Male or female connector for automotive applications and method of assembling thereof

Abstract

The invention relates to a male or female connector for automotive applications and a method of assembling the same. The male or female connector for automotive applications has at least one signal contact having an elongated male pin or a female signal contact portion; wherein a section of the signal contact is covered by a molding made by overmolding the section of the signal contact. The invention further relates to a method for producing a male or female connector for automotive applications; the method comprising the steps of providing at least one signal contact having an elongated pin or a female signal contact portion; and overmolding a section of the at least one signal contact.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a male connector or a female connector for automotive applications and a method of assembling such male or female connector for automotive applications, preferably for multi-GHz applications. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a male connector or a female connector, in particular a multi-GHz differential pair connector, and to a method of assembling a male connector or a female connector, in particular a multi-GHz differential pair connector. (very high bit rate digital subscriber line) male connector or female connector, in particular a multi-GHz differential pair connector, and to a method of assembling a male connector or a female connector, in particular a multi-GHz differential pair connector. (very high bit rate digital subscriber line) male connector or female connector, in particular a multi-GHz differential pair connector, and to a method of assembling a male connector or a female connector, in particular a multi-GHz differential pair connector. BACKGROUND

[0002] The so-called System is produced by the company "Rosenberger Hochfrequenztechnik GmbH & Co. KG". The connectors of the system are intended to allow data transmission of up to 15 GHz or 20 Gbps, while having a small package size. Applications of the system are 4K camera systems, autonomous driving, radar, lidar, high-resolution displays and rear seat entertainment.

[0003] There is a need for a male connector and a female connector with small manufacturing tolerances regarding the position of the male contact pin or the female signal contact part and a method of assembling such connectors in a way that is suitable for mass production. SUMMARY

[0004] The present disclosure provides a male connector and a female connector for automotive applications, the male connector and the female connector having at least one signal contact with an elongated male pin or an elongated female signal contact part, wherein a section of the signal contact is covered by a molding made by overmolding the section of the signal contact.

[0005] Overmolding the section of the at least one signal contact has shown to precisely hold the elongated male pin or the elongated female signal contact part of the male connector in place so that manufacturing tolerances can be met. Furthermore, it has shown that the male connector and the female connector can be mass produced and thus can be used for mass market production of automobiles.

[0006] In order to precisely hold the signal contact in place in each direction, the section of the signal contact should be completely covered by the molding, i.e. along its entire circumference. The at least one elongated male pin is typically configured to be inserted into an opening of a corresponding female connector. Similarly, the at least one elongated female signal contact part is typically configured to be connected to a corresponding male connector by receiving an elongated male pin of said connector.

[0007] Embodiments are given in the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

[0008] Preferably, the molding portion is formed of a non-conductive material, in particular of plastic.

[0009] According to one embodiment, at least one signal contact of a male or female connector for automotive applications comprises a twisted section. The twisted section can be twisted around a longitudinal axis by at least 35°, in particular by about 90°. This twisted section has the effect that the signal contact comprising the male pin or the female signal contact portion can be mass produced by coin and a good connection between the connector and the corresponding mating connector (e.g. male and / or female connector) can be achieved.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the signal contact has at least one non-circular cross section adjacent to the twisted section. In particular, the non-circular cross section can be a rectangular cross section. This non-circular, in particular rectangular, cross section can be used for applying a tool to form the twisted section by twisting a section of the non-twisted signal contact, i.e. applying a twisting force to a section of the non-twisted signal contact to form the twisted section.

[0011] According to another embodiment, the signal contact has two non-circular cross sections, wherein the two non-circular cross sections are arranged on opposite sides of and adjacent to the twisted section. Preferably, the two non-circular cross sections are arranged on opposite sides of and directly adjacent to the twisted section. This simplifies the manufacturing of the twisted section, as a tool can be applied more firmly on each end of the section to be twisted.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the connector comprises at least two signal contacts arranged parallel to each other. Preferably, the molding portion covers a section of both signal contacts. This allows the molding portion to hold both signal contacts in place to each other, which reduces skewing and / or time delay. In particular, the molding portion can completely cover, i.e. surround, the section of both signal contacts along a circumferential surface of the signal contacts. Further, the molding portion can be manufactured by overmolding both signal contacts in said section at the same time. In other words, the molding portion can be manufactured by overmolding both signal contacts in said section in one step.

[0013] According to one embodiment, both signal contacts comprise a twisted section. The twisted sections can be located at corresponding positions along the respective signal contacts, i.e. adjacent to each other. Further, both signal contacts can be formed correspondingly to each other. In particular, both signal contacts can have corresponding non-circular cross sections, which can be used for applying a tool to form the twisted sections.

