Connector shield with guide projections

Abstract

The invention relates to a connector shield (1, 57) for a connector (3, 55) for transmitting signals, the connector shield (1, 57) comprising a plurality of shield walls (19, 61), wherein the shield walls (19, 61) form a receptacle (9) for receiving a mating connector (3, 55), the receptacle being open at a front end (11) of the shield (1, 57) in an insertion direction (I) for inserting the mating connector (3, 55), and wherein at least two shield walls (19, 61) are at least partially parallel to each other in a cross-section perpendicular to the insertion direction (I). In order to facilitate the mating of two connectors, at least one shield wall (19, 61) is provided with at least one guiding protrusion (31, 33) protruding from the shield wall (19, 61) towards the receptacle (9).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a connector shield for a connector for transmitting signals. The connector shield includes a plurality of shield walls, wherein the shield walls form a receptacle for receiving a mating connector. The receptacle is open at a front end of the shield in an insertion direction for inserting the mating connector, and at least two shield walls are at least partially parallel to each other in a cross-section perpendicular to the insertion direction. The present invention also relates to a signal connector and a pair of mating signal connectors. Background Art

[0002] Signal connectors and connector shields are known in the art. Connector shields are used to electromagnetically shield signal contact elements within the connector from external influences and to control the impedance of signal lines connected to the signal contact elements. Particularly in miniaturized signal connectors, such as those with diameters less than 10 mm or even less than 5 mm, it is important that the shield and other parts of the connector are not damaged during connector mating. Furthermore, it is important that the position of the shields relative to each other in the mated state is clearly defined.

[0003] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a connector shield, a connector and a pair of connectors as described above, which facilitate the mating of the connectors, in particular the mating of their shields, and which allow a clearly defined relative position of the two connector shields with respect to each other in the mated state. Summary of the Invention

[0004] According to the present invention, the above object is achieved by the connector shield described above, wherein at least one shield wall is provided with at least one guide protrusion that protrudes from the shield wall toward the receptacle. For the above signal connector, the above object is achieved by providing the connector with the connector shield described above. For a pair of connectors, the above object is achieved by at least one connector being a connector described above.

[0005] During the mating of the two connectors, the at least one guide projection can guide the mating connector, in particular its shield. During the mating of the connectors, in particular during the mating of the two shields, it can further protect the shield wall from which the at least one projection projects. Finally, the at least one guide projection can define the position of the two connectors relative to each other in the mated state, in particular in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction. Since the shield itself can guide the mating connector, the at least one guide projection has a synergistic effect. The at least one guide projection provides a synergistic effect. Additional guiding means, for example on the connector housing, can be omitted.

[0006] The at least one guide projection may be in contact with the connector shield or the contact carrier of the mating connector during connector mating and in the fully mated state.

[0007] In the following, further developments of the invention are described. The additional developments can be combined independently of one another, depending on whether the particular advantages of a particular development are required in a particular application.

[0008] According to a first advantageous refinement, the connector shield preferably has a polygonal cross section, for example a rectangular or trapezoidal cross section, at least in the region of the socket.The trapezoidal shape can be used to prevent the connector from being inserted into the housing in the wrong orientation.

[0009] Preferably, at least one shield wall has at least one continuous ramp at the front end of the connector shield for guiding the two connectors during mating, with the at least one guide protrusion located behind at least the continuous ramp. The continuous ramp can help guide the two connectors into the mated position. Once the front ends of the two connectors, or the front end of one connector shield and a portion of the other connector, have passed through the at least one continuous ramp, the at least one guide protrusion can continue to guide the two connectors relative to each other. In other words, the mating connector is first guided by the continuous ramp and then by the at least one guide protrusion until it reaches the mated position.

