Connection strip and method for manufacturing the connection strip

Abstract

To provide a connection strip allowing each connection strip to be easily adapted to a variety of purposes while being manufactured, and a method for manufacturing the same.SOLUTION: In a connection strip 1 which is formed as a connector for printed circuit boards LP1, LP2 and has a stipe-shaped connection housing 2 formed by one or more parts, the connection housing has a plurality of outer side surfaces, at least two or more plug-in contact parts for engaging surfaces on an engaging surface side surface of the connection housing, the plug-in contact part on each engaging surface is inserted in a plug-in contact part of the corresponding plug connector. The connection housing is configured to have a plug-in contact part for the printed circuit board on at least one or more other outside surfaces. The plug-in contact part for the printed circuit board protrudes beyond each outside surface, and the printed circuit board is soldered on one or more outside surfaces where the plug-in contact part for the printed circuit board is arranged.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6a

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a connection strip configured as a connector for a printed circuit board, having a strip-shaped housing, a configuration including such a connection strip, and a method for manufacturing the connection strip.

Background Art

[0002] Connection strips are known in a wide variety of configurations. However, usually, known connection strips cannot be adapted to different applications or can only be adapted within a very limited range.

[0003] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved connection strip and a method for its manufacture that enable each connection strip to be easily adapted to various applications during manufacture.

Summary of the Invention

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] The present invention solves this problem by the subject matter of claim 1. Also, a configuration of such a connection strip and at least two printed circuit boards as described in claims 11 to 13 is provided, and a method for manufacturing the connection strip as described in claim 14 is provided. Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are described in the dependent claims.

[0005] According to claim 1, the connection strip is formed as a connector for a printed circuit board and has a strip-shaped connection housing formed from one or more parts. The connection housing has a plurality of outer surfaces, the first outer surface having a mating surface surface, on which there are at least two or more mating surface plug-in contacts, each mating surface plug-in contact being inserted into a corresponding plug-in contact of a plug connector, and the connection housing is configured to have at least one more other outer surfaces having plug-in contacts for printed circuit boards, the plug-in contacts for printed circuit boards protruding beyond each outer surface, and a printed circuit board is mounted on one or more outer surfaces from which the plug-in contacts for printed circuit boards protrude. In this way, plug connectors for different connection directions for connecting one or more printed circuit boards can be implemented in a simple manner. It may be advantageously provided that at least two printed circuit boards oriented in different spatial orientations can be placed on the connection housing by having the plug-in contacts for printed circuit boards on at least two different outer surfaces and protruding outward from these outer surfaces of the connection housing.

[0006] According to a preferred embodiment, the plug-in contact portion for the printed circuit board protrudes from at least two parallel, aligned, and spaced-away outer surfaces of the connection housing, thereby allowing at least two printed circuit boards aligned parallel to each other in space to be placed on the connection housing.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment, the plug-in contacts for the printed circuit board protrude from at least two perpendicularly aligned outer surfaces of the connection housing, thereby allowing at least two perpendicularly aligned printed circuit boards to be placed on the connection housing in space. Furthermore, in the above modified example, it may also be possible to provide a third printed circuit board on a third outer surface.

[0008] To enable easy mounting of printed circuit boards to multiple sides of the connection housing, a further modification may provide that the connection housing and, optionally, each of its individual connection housings, are essentially cubic in shape and have multiple outer surfaces including a top surface, a bottom surface, a mating surface surface, a rear surface, and one or two connection surfaces.

[0009] To easily provide different variations of the connector for the printed circuit board, it is preferable that the plug-in contact portion for the printed circuit board and the plug-in contact portion of the mating surface each form two ends of an integrally formed contact pin that is inserted into and fixed to the connecting housing. Subsequently, it is particularly advantageous when the plug-in contact portion for the printed circuit board and the plug-in contact portion of the mating surface each form two ends of a straight contact pin, or when the plug-in contact portion for the printed circuit board and the plug-in contact portion of the mating surface each form two ends of an L-shaped contact pin.

[0010] In this way, various types of connection strips can be manufactured in a simple manner, and these strips differ in that printed circuit boards can be easily connected to the connection strips on different outer surfaces. The contact pins preferably have a square cross-section; however, they can also have rectangular or other cross-sections. The cross-section can be constant along the longitudinal direction if necessary, except for tapered ends; however, the cross-section may vary with length.

