receptacle 3 is formed in the inserted

Outward condition already almost a form fit, as it is from the

Representation of Figures 2 and 3 can be seen. As a result, when plugged in, it can be ruled out that potentially live parts are touched or that the penetration of foreign materials into this sensitive area causes malfunction or safety-critical situations. In the illustrated embodiment with eight contact surfaces 13th

or 13 'in the area of the plug 2, it is now possible

For example, to use two of the contacts for generating the plug-in signal and to use two of the contacts to correspond to the electronics or query the memory module 17. The others

The remaining four ports can then be used to transfer power or data. By per se known multiplexing techniques, in particular the so-called Charlieplexing, it is then possible, via these four contact surfaces 13 and 13 'up to 12 off and / or

To realize input functions via the one connector 1 and the maximum of four wires of the cable. This results in the advantage that with the minimum dimensions of the plug 2 shown here by way of example a multiplicity of functionalities can be activated and supplied with data or power, or switches or sensors can be queried with regard to their current state.

Claims

Patent claims

1 . Plug connection (1) for transmitting electrical power and/or data

1 .1 a plug (2), and

1 .2 a receptacle (3) for the plug (2), whereby

1 .3 the plug (2) with a connecting cable (25) for connecting a

Component (26) is connected to a control or evaluation unit (30) having the receiving socket (3) or is designed for such a connection,

characterized in that

1 .4 at least one memory module (17) is provided, and

1.5 the memory module (17) has software and/or source code which is used to control the transmission of data and/or power between the component (26) and the control or evaluation unit (30).

is trained.

2. Plug connection (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the software and / or the source code comprises a component-specific driver.

3. Plug connection (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the memory module (17) is arranged in the plug (2).

4. Plug connection (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized

characterized in that the connecting cable (25) is firmly connected to the component (26).

5. Plug connection (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized

characterized in that at the end facing away from the plug (2).

Connecting cable (25) a plug-in device (27) is provided for connection to the component (26).

Plug connection (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized

characterized in that the plug (2) has an electrically non-conductive supporting element (4) with a rectangular cross section and a connection option

(8) for the multi-core connecting cable (25) on the in

Plugging direction has one side of the support element (4), with several cooperating electrical contacts (10, 19, 13) in the plug (2) and the receptacle (3), with a latching lock between the plug (2) and the receptacle (3) , which locks in the plugging direction (S) when the plug (2) is pushed in and out; and with electrical contacts of the plug (2), which are formed by a plurality of contact surfaces (13, 13 ') on the support element (4), and which are arranged one behind the other at a distance in the plugging direction (S).

Plug-in connection (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the support element (4) is formed from a circuit board and has a much greater length (L) in the plug-in direction (S) than a width (b) transverse to the plug-in direction (S). , whereby the electrical contact surfaces (13, 13 ') on the

Support element (4) is formed by electrically conductive surfaces applied, in particular printed, to the circuit board, and in particular the electrical contacts in the receiving box (3) are formed with resilient contact elements (19).

Plug connection (1) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the electrical contacts on the plug (2) are formed from at least two rows of contact surfaces (13, 13 ') arranged next to one another transversely to the plug-in direction (S).

9. Plug connection (1) according to claim 6, 7 or 8, characterized in that the latching connection is provided by at least one exception (15) in the support element (4) and at least one corresponding at least partially elastic locking element (16) in the receiving box (3 ) is trained.

10. Plug connection (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the locking element (16) is designed as a part of an insulated cable core arranged perpendicular to the plugging direction (S) and perpendicular to the surface of the support element (4).

1 1 . Plug connection (1) according to one of claims 6 to 10

characterized in that the electrical contacts of the plug (2) in the form of the contact surfaces (13, 13 ') on the support element (4) and the electrical contacts interacting therewith, in particular spring contacts (19), of the receptacle (3) are arranged in a defined grid are, wherein one of the electrical contacts is arranged either on the plug (2) or in the receptacle (3) in the plug-in direction offset from the grid by less than the length of the electrical contact in the plug-in direction (S).

12. Plug connection (1) according to claim 1 1, characterized in that the electrical contact arranged deviating from the grid is formed by one of the contact surfaces (13 ') on the support element (4), which in the plugging direction (S) is less than that, in particular half the length of the contact surface (13 ') is arranged offset in the plug-in direction (S), in particular in the direction of the connection option (8) for the connecting cable (25).

13. Plug connection (1) according to one of claims 6 to 12, characterized

characterized in that the support element (4) has one on one side has a protruding nose (11), the receiving box (3) having one

Insertion opening (21, 22) for the plug (2), which leaves space for the support element (4) and the nose (1 1) protruding on its side.

14. Plug connection (1) according to one of claims 3 to 13, characterized

characterized in that the memory module (7) is arranged on the support element (4), in particular realized as a circuit board.

15. Plug connection (1) according to claim 13 and 14, characterized in that the nose (1 1) is formed by a housing which

Memory module (7) covers.

16. Toy, in which at least one component (2) of the toy is connected to a control or evaluation unit (3) for the toy via a plug connection (1) according to one of claims 1 to 15.

17. Toy according to claim 15, characterized by its design as a model railway.