[0010] The term "rear" refers to a position viewed in the insertion direction, away from the continuous ramp. Or, in other words, the at least one guide protrusion may be recessed from the front end in the insertion direction. The at least one continuous ramp may be formed by a chamfered edge of the shielding wall at the front end. Preferably, several shielding walls are provided with a continuous ramp, thereby forming a funnel for receiving the shield of the mating connector or another component of the mating connector. At least a portion of the mating connector may be formed as a wedge so as to interact with the at least one continuous ramp, thereby facilitating the insertion of one connector into the other.

[0011] At least one guiding projection may have a rim shape or a track shape to facilitate guidance along the insertion direction. Preferably, the two guiding projections are arranged adjacent to each other and parallel to each other. The two guiding projections preferably extend parallel to the insertion direction.

[0012] To securely secure the two mating connectors relative to each other, the connector shield can be provided with at least one, in particular resiliently deflectable, shield contact spring for generating a contact force in the direction toward the socket, with at least one guide projection being arranged between the at least one shield contact spring and the front end of the connector shield. The at least one shield contact spring can secure the two connectors in a force-fitting manner. The at least one shield contact spring can at least partially project toward or into the socket of the mating connector. When the mating connector or a portion thereof is inserted into the socket, the at least one shield contact spring can be deflected away from the socket and exert a spring force on the mating connector.

[0013] The at least one guide protrusion and the at least one shield contact spring may at least partially overlap along the insertion direction. In other words, when viewed along the insertion direction, the at least one guide protrusion and the at least one shield contact spring at least partially overlap each other. The at least one guide protrusion at least partially covers the at least one shield contact spring along the insertion direction. Thus, the at least one guide protrusion can protect the at least one shield contact spring, particularly during mating of the two connectors.

[0014] To provide a simple yet reliable shield contact spring, at least one shield contact spring is preferably formed as a leaf spring that extends substantially parallel to the insertion direction. The at least one shield contact spring is preferably deflectable perpendicular to the insertion direction. More preferably, the at least one shield contact spring extends into the receptacle of the mating connector in an undeflected state and deflects away from the receptacle in the fully mated state. The free end of the leaf spring may point toward the at least one guide projection.

[0015] In order to overlap with the at least one shield contact spring, when said shield contact spring extends into the socket of the mating connector, the at least one guide projection preferably has a recessed portion which is recessed into the socket from the plane of the remaining shield wall.

[0016] The recessed portion can be formed by a straight portion between two curved portions, the two curved portions separating the straight portion from the plane of the remaining shield wall. The straight portion can be parallel to the remaining shield wall. Preferably, at least one recessed portion is arranged between the front end of the shield and the opening in the shield wall along the insertion direction, the opening providing space for movement of at least one shield contact spring. In other words, the at least one recessed portion can have the overall shape of a web extending perpendicular to the insertion direction.

[0017] The at least one guide projection preferably has the overall shape of a bow, wherein the rear portion of the bow extends into the socket. The rear portion may form a recessed portion. The bow may bridge at least two shielding walls that are parallel to each other.

[0018] The connector shield is preferably provided with at least one further guide projection, in particular at a shield wall different from the shield wall having the above-mentioned guide projection.

[0019] To further facilitate mating of the two connectors, the connector shield may be provided with at least two guide protrusions arranged on two side surfaces of the connector shield, the side surfaces facing each other across the receptacle of the mating connector. Preferably, the at least two guide protrusions are arranged opposite each other across the receptacle. More preferably, the connector shield is provided with at least one shield contact spring on each side of the receptacle, wherein each shield contact spring is arranged behind one of the guide protrusions as described above. At least one side surface of the connector shield may be provided with at least two shield contact springs, wherein the shield contact springs are arranged side by side in a circumferential direction of the connector shield, and wherein the two shield contact springs extend substantially parallel to the insertion direction.

[0020] The connector shield may have at least two openings in the shield wall to allow the signal contact element to reach the openings, in particular during deflection of the contact, the at least two openings being arranged side by side perpendicular to the insertion direction, wherein at least one guide protrusion is formed on the web between the at least two openings.