[0011] The present invention also provides a configuration of a connection strip comprising one of claims 11 to 13 and at least two printed circuit boards, connection strips, and more particularly, a connection strip comprising plug-in contacts for printed circuit boards projecting outward from at least two different outer surfaces of a connection housing, on each of these surfaces a printed circuit board is soldered to the plug-in contacts for printed circuit boards.

[0012] In this case, the plug-in contacts for the printed circuit boards protrude from two outer surfaces of the connection housing, and the printed circuit boards are soldered to the plug-in contacts for the printed circuit boards on both sides, resulting in the two printed circuit boards being aligned parallel to each other, or the contacts of the printed circuit boards have male contacts protruding, and the printed circuit boards are soldered to the plug-in contacts for the printed circuit boards on each of these sides, resulting in the two printed circuit boards being aligned perpendicular to each other. It is also possible to implement a configuration with three printed circuit boards. It is desirable that each plug-in contact penetrates the housing in at least one region, particularly the inner wall region.

[0013] The individual connecting housings provided as an accessory can be connected to each other and held securely by corresponding mechanical connecting means. These connecting means may include one or more latch hooks and corresponding latch traps / recesses.

[0014] It is advantageous if the connecting housing is mechanically connected via corresponding mechanical connecting means, at least as follows: -Of the connecting housings, the first connecting housings connected to each other in the connecting direction have two lugs, one lug protruding as an extension of the upper side toward the further adjacent connecting housing, and the other lug protruding as an extension of the lower side toward the further adjacent connecting housing. - Adjacent further connecting housings have recesses on their upper and lower sides corresponding to lugs, and the lugs of adjacent first connecting housings engage in a shape-fitting manner when inserted into each other. Thus, a simple but secure connection is provided for connecting housings arranged adjacent to each other, which leads to good mating of the connecting housings in the assembled connecting strip.

[0015] However, in this case, it may be required that each connecting housing has alternative or additional corresponding more mechanically acting connecting means. Further examples may also specify the arrangement of tongue-shaped portions and groove connecting means to be formed between one or both lugs and their corresponding recesses.

[0016] Further examples can also specify the connection between the tongue-shaped portion formed between one or both lugs and their corresponding recesses and the groove connecting means. In this way, an easy-to-assemble and particularly stable connection between aligned connecting housings is achieved. This connecting housing allows for the correct seating of individual connecting housings within the connecting strip to be secured multiple times and in multiple directions.

[0017] Each connection housing is essentially a cube and preferably has an upper side, a lower side and a soldering contact side, a mating side, a rear side and two connection sides.

[0018] Further examples of development provide that one or more of the corresponding locking means, particularly on the locking projection, have a slope formed to facilitate the locking process during assembly. A more advantageous embodiment is provided that the lugs and recesses on the upper or lower surface conform to a stepped shape fit (tight fit). Thus, the shape fit is achieved in a simple manner, particularly in the plug-in direction.

[0019] According to the first modification, the connecting strip is only possible with connecting housings having identical mating surfaces. However, modifications of the connecting strip can also be carried out when the connecting housings have partially identical mating surfaces and partially different mating surfaces. In this case, however, it is desirable that the connecting means be configured to be interchangeable.

[0020] It is provided that at least one mating surface has a contact pin and / or a socket contact portion and / or a shield contact portion, respectively.

[0021] The present invention also provides the method of claim 14, which is a method for manufacturing a connecting strip configured according to one of the above claims, the method comprising at least the following steps: Step A) Providing one or more individual connection housings of a connection strip, and providing a first type of straight contact pin and a second type of L-shaped contact pin, Step B) A step of attaching linear or L-shaped contact pins to a connection housing or individual connection housings, wherein one end of each pin forms a plug-in contact portion on the mating surface, and the other end forms a contact pin on the printed circuit board. Step C) When individual connection housings are placed on the connectors of each printed circuit board, a step of incidentally assembling multiple individual connection housings before or after step A) or step B), Step D) The process of attaching one or possibly more printed circuit boards to one or possibly more outer surfaces of the connecting housing using the protruding contact pins of the printed circuit boards, particularly by soldering.