[0014] According to another embodiment, the at least one torsion section is covered by a molding. In particular, the at least one torsion section can be completely covered by the molding. If there are two signal contacts with a torsion section, both torsion sections can be covered, in particular completely covered, by the molding. This feature allows a compact design of the connector.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the at least one signal contact forms a rear end region which is arranged perpendicular to the at least one elongated male pin or female signal contact portion. In particular, the at least one signal contact can be bent by about 90° such that a rear end portion of the at least one signal contact extends in a direction perpendicular to the at least one elongated male pin or elongated female signal contact portion, thereby forming a front end portion of the signal contact.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the at least one male pin is a coining pin, i.e. formed by coining. Alternatively, the at least one pin is a stamped and rolled pin, i.e. formed by stamping and subsequently rolling the stamped portion to form the pin. In order to minimize the flow of molding material into the hollow stamped and rolled male pin, a barrier can be formed, in particular by deforming at least a proximal section of the rolled pin. According to another option, the pin is a solid pin which is electrically and mechanically connected to the signal contact. The solid pin can be connected to the signal contact via welding, in particular laser welding or resistance welding or soldering. This allows the pin to have a good surface, thereby improving the connectivity between the male and the female connector.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the at least one female signal contact portion forms an elongated inner space for receiving a male pin of a male connector. The at least one female signal contact portion can be a stamped female signal contact portion, i.e. can be formed by stamping. In particular, the at least one female signal contact portion can be a stamped and rolled female signal contact portion, i.e. can be formed by stamping and rolling. As discussed with respect to the stamped and rolled male pin, a barrier can be formed at a proximal end of the at least one female signal contact portion to block the flow of liquid molding material into the at least one female signal contact portion during the overmolding of a section of the signal contact. Alternatively, the at least one female signal contact portion can be a stamped and twisted female signal contact portion, i.e. can be formed by stamping and twisting. The at least one female signal contact portion can also be a coining female signal contact portion, i.e. can be formed by coining.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the at least one female signal contact portion has a tuning fork-like shape. In other words, the at least one female signal contact portion forms two substantially longitudinally extending segments, a connecting segment connecting the two longitudinally extending segments at respective proximal ends of the two longitudinally extending segments, and a further longitudinally extending segment extending from the connecting segment in a proximal direction. The two substantially longitudinally extending segments are preferably elastically deformable. Furthermore, a distance between the two substantially longitudinally extending segments is preferably smaller than a respective thickness of the corresponding male pin such that the pin can be clamped between the two longitudinally extending segments. Typically, it is preferred that the male pin of the male connector and the female signal contact portion of the female connector form a press-fit connection when they are attached to each other.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the at least one female signal contact has a proximal end with a crimping portion for crimping the female signal contact to a wire. Preferably, the segment forming the crimping portion is not overmolded, i.e. not covered by a molding.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the connector is a multi-GHz differential pair connector. In particular, the connector can be a (high-speed modular twisted pair data) male connector or a female connector.

[0021] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method for producing a male connector or a female connector for automotive applications is provided, the method comprising the following steps:

[0022] providing at least one signal contact having an elongated male pin or an elongated female signal contact portion; and overmolding a segment of the at least one signal contact.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the method comprises twisting the signal contact in the segment. Preferably, the signal contact is twisted by at least 35°, in particular by about 90°, around its longitudinal axis. Preferably, twisting the signal contact can be done by a tool that engages with at least one non-circular cross-section of the signal contact and is then rotated along (around) the main axis, i.e. the longitudinal axis, of the signal contact.

[0024] According to another embodiment, the twisted segment is overmolded to form a molding covering the twisted segment.

[0025] Furthermore, according to another embodiment, the at least one male pin is formed by stamping. In particular, the entire signal contact can be formed by stamping. Alternatively, the at least one pin is formed by stamping and coiling. According to a third option, the at least one pin is a solid pin that is mechanically and electrically connected to the rest of the signal contact, preferably by laser welding.

[0026] If the connector is a female connector, the at least one elongated female signal contact portion can be formed by stamping. In particular, the at least one elongated female signal contact portion can be formed by stamping and rolling. Alternatively, the at least one elongated female signal contact portion can be formed by stamping and twisting. Preferably, the at least one elongated female signal contact portion can be stamped such that it is formed like a tuning fork.