[0021] At least two openings can be useful in order to provide space in which the signal contact element or its front end can be deflected during mating of the two connectors without contacting any shielding wall. The web preferably extends parallel to the insertion direction. The at least one guide projection can, for example, be formed as a projection protruding from the web. In another preferred embodiment, the web can form a deflectable spring, with a projection provided at its free end.

[0022] In order to securely secure the connector shield in the connector housing, the connector shield is preferably provided with at least one neck portion extending perpendicularly to the insertion direction into the peripheral surface of the shield portion to retain the connector shield in the connector housing, wherein at least one guide protrusion is arranged between a front end of the connector shield portion and the at least one neck portion. The at least one neck portion may be formed to reduce the cross-section of the shield portion. The neck portion may be formed by a circumferential retaining groove.

[0023] The connector shield may be a stamped and bent component, wherein at least one guide protrusion is integrally formed with at least one shield wall. Preferably, at least one shield contact spring is also integrally formed with the at least one guide protrusion and at least one shield wall. If the connector shield is provided with a neck, the groove is also preferably integrally formed with these elements. The shield walls are preferably electrically interconnected, and more preferably, are integrally formed with each other and with the rest of the shield.

[0024] The connector preferably includes at least one neck and at least one contact carrier for at least one signal contact element, the at least one contact carrier extending into the receptacle through the at least one neck, wherein the diameter or cross-section of at least a portion of the contact carrier extending into the receptacle is equal to or smaller than the inner diameter or cross-section of the neck. The at least one signal contact element is preferably encapsulated or embedded in the at least one contact carrier. Thus, the contact carrier can be spaced apart from the shield wall adjacent to the recess. In other words, a gap can be formed between the contact carrier and the shield wall that is larger than the shield wall of a mating connector to be inserted into the gap.

[0025] In this case, the at least one guide projection can in particular form a spacer for spacing the shield wall of the mating connector from the interposed shield wall of the mating connector. In the fully mated state, the at least one shield wall of the mating connector is arranged between the at least one guide projection and the at least one contact carrier. This prevents the connector shield from tilting relative to the mating connector.

[0026] In the fully mated state, the connector shield of the mating connector is preferably inserted into the connector shield of the signal connector, and vice versa. If both shields are provided with at least one guide protrusion, both shields can be formed by a pair of connectors using the shield of the present invention. In the fully mated state, at least one signal contact element of the connector is preferably electrically connected to a corresponding signal contact element of the mating connector. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Hereinafter, the present invention and its improvements are described in more detail using exemplary embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. As mentioned above, the various features shown in the embodiments can be used independently of each other in specific applications.

[0028] In the following drawings, elements having the same function and / or the same structure will be denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0029] In the attached figure:

[0030] Figure 1 A first embodiment of a connector having a connector shield according to the present invention is shown in a perspective view;

[0031] Figure 2 Shown in perspective Figure 1 The connector shield is provided without the rest of the connector;

[0032] Figure 3 Shown with mating connector inserted Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a connector;

[0033] Figure 4 A second embodiment of a connector having a shield according to the present invention is shown;

[0034] Figure 5 A connector with a shield according to the present invention is shown, which can be inserted into Figure 4 connector; and

[0035] Figures 6 to 8 Shown Figure 5 Another embodiment of the connector is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] In the following, reference is made to Figure 1 and 2 A first advantageous embodiment of a connector shield 1 according to the invention is described. Figure 1 Shown is a shield 1 for use in a signal connector 3, Figure 2 The connector shield 1 is shown without any other parts of the connector 3 .

[0037] The signal connector 3 includes a pair of signal contact elements 5 embedded in a contact carrier 7. The contact carrier 7 may be made of a dielectric material. The contact carrier 7 carries the signal contact elements 5.

[0038] The signal contact elements 5 are surrounded by the shield 1 along a circumferential direction C. The circumferential direction C extends around a longitudinal axis L of the shield 1 and the connector 3. The longitudinal direction L extends parallel to an insertion direction I along which a mating connector (not shown) can be inserted into the shield 1.