[0022] This method not only allows for the simple manufacture of connectors for individual printed circuit boards, but by repeatedly performing this method, a kind of system consisting of connectors for many different printed circuit boards can be realized or manufactured, where these connectors differ only in their connection direction, particularly the connection direction to a printed circuit board or multiple printed circuit boards. Thus, to realize different connection directions to the printed circuit boards, it is preferable to mount only the same or possibly different types of contact pins (particularly linear and / or L-shaped types) to a connection housing that is otherwise constructed identically. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0023] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings illustrate the invention using these examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples and can be implemented in different ways literally or equivalently. [Figure 1a] It is a perspective view of a connection strip. [Figure 1b] It is a perspective view of the connection strip of FIG. 1a during the assembly process. [Figure 1c] It is a front view of the connection strip during the assembly process of FIG. 1a. [Figure 1d] It is a front view of an individual connection housing of the connection strip of FIG. 1a. [Figure 1e] It is an enlarged view of a detailed part of FIG. 1d. [Figure 2a] It is a further perspective view of the connection strip of FIG. 1a. [Figure 2b] It is a perspective view of the connection strip from FIG. 2a, which is arranged on a printed circuit board. [Figure 2c] It is a further perspective view of the configuration of the connection strip and the printed circuit board of FIG. 2b. [Figure 2d] The printed circuit board and the connection strip having the configuration of FIG. 2c are shown separately and spaced apart as before assembly. [Figure 3a] It is a perspective view of a second connection strip. [Figure 3b] It is a perspective view of the connection strip of FIG. 3a, where the individual connection housings are shown separately and spaced apart as before assembly, and one of the connection housings, the left one in the figure, is shown in an exploded view. [Figure 4a] It shows a different perspective view of the second connection strip of FIG. 3a, in which case it is arranged on two printed circuit boards aligned in parallel. [Figure 4b] It shows a perspective view of the second connection strip of FIG. 3a, in which case it is arranged on two printed circuit boards aligned in parallel. [Figure 4c] From the configuration of FIG. 4b, the two printed circuit boards and the connection strip are shown separately and spaced apart as before assembly. [Figure 5a] A different perspective view of the third connecting strip is shown. [Figure 5b] A different perspective view of the third connecting strip is shown. [Figure 5c] Figure 5a shows a perspective view of the third connecting strip, with the individual connecting housings shown separately and spaced apart as before assembly, and one of the connecting housings, the one on the left in the figure, shown in an exploded view. [Figure 6a] Figure 5a shows a different perspective view of the third connection strip, in which case it is arranged on two printed circuit boards that are perpendicular to each other. [Figure 6b] Figure 5a shows a different perspective view of the third connection strip, in which case it is arranged on two printed circuit boards that are perpendicular to each other. [Figure 6c] Figures 6a and 6b show the configuration, where a single printed circuit board and connection strips are shown separately and spaced apart, as they would be before assembly. [Figure 6d] Figures 6a and 6b show the configuration, with both printed circuit boards and connecting strips shown separately and spaced apart, as they were before assembly. [Figure 7a] This is a perspective view of the fourth connection strip. [Figure 7b] Figure 7a shows the connection strip and the assembly of its contact pins. [Figure 7c] Figure 7a shows the connection strip and the assembly of its contact pins. [Figure 8a] This is a perspective view of the fifth connection strip. [Figure 8b] Figure 8a shows the connection strip and the assembly of its contact pins. [Figure 8c] Figure 8a shows the connection strip and the assembly of its contact pins. [Figure 8d] Figure 8a shows the connection strip and the assembly of its contact pins. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0024] Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a connection strip 1 designed as a connector for a printed circuit board. Other figures also show variations of such a connection strip 1 configured or usable as a connector for a printed circuit board. This means that it can be placed on one or more printed circuit boards 300, 301, 302, or can be placed in an assembled state.

[0025] Each connecting strip 1 has a strip-shaped connecting housing 2. According to a first modification of the present invention, the connecting housing 2 is composed of a plurality of individual connecting housings 21, 22, 23, 24, ..., where the individual connecting housings are arranged in the connecting direction X. The connection strip 1 has only individual connection housings 21, 22, and 23 of the same type. However, as an alternative, it may also have individual connection housings 22, 23, 21, and 24 of different types.

[0026] In another modification, the connection strip 100 may also have a higher level of connection housing 200 that is not composed of individual connection housings. Such embodiments are shown in Figures 7 and 8.

[0027] The same type of connection housing 2 is configured similarly. Different types of connection housing 2 differ in at least one technical detail. Here, what the connecting housings 2, 200, and possibly the individual connecting housings 21, 22, 23, 24 have in common is that they have a fundamentally three-dimensional shape with six outer surfaces. Slight deviations from this three-dimensional shape are possible. This point will be explained in part below.

[0028] Furthermore, higher-level integrated or multi-part connection housings 2, 200 are designed so that one or more printed circuit boards LP1, LP2 are positioned on at least one or more outer surfaces. This point will be explained in more detail below.

[0029] The adjacent outer surfaces of individual connection housings 2 are preferably aligned perpendicularly or substantially perpendicularly to each other. Each connection housing connected to the addable individual connection housings 21, 22, 23, 24 must be configured such that at least one side is connectable to the other adjacent individual connection housing.

[0030] This requires connecting sides 2c, 2d that are flat in at least part, and connecting means for connecting to at least one adjacent individual connecting housing 21, 22, 23, 24. When each connection housing 2 is composed of multiple individual connection housings 21, 22, 23 (i.e., two or more individual connection housings), these individual connection housings 2, 21, 22, 23, 24, which are identical or different in configuration, have corresponding or compatible connecting means, and these individual connection housings are placed next to each other and firmly connected to one another. These are also configured to be identical or at least compatible with different types of individual connection housings 21, 22, 23. These connecting means can be configured in a variety of ways. This will be explained in more detail below.

[0031] The connection strip 1 or its connection housing 2 is preferably configured such that one or more of its sides (one or more contact sides) are positioned perpendicular to the connection direction on the printed circuit board LP, and are electrically connected to one or more contact areas (see also Figure 4).

[0032] If multiple sides of the connection housing 2 are in contact, individual connection strips or two or more printed circuit boards LP1, LP2 can be arranged. The side walls of individual connection housings that can be connected in the connection direction are also called the first connection side 2c and the second connection side 2d.

[0033] Furthermore, each connecting housing 2 has a mating surface side 2a, on which at least or particularly preferably a single first plug-in contact portion 301, in particular a blade and / or contact pin, which can be connected to the corresponding plug-in contact portion of a corresponding plug connector not shown herein—for example, a tulip contact portion. The mating surface or connector side is referred to synonymously with the connecting side or front side, and the side of the connecting housing 2 opposite to the connecting side 2a is also called the rear side 2b. An intermediate wall can be provided between the connecting side 2a and the rear side. The arrangement can also be kinematically reversed. In this case, the upper side surface 2o, the rear side surface 2b, and the lower side surface 2u can theoretically be used to place printed circuit boards LP1 and LP2, or to place on printed circuit boards LP1 and LP2.

[0034] Furthermore, a corresponding plug connector (not shown) can be configured for connection to printed circuit board LP1 or LP2. In this way, board-to-board connectivity (connection from circuit board to circuit board via plug-in connections) was achieved.

[0035] In the following, the connection direction will be denoted as X, the direction perpendicular to the connection direction X extending from the lower surface 2u to the upper surface 2o will be denoted as Z, and the direction perpendicular to the connection directions X and Z, extending from the connection surface 2a to the rear surface 2b, will be denoted as Y. The three directions X, Y, and Z define a Cartesian coordinate system.

[0036] One or more contact points, particularly soldering pin contact points, can be formed on each contact side—in this case, on sides 2u, 2o, and 2b—on the connecting housing 2, and in particular, they can be made to protrude outwards.

[0037] These one or more soldering pin contacts may, for example, preferably, take the form of one or more plug-in contacts 302 for printed circuit boards. These plug-in contact portions 302 for printed circuit boards protrude outward from their respective contact sides 2u, are inserted into the openings of the circuit boards LP1 and LP2, and are soldered in place.

[0038] The contact pins of the connecting housing are preferably formed in one part to facilitate assembly. They are particularly preferably formed from contact pins or contact blades. In this application, the terms contact blade and contact pin are also used synonymously. The contact pins are preferably formed from a rectangular cross-section.

[0039] All or part of the connection housing 2 is configured on the mating surface side, such as a first plug connector that is inserted into the corresponding plug connector. This means that, in this aspect, the mating surface side 2a has a mating surface, which is configured to mate with the corresponding mating surface of the corresponding connector (not shown).

[0040] Therefore, the connecting housing 2 has, for example, one or more openings 4 on each side of the mating surface, and can partition a chamber with one or more connecting contact parts and one open side. In a particularly preferred embodiment, these connection contacts are configured here as plug-in contacts 301 of one or more mating surfaces.

[0041] When contact pins 3 are used as contact elements, the contact pins are preferably provided as variations of a first L-shaped, curved arrangement of contact pins 3a and / or a second straight contact pin 3b (see also Figure 7b).