[0039] Shield 1 opens receptacle 9 to receive a mating connector. Receptacle 9 is open toward front end 11 of shield 1. Front end 11 also forms the front end 11 of connector 3. At rear end 13, shield 1 is provided with a crimp barrel 15 for connection to cable 17. Preferably, shield 1 extends longitudinally along longitudinal axis L from rear end 13 to front end 11.

[0040] The shield 1 preferably has a rectangular or trapezoidal cross section, at least in the region of the socket 9. Other polygonal shapes are also possible. Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the embodiment shown, the cross section has an overall trapezoidal shape. The trapezoidal shape can be used to prevent the connector from being inserted into the housing in the wrong orientation.

[0041] The shield 1 is composed of a plurality of shield walls 19 which are preferably formed integrally with one another by punching and bending from sheets 27. In other words, the shield 1 is preferably a punched and bent part 21. Each shield wall 19 is substantially flat and defines a plane 20.

[0042] In order to retain the connector shield 1 in the housing, the shield 1 is provided with a neck 23 extending through a peripheral surface 25 of the shield 1 in the circumferential direction C. The neck 23 is preferably formed by bending a sheet 27 before forming the shield wall 19 and closing the socket 9 .

[0043] The two signal contact elements 5 are arranged side by side, thereby defining Figure 1 The signal contact element plane 29 is shown. Two of the side walls 19 are parallel to each other and are also parallel to the signal contact plane 29. The signal contact plane 29 defines a horizontal direction H, which is parallel to the plane 29 and perpendicular to the insertion direction I. The signal contact plane 29 also defines a vertical direction V, which is perpendicular to the signal contact plane 29. It should be noted that the terms "horizontal" and "vertical" are selected for descriptive reasons only. They do not relate to the orientation of the connector in space, but rather to the characteristics of the shield and connector and the aforementioned directions.

[0044] The two shield walls 19 that are non-parallel to the signal contact plane 29 are tilted relative to each other to form an overall trapezoidal shape.

[0045] One shielding wall 19 parallel to the signal contact surface 29 is provided with two guide protrusions 31. The shielding wall 19 having the guide protrusions 31 is Figure 1 and Figure 2 The shield wall 19 is located on the lower side of the shield 1. The guide projection 31 extends longitudinally parallel to the insertion direction I and projects perpendicularly to the signal contact plane 29 into the socket 9. The guide projection 31 has an overall rim shape or rail shape.

[0046] The guide projections 31 may be considered “vertical” guide projections 31 because they may guide the mating connector during mating thereof in the vertical direction V. The guide projections 31 may be formed by stamping or pressing the material 27 to form an elongated shape that projects from the shield wall 19 .

[0047] The guide projection 31 is arranged between the front end 11 and the neck 23 along the insertion direction I. At the front end 11, the material 27 of the shield is chamfered or beveled to form an overall funnel shape to facilitate insertion of the mating connector into the receptacle 9. Thus, the material 27 is provided with a chamfered edge 30 at the front end 11.

[0048] In addition to the "vertical" guide projections 31, the shield 1 is provided with two or more guide projections 33. The guide projections 33 are located on the shield walls 19, which are inclined relative to each other to form a trapezoidal shape. The guide projections 33 project toward each other and into the receptacle 9. The guide projections 33 project substantially perpendicularly to the insertion direction I and perpendicularly to the vertical direction V. The guide projections 33 can be considered "horizontal" guide projections 33, as they can guide the mating connector along the horizontal direction H.

[0049] The "horizontal" guide projections 33 can be formed by bending a strip of material 27 so that, for each projection 33, a straight portion 35 and two curved portions 37 are formed. The straight portion 35 forms a concave portion 36 of the guide projection 33. The curved portions 37 connect the straight portion 35 to the rest of the shielding wall 19. At the front end 11, each guide projection 33 is provided with a chamfered edge 30. Each guide projection 33 has the overall shape of a bow 43, wherein the rear portion 45 of the bow 43 extends into the receptacle 9.