[0042] The first end of the contact pin 3 functions as a plug-in contact portion 301 for connecting to the contact portion, particularly the tulip contact portion, of the corresponding mating surface of the corresponding second connector (not shown here). The other end of the contact pin 3 is preferably used in each case as a plug-in contact portion 302 for the printed circuit board to contact the respective printed circuit boards LP1 / LP2.

[0043] Preferably, each plug-in contact portion 302 for the printed circuit board and the corresponding plug-in contact portion 301 on the mating surface are configured as a single component with two ends of a single contact pin 3.

[0044] Instead of contact pins, blade contacts or tulip contacts may be provided on the connection or connector side 2a. A hybrid configuration having pins and tulip contacts on the connection side and / or shield contacts (see, for example, Figure 2b) is also conceivable. Nevertheless, within the scope of this application and claims, contact elements are referred to synonymously with contact pins.

[0045] Each mating surface side 2a, through interaction with its connecting strip 1, forms a mating surface on the individual connecting housings 21, 22, 23, 24 and also forms the first overlapping mating surface of the first connector, which can then be connected together to the corresponding second connector having a corresponding mating surface. The mating surfaces of the connecting housing 2 can be configured to be all or partly identical or different.

[0046] In a preferred modification, the connecting housings 2, 200, and optionally their individual connecting housings 21, 22, 23, 24, are configured such that either one contact pin 3 of the first modification 3a or any of the multiple pins 3 of the first and / or second modifications 3a, 3b is precisely inserted.

[0047] To facilitate assembly, the connection housings 2, 200, or, where applicable, their individual connection housings 21, 22, 23, 24, 200, each have a slightly central groove 201 on their respective rear sides, which allows for the insertion of an L-shaped contact pin when the end forming the plug-in contact portion 302 for the printed circuit board is aligned in a straight line with the upper side 2o or lower side 2u of the connection housing 2.

[0048] The linear or L-shaped contact pins 3 may have a fixing area 303, which takes the form of an embossed area. In this area, the contact pins 3 are held / fixed in a latching and / or clamped manner within the connecting housings 2, 200, or, where applicable, within the individual connecting housings 21, 22, 23, 24, for example, within the mounting holes in the intermediate wall, and the contact pins 3 penetrate each connecting housing 2, 200, and, if necessary, the individual connecting housings 21, 22, 23, 24.

[0049] The connecting housing 200 can be manufactured as an upper housing, for example, in one part (see, for example, Figure 7 or Figure 8), or it can be manufactured from a lower part and an upper part (not shown here).

[0050] If the connecting housing 2 is made of multiple parts from individual connecting housings 21, 22, 23, 24, corresponding mechanically acting connecting means—in particular corresponding latching means and counter-latching means—are provided on the individual connecting housings 21, 22, 23, 24 in the connecting direction X to connect the individual connecting housings 21, 22, 23, 24 to each other to form a stable and self-supporting connecting strip 1.

[0051] According to the modified version of Figure 1, these connecting means may have two lugs 6o, 6u (Figures 1b-1e and 2a-2d), one of which protrudes in the direction opposite to the connection direction X (or in the direction of the connection direction X, not shown here) toward adjacent connection housings 21, 22, 23, 24 as an extension of the upper surface 2c of the individual connection housings 21, 22, 23, 24, and the other lug protrudes in the direction opposite to the connection direction X (or in the direction of the connection direction X, not shown here) toward adjacent connection housings 21, 22, 23, 24 as an extension of the lower surface 2u.

[0052] Furthermore, the corresponding connection means also has recesses 7o and 7u on the upper side surface 2o and the lower side surface 2u, corresponding to each lug 6o and 6u, and within the recesses 7o and 7u, each lug 6a and 6b of the adjacent connection housing 2 connected in the connection direction X engages. It is preferable that the lugs 6o, 6u and the corresponding recesses 7o, 7u do not extend over the entire length of each connection housing 2 in the plug-in direction or the Y direction.

[0053] Furthermore, according to a preferred modification, as an alternative to the first and second latching means, or in addition to the first and second latching means, the individual connecting housings 21, 22, 23, 24 have pegs or pins 10o, 10u protruding in the connecting direction, and the pegs or pins 10o, 10u are formed to engage with corresponding receiving holes. Since the pins 9c are preferably larger in size relative to the receiving holes, the individual connecting housings 21, 22, 23, 24 are seated in a manner clamped by the pins and pegs. It is also possible to have only pins 9c or holes 9d formed in the first and second individual connecting housings 21, 24 of the connecting strip.

[0054] This allows for gradients to be achieved in the areas of lugs 6o, 6u and recesses 7o, 7u, thereby fixing the row of connecting housings 2 to fit perfectly in the Z direction and the plug-in direction Y.

[0055] In the "up and down" directions of the Z or Y relative to the printed circuit board, the lugs 6o, 6u and recesses 7o, 7u secure the connection housing 2 of the connection strip 1, positioned between the lugs and recesses, against relative displacement in the "assembled" connection strip 1. In the plug-in direction Y, the inclination guides the connection to a tight, unidirectional contact.

[0056] Preferably, the lugs 6o, 6u are also configured as first latching means, and the recesses 7o, 7u are configured as counter-latching means to fix the individual connecting housings 21, 23, 23, 24 against the X direction so as not to pull them apart.

[0057] Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiments of Figures 3 and 5, corresponding tongue-shaped portions and grooved connecting means 8a, 8b may also be provided in the areas of the lugs or webs 6o, 6u and recesses 7o, 7u to secure the individual connecting housings 2 to each other in the plug-in direction (-Y) and the connection direction X. According to one modification, corresponding tongue-shaped portions and grooved connecting means 8a, 8b, as well as corresponding latching means 9a and counter-latching means 9b, are provided.

[0058] As is clear from Figures 3a and 3b, this connection secures adjacent individual connection housings very well in the connection direction X because it easily secures them against being pulled apart in parallel.

[0059] In this modified form, the adjacent individual connecting housings 2 can also be easily aligned perpendicular to the connection direction X when mounting the connecting strip 1 by pushing them together so that the tongue-shaped portions and grooved connecting means engage. The constructive mating is secured against the adjacent individual connecting housings 2 being pulled apart or pulled against the connection direction (see Figures 2a, 2b or 3a, 3b, 3c).

[0060] The first and last individual connection housings 21, 24 of the connection strip 1 are provided only with lugs or recesses 6o, 7u or 7o, 7u. This is because the last individual connection housing 2 of the connection strip can only be connected to an adjacent individual connection housing 2 in one connection direction.

[0061] Alternatively, or in addition to the above, clamp pins 10o, 10u (see Figure 1b) and clamp holes (not shown or not visible in the shown figures) can be formed on the corresponding connecting sides 2c, 2d, the clamp pins and clamp holes being held together to then alternatively or additionally secure the individual connecting housings 21, 22, 23, 24 in the connecting direction X.

[0062] Modified versions of contact pins 3a and 3b can be used to manufacture connection strip 1, and in this case, it should be particularly emphasized that various types of circuit board connectors can also be manufactured. This is because variations of the linear and / or L-shaped contact pins 3a and 3b, one or more plug-in contact portions 302 for printed circuit boards are provided, allowing one or more printed circuit boards LP1 and LP2 to be connected in the same direction or in different directions in the Y, +Z, or -Z directions.

[0063] The connection housings 2, 200, or optionally the individual connection housings 21, 22, 23, 24, connectors for circuit boards of different configurations can thus be manufactured in a simple manner, thus having one or more connection directions or connection sides for printed circuit boards LP1, LP2. For this purpose, the connection housings 2, 200, or optionally the individual connection housings 21, 22, 23, 24 only need to be equipped with one or both of the variations of contact pins 3a, 3b as desired.

[0064] The connecting housings 2, 200, or optionally the individual connecting housings 21, 22, 23, 24, are preferably made of non-conductive plastic. The contact pins 3 are preferably made of a highly conductive metal material.

[0065] A preferred manufacturing process may include the following steps (which preferably follow each other): Process A) The individual connecting housings 21, 22, 23, and 24 of a single connecting housing 2,200 or connecting strip 1,100 are pre-fabricated. These are then supplied in a first step A) for further assembly. Manufacturing can be carried out, for example, by a plastic injection molding process. Pre-fabricated conductive contact pins 3 are also provided.

[0066] Process B) Next, the L-shaped and / or straight contact pins 3 are attached to the provided insulating connection housings 2, 200 or to the individual connection housings 21, 22, 23, 24, and in particular in the second step B), using an installation tool, especially by an insertion step, one end forms a plug-in contact portion 301 on the mating surface and the other end forms a contact pin 302 on the printed circuit board. Process C) If, in step C) before or after step A) or step B), a plurality of individual connection housings 21, 22, 23, 24 are provided on the connector 1 of the respective printed circuit board, the plurality of individual connection housings 21, 22, 23, 24 are assembled to form a higher level connection housing 2.