[0050] As mentioned above, the guide projection 33 is made of a strip-shaped portion of the material 27. The strip is formed by an opening 41 in the material 27 of the shielding wall 19, which opening 41 is arranged behind the projection 33 in the insertion direction I.

[0051] The shield 1 is provided with shield contact springs 39 which are elastically deflected out of the socket 9. Preferably, each shield contact spring 39 is formed as a leaf spring 40. Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the unmated state shown, the shield contact spring 39 extends into the receptacle 9 and can be deflected out of the receptacle 9 when a mating contact is inserted into the receptacle 9 .

[0052] The openings 41 allow the shield contact springs 39 to move freely with at least their free ends 47 along the horizontal direction H. Each shield contact spring 39 has a base 49 at which it is connected to the corresponding shield wall 19, and a free end 47 extending from the base 49. Each shield contact spring 39 has an overall elongated shape that extends parallel to the insertion direction I, with the base 49 closer to the rear end 13 and the free end 47 closer to the front end 11.

[0053] Two shield contact springs 39 extend into each opening 41. The two shield contact springs 39 arranged on the same shield wall 19 are arranged parallel to each other and adjacent to each other in the vertical direction V. The total height 51 of the two shield contact springs 39 on the same shield wall 19 is preferably greater than the height 53 of the straight portion 35 of the guide projection 33.

[0054] In the insertion direction I, the guide projections 33 at least partially overlap the shield contact springs 39 in order to protect them when mated with the connector.

[0055] Now refer to Figure 3 ,in Figure 1 and Figure 2 The signal connector 3 is shown in a partially mated state. In the partially mated state, the mating connector 55 is arranged in the socket 9. Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of the connectors 3 and 55 is shown, which extends through the signal contact element 5 parallel to the insertion direction I and the vertical direction V.

[0056] The mating connector 55 is provided with a shield 57 for electromagnetically shielding the signal contact elements 59 of the connector 55. The mating connector 55 can be formed as a connector 3, and in particular the shield 57 can be formed as the shield 1 according to the present invention. Figure 3 In the illustrated embodiment, the shield 57 of the mating connector 55 is not provided with guide projections. In the mated state, each signal contact element 5 is electrically connected to a corresponding signal contact element 59 of the mating connector 55 .

[0057] Shield 57 and shield 1 are formed by shield wall 61. Shield 57 is preferably formed with a cross-sectional shape (not shown) corresponding to the trapezoidal shape of shield 1. In the mated state, the outer side of shield 57 abuts the inner side of shield 1. Furthermore, shield contact spring 39 applies a contact force F to shield 57, thereby holding it in place. Guide protrusion 31 can abut shield 57 and prevent it from moving, particularly from tilting in vertical direction V.

[0058] In particular, when the shield 1 is provided with a neck 23, the guide projections 31 may be necessary to compensate for the reduced cross-section of the contact carrier 7. In other words, in order to insert the contact carrier 7 into the shield 1 during manufacture of the signal connector 3, the diameter 63 of the entire contact carrier 7 can be smaller than the inner diameter 65 of the shield 1 in the region of the neck 23. However, due to this requirement, the contact carrier 7 is spaced apart from the shield wall 19 in the socket 9. The guide projections 31 can compensate for this and can abut the shield 57 in the mated state. In the mated state, the shield wall 61 of the mating connector 55 is arranged without play between the contact carrier 7 and the guide projections 31.

[0059] On the opposite side of the socket 9, the shield wall 61 of the mating connector 55 may directly abut the shield wall 19 of the shield 1. However, it is also possible to provide said shield wall 19 with at least one further guide projection 31 .

[0060] Next, combine Figures 4 to 8Other embodiments of the connector 3 and the mating connector 55 are described. For the sake of brevity, only the differences from the previous embodiment are described in detail.