[0067] Process D) Finally, in step A) and / or step B) and / or step D) after step C), one or more printed circuit boards LP1, LP2 can be mounted, and in particular, they are soldered to one or possibly several outer surfaces of the printed circuit boards on the connecting housing 2,200 that have contact pins 310.

[0068] Depending on the requirements of the installation site, and if computer-controlled as needed, the same but different circuit board connector 1 can be formed in various configurations 3a and 3b, and in some cases different configurations, only by attaching the contact pins 3, all of which have the same but different configurations, with all circuit board plug-in contacts 301 pointing in the same direction, either towards the rear side (Y direction) or in the up and down direction (+Z direction or -Z direction). See Figures 1a-1e and 2a-2d.

[0069] However, a modified version of the circuit board connector 1 is formed such that the first portion of the plug-in contact portion 302 for the printed circuit board faces a first direction toward the rear side, upper side, or lower side, and the second portion of the contact pins of the printed circuit board faces a second direction toward the rear side, upper side, or bottom side.

[0070] For example, the first portion of the contact pin protrudes straight from the rear side to the back, and the second portion of the contact pin can be oriented downward (Figures 5a, 8a-8d) or upward (Figures 5b, 6d). However, the first portion of the contact pin can also be oriented upward, and the second portion of the contact pin can also be oriented downward (Figures 3a-3b, 4a-4c, and 7a-7c).

[0071] Depending on the number of housings on which plug-in contact portions 302 for printed circuit boards are provided, many printed circuit boards LP1, LP2 can be connected to the connecting housing, i.e., one, two or more printed circuit boards LP1, LP2, ...

[0072] Typical and favorable variations (though not all possible variations) are shown below. Figure 2b shows that all plug-in contacts 301 for the printed circuit board are oriented toward the lower surface 2u, and accordingly, the lower printed circuit board LP1 is provided below the connector 2,200 of the printed circuit board. Figures 4a to 4c show that the first portion of the plug-in contact portion 301 for the printed circuit board is oriented toward the lower surface 2u, the second portion of the plug-in contact portion 301 for the printed circuit board is oriented toward the upper surface 2o, and correspondingly the lower printed circuit board LP1 is provided below the connector of the printed circuit board, and the parallel upper printed circuit board LP2 is provided below the connectors 2, 200 of the printed circuit board.

[0073] Figures 6a and 6c show that the first portion of the plug-in contact portion 301 for the printed circuit board is oriented toward the upper surface 2o, and the second portion of the plug-in contact portion 301 for the printed circuit board is oriented toward the rear surface 2b. Accordingly, the upper printed circuit board LP1 is provided below the connector of the printed circuit board, and the second rear board LP2, which is perpendicular to the printed circuit board LP1, is provided on the rear surface 2b of the connectors 2, 200 of the printed circuit board. These are particularly preferred modifications, and other modifications not shown can also be implemented if the contact pins 3 are properly installed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0074] List of Symbols Connection strip 1 Connection housings 2, 21, 22, 23, 24, 200 Groove 201 Mating side side 2a Posterior side 2b First connecting side 2c Second connection side 2d Upper side 2o Lower side 2u Contact pin 3 Modified contact pins 3a, 3b Plug-in contact portion 301 of the mating surface Plug-in contact part 302 for printed circuit board Fixed area / embossing 303 Opening 4 Connection contact part 5 Lag 6o, 6u recessed areas 7o, 7u Tongue / groove fixing part 8a, 8b Pins 100, 10u Printed circuit boards LP1, LP2,… Connection direction X Plugin direction Y Direction perpendicular to LP Z

Claims

1. A connection strip formed as a connector for a printed circuit board, having a strip-shaped connection housing (2, 200) formed from one or more parts, The connection housing has a plurality of outer surfaces (2a, 2u, 2o, 2u, 2c, 2d), and the connection housing (2) has a mating surface surface (2a) as a first outer surface, and the mating surface surface (2a) has at least two or more plug-in contact portions (301) of mating surfaces, and each plug-in contact portion of a mating surface is inserted into the plug-in contact portion (5) of the corresponding plug connector. The connecting housing (2) is further configured to have plug-in contact portions (302) for printed circuit boards on at least one other outer surface other than the mating surface side (2a), the plug-in contact portions (302) for printed circuit boards protrude beyond the other at least one other outer surface, and printed circuit boards (LP1, LP2) are mounted on one or more outer surfaces on which the plug-in contact portions (302) for printed circuit boards are provided. The connection strip is characterized in that the plug-in contact portion (302) for the printed circuit board protrudes from the connection housing on at least two mutually perpendicularly oriented outer surfaces, and as a result, at least two spatially perpendicularly oriented printed circuit boards (LP1, LP2) are arranged on the connection housing (2, 200).