[0061] Figure 4 A signal connector 3 is shown with a connector shield 1. In contrast to the previous embodiment, the shield 1 has an overall rectangular shape rather than a trapezoidal one. Furthermore, the "vertical" guide projections 31 are omitted. Finally, at the front end 11, the shield 1 is provided with a nose 67 that projects from the plane 20 of the shield wall 19 in the vertical direction V. The nose 67 serves to prevent the shield 1 from being inserted into the connector housing in the wrong orientation. This connector housing (not shown) is preferably provided with a complementary recess into which the nose 67 can be inserted.

[0062] The contact carrier 7 is provided with a through hole 69, which allows the signal contact element 5 to extend through the through hole 69 toward the side of the socket 9 opposite the nose 67. The through hole 69 allows the signal contact element 5 to move, especially when the connector 3 is mated with the mating connector 55. The signal contact element 5 can then be elastically deflected and dive into the through hole 69.

[0063] In order to prevent the signal contact element 5 from coming into contact with the shielding wall 61 of the shield 57 , the shielding wall 61 is provided with an opening 71 which can receive at least the free end of the signal contact element 5 in the mating position.

[0064] The openings 71 are preferably arranged side by side along the horizontal direction H and are separated by webs 73 extending parallel to the insertion direction I of the shield 57. It should be noted that the shield 57 of the second embodiment can be formed as the shield 1 according to the present invention, since it is provided with receptacles 75 into which the contact carriers 7 of the signal connector 3 can be inserted. In addition, the shield 57 is provided with guide projections 31.

[0065] Figure 5 and Figure 6 The first embodiment of the guide projection 31 shown is arranged between the web 73 and the front end 11. In the mated state, as shown Figure 6 As shown, the guide projection 31 abuts the contact carrier 7 of the connector 3 .

[0066] In another embodiment of the guide projection 31 of the second embodiment of the mating connector 55, the guide projection 31 is formed as an elastically deflectable leaf spring 77 formed by a web 73. In other words, the web 73 is connected to the remaining shield 57 only at one of its ends so that it can move in the vertical direction V. The leaf spring 77 can be pre-bent toward the socket 75 so that when the contact carrier 7 is arranged inside the socket 75, the leaf spring 77 is elastically deflected away from the socket 75.

[0067] at last, Figure 8There is shown a third embodiment of the guide projection 31. The guide projection 31 is formed on the web 73 by a bend 79 in which the web 73 projects into the socket 75, forming the guide projection 31.

[0068] Reference numerals

[0069] 1 Connector shield

[0070] 3 signal connectors

[0071] 5 signal contact elements

[0072] 7 Contact carrier

[0073] 9 sockets

[0074] 11 Front-end

[0075] 13 Backend

[0076] 15 Crimp barrel

[0077] 17 Cable

[0078] 19 Shielding Wall

[0079] 20 plane

[0080] 21 Stamped and bent parts

[0081] 23 Neck

[0082] 25 peripheral surface

[0083] 27 Plate

[0084] 29 Signal contact plane

[0085] 30 Chamfered edges

[0086] 31 guide protrusion

[0087] 33 Guide protrusion

[0088] 35 straight part

[0089] 36 concave part

[0090] 37 Bend

[0091] 39 Shield contact spring

[0092] 40 leaf spring

[0093] 41 Opening

[0094] 43 Bow

[0095] 45 rear

[0096] 47 Free end

[0097] 49 base

[0098] 51 Height

[0099] 53 Height

[0100] 55 mating connector

[0101] 57 Shield

[0102] 59 signal contact element

[0103] 61 Shielding Wall

[0104] 63 diameter

[0105] 65 inner diameter

[0106] 67 Nose

[0107] 69 through holes

[0108] 71 Opening

[0109] 73 belly plate

[0110] 75 socket

[0111] 77 Leaf Spring

[0112] 79 bend

[0113] C Circumferential direction

[0114] F contact force

[0115] H horizontal direction

[0116] I Insertion direction

[0117] L longitudinal axis

[0118] V vertical direction

Claims

1. A connector shield (1, 57) for a connector (3, 55) for transmitting signals, the connector shield (1, 57) comprising a plurality of shielding walls (19, 61), wherein the shielding walls (19, 61) form a socket (9) for receiving a mating connector (3, 55), the socket (9) being open at a front end (11) of the shield (1, 57) in an insertion direction (I) for inserting the mating connector (3, 55), wherein at least two shielding walls (19, 61) are at least partially parallel to each other in a cross section perpendicular to the insertion direction (I), characterized in that The at least one shielding wall (19, 61) is provided with at least one guide protrusion (31, 33), which protrudes from the shielding wall (19, 61) toward the socket (9), and the connector shield (1, 57) is provided with at least one shielding contact spring (39) for generating a contact force (F) in a direction toward the socket (9), the free end of the shielding contact spring pointing toward the at least one guide protrusion, wherein the at least one guide protrusion (31, 33) is arranged between the at least one shielding contact spring (39) and the front end (11) of the connector shield (1, 57), and the at least one guide protrusion (31, 33) and the at least one shielding contact spring (39) at least partially overlap along the insertion direction (I).

2. The connector shield (1, 57) according to claim 1, characterized in that The at least one shield contact spring (39) is formed as a leaf spring (40) which extends parallel to the insertion direction (I).

3. The connector shield (1, 57) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The at least one guide projection (31, 33) has a recessed portion (36) which is recessed from the plane (20) of the remaining shielding wall (19, 61) toward the socket (9).

4. The connector shield (1, 57) according to claim 3, characterized in that The at least one guide projection (31, 33) has the overall shape of a bow (43), wherein the rear portion of the bow (43) extends toward the socket (9).

5. The connector shield (1, 57) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The connector shield (1, 57) is provided with at least one further guide projection (31, 33).

6. The connector shield (1, 57) according to claim 5, characterized in that The at least two guide protrusions (31, 33) are arranged on two side surfaces of the connector shield (1, 57), the two side surfaces being opposite to each other across the socket (9).

7. The connector shield (1, 57) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The connector shield (1, 57) has at least two openings (71) in the shield wall (19, 61) to allow the signal contact elements (5, 59) to reach the openings (71), the at least two openings (71) being arranged side by side perpendicular to the insertion direction (I), wherein at least one guide protrusion (31, 33) is formed on the web (73) between the at least two openings (71).

8. The connector shield (1, 57) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The connector shield (1, 57) is provided with at least one neck (23) extending perpendicularly to the insertion direction (I) in a peripheral surface (25) of the shield (1, 57) to retain the connector shield (1, 57) in a connector housing, wherein the at least one guide projection (31, 33) is arranged between a front end (11) of the connector shield (1, 57) and the at least one neck (23).

9. The connector shield (1, 57) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The connector shield (1, 57) is a stamped and bent component (21), wherein the at least one guide projection (31, 33) is integrally formed with at least one of the shield walls (19, 61).

10. A connector (3, 55) comprising a connector shield (1, 57) and at least one signal contact element (5, 59) at least partially surrounded by the connector shield (1, 57), characterized in that The connector shield (1, 57) is formed according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. The connector (3, 55) according to claim 10, characterized in that The connector (3, 55) comprises at least one neck (23) and at least one contact carrier (7) for the at least one signal contact element (5, 59), the at least one contact carrier (7) extending into the socket (9) through the at least one neck (23), wherein a diameter (63) of at least a portion of the contact carrier (7) extending into the socket (9) is equal to or smaller than an inner diameter (65) of the neck (23).

12. A connector assembly comprising a pair of mating connectors (3, 55), characterized in that: At least one connector (3, 55) is formed according to claim 10 or 11.

13. The connector assembly according to claim 12, wherein: At least one shielding wall (19, 61) of the mating connector (3, 55) is arranged between the at least one guide projection (31, 33) and the at least one contact carrier (7) in a fully mated state.

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