2. The connecting housing (2, 200) is composed of multiple parts, and each connecting housing (21, 22, 23, 24) is composed of individual connecting housings, and the connecting housings connected to each other are, a. The first individual connection housings (21, 22, 23, 24) connected to each other in the connection direction (X) have two lugs (6o, 6u), one lug being an extension of the upper surface (2o) and the other lug being an extension of the lower surface (2u) of the individual connection housings (21, 22, 23, 24) in the direction of the adjacent further individual connection housings (21, 22, 23, 24). b. The connecting strip according to claim 1, wherein at least further adjacent connecting housings (21, 22, 23, 24) are mechanically connected such that when a lug is inserted into the recess and the lugs (6o, 6u) of adjacent connecting housings (21, 22, 23, 24) are inserted into each other within the recess, the lugs (6o, 6u) of adjacent connecting housings (21, 22, 23, 24) are mechanically connected such that they engage in a shape-fit within the recess.

3. The connecting strip according to claim 2, wherein each connecting housing (21, 22, 23, 24) further has corresponding mechanically acting connecting means.

4. The connecting strip according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of outer surfaces (2a, 2u, 2o, 2u, 2c, 2d) of the connecting housing (2) include an upper surface (2o), a lower surface (2u), a mating surface surface (2a), a rear surface (2b), and one or two connecting surfaces (2c, 2d).

5. The connection strip according to claim 1, wherein the connection housing (2, 200) is composed of a plurality of parts, and is composed of individual connection housings (21, 22, 23, 24), and the plug-in contact portion (302) for the printed circuit board and the plug-in contact portion (301) of the mating surface each form both ends of an integrated contact pin (3) that is inserted into and fixed in the connection housing (2, 200) and the individual connection housings (21, 22, 23, 24), respectively.

6. The connection strip according to claim 1, wherein the plug-in contact portion (302) for the printed circuit board and the plug-in contact portion (301) of the mating surface each form both ends of a straight contact pin (3).

7. The connection strip according to claim 1, wherein the plug-in contact portion (302) for the printed circuit board and the plug-in contact portion (301) of the mating surface each form both ends of an L-shaped contact pin (3).

8. A configuration comprising a connection strip and at least two printed circuit boards (LP1, LP2) as described in claim 1, wherein plug-in contacts of the printed circuit boards protrude from at least two different outer surfaces of the connection strip (1), particularly from the outer surfaces of the connection housings (2, 200), and the printed circuit boards (LP1, LP2) are soldered to plug-in contacts (302) for printed circuit boards on each of these surfaces.

9. The configuration according to claim 8, wherein plug-in contact portions for printed circuit boards protrude from at least two mutually perpendicular outer surfaces of the connecting housing (2,200), and printed circuit boards (LP1, LP2) are soldered to the plug-in contact portions (302) for printed circuit boards at least on each of these sides, so that the two printed circuit boards (LP1, LP2) are aligned at right angles to each other.

10. A method for manufacturing a connecting strip configured according to claim 1, Step A) A step of arranging each connecting housing (21, 22, 23, 24) of the connecting strip (1) or a plurality of individual connecting housings (21, 22, 23, 24), and providing a straight contact pin (contact pin (3a) of the first modified example) and / or an L-shaped contact pin (contact pin (3b) of the second modified example), Step B) A step of attaching one or more straight or L-shaped contact pins (3) to one or more connection housings (2, 200) or individual connection housings (21, 22, 23, 24), wherein one end of each pin forms a plug-in contact portion (301) on the mating surface, and the other end forms a plug-in contact portion (302) for the printed circuit board, Step C) Once multiple individual connection housings (21, 22, 23, 24) are placed on the connectors of each printed circuit board (LP1, LP2), a step is made to assemble the multiple individual connection housings (21, 22, 23, 24) incidentally before or after step A) or step B), Step D) A method for manufacturing a connection strip, comprising the step of attaching and soldering one or more printed circuit boards (LP1, LP2) to one or more outer surfaces using the plug-in contact portion (302) for printed circuit boards of the connection housing (2, 200).

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