[0027] According to one embodiment, two signal contacts are provided, each having an elongated male pin or an elongated female signal contact portion. In a second step, a section of each of the two signal contacts can be overmoulded. When the two signal contacts are overmoulded, they can be mechanically linked or attached to each other. In particular, the two signal contacts can be formed from the same part and still be linked together after forming the two signal contacts and during overmoulding. Then, the two signal contacts can be electrically separated, i.e. insulated, from each other while the moulding keeps the signal contacts in place relative to each other. This can be achieved by removing the mechanical linking part between the two signal contacts. This method allows for manufacturing a male connector or a female connector having two elongated pins or two elongated female signal contact portions which are precisely positioned relative to each other and will stay in that position under abuse forces. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0028] Exemplary embodiments and functions of the present disclosure are described herein in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

[0029] FIG. 1A is an exploded view of a male connector according to the present disclosure;

[0030] FIG. 1B is the connector of FIG. 1A in an assembled state;

[0031] FIG. 2A is a side view of the connector of FIG. 1A connected to a multi-GHz female differential pair connector;

[0032] FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the connector along section A-A of FIG. 2A ;

[0033] FIG. 3A is a top view of the connector of FIG. 1A ;

[0034] FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the connector along section A-A of FIG. 3A ;

[0035] FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view of the connector along section B-B of FIG. 3A ;

[0036] FIG. 4A is a side view of the connector of FIG. 1A ;

[0037] FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of the connector along section C-C of FIG. 4A ;

[0038] FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view of the connector along section D-D of FIG. 4A ;

[0039] FIG. 5 is a process step for manufacturing a signal contact having a twisted and overmolded section;

[0040] FIG. 6 is a process step for manufacturing a twisted section as shown in FIG. 5 .

[0041] FIG. 7 is a contact area of a multi-GHz female differential pair connector;

[0042] FIG. 8 is a process step for manufacturing a signal contact having a stamped and rolled pin;

[0043] FIG. 9A is a detailed view of a signal contact having a stamped and rolled pin manufactured according to the process shown in FIG. 8 ;

[0044] FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view of the stamped and rolled pin along section A-A of FIG. 9B ;

[0045] FIG. 9C is a detailed view of a signal contact of FIG. 9A covered by a molded portion manufactured by overmolding a section of the signal contact;

[0046] FIG. 9D is a cross-sectional view of the signal contact along section B-B of FIG. 9C ;

[0047] FIG. 10 is a process step for manufacturing a signal contact having a solid pin laser welded to the rest of the signal contact;

[0048] Fig. 11A is a perspective view of a female signal contact having a stamped and rolled female signal contact portion;

[0049] Fig. 11B is the female signal contact of Fig. 11A mechanically connected to each other by a molded portion manufactured by overmolding a section of the signal contact;

[0050] Fig. 11C is the female signal contact of Fig. 11B aligned with a corresponding male contact;

[0051] FIG. 12A is a perspective view of a female signal contact having a stamped and twisted female signal contact portion;

[0052] Fig. 12B is the female signal contact of Fig. 12A mechanically connected to each other by a molded portion manufactured by overmolding a twisted section of the signal contact; FIG. 12A

[0053] Fig. 12C is the female signal contact of Fig. 12B aligned with a corresponding male contact;

[0054] FIG. 13A is a perspective view of a female signal contact having a stamped but not twisted female signal contact portion;

[0055] Fig. 13B is the female signal contact of Fig. 13A mechanically connected to each other by a molded portion manufactured by overmolding a section of the signal contact; and FIG. 13A

[0056] Fig. 13C is the female signal contact of Fig. 13B aligned with a corresponding male contact.

[0057] List of Reference Signs

[0058] 10 male connector

[0059] 12 signal contact

[0060] 12a, 612a twisted section

[0061] 12b rear end region

[0062] 14, 114, 214 elongated pin

[0063] 14a side surface

[0064] 16 mating direction

[0065] 18 female connector

[0066] 20-720 molded portion

[0067] 22 housing

[0068] 24 connection portion

[0069] 24a mechanical fastening structure

[0070] 26 passage

[0071] 26a opening

[0072] 28 tubular section​​

[0073] 30 first tool

[0074] 32, 632 first rectangular cross-section

[0075] 34 second tool

[0076] 36, 636 second rectangular cross-section

[0077] 38 signal contact

[0078] 40 molded portion

[0079] 42 retention section

[0080] 44 weld

[0081] 114a proximal portion

[0082] 115 barrier

[0083] 512, 612, 712 female signal contact

[0084] 514 female signal contact portion

[0085] 515 crimp portion

[0086] 614a, 714a section of a tuning fork shape

[0087] 615 longitudinally extending segment

[0088] 617 connecting segment

[0089] 619 longitudinally extending segment

[0090] 621, 721 opening DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0091] FIG. 1A An exploded view of a multi-GHz tolerance differential pair connector 10 is described. The multi-GHz tolerance differential pair connector 10 includes two signal contacts 12. Each of the two signal contacts 12 has an elongated pin 14 extending in a mating direction 16 that is configured to connect to a corresponding signal contact of a multi-GHz female differential pair connector 18 (see FIG. 2A). The two signal contacts 12 are surrounded in a first section by a first molded portion 20 and in a second section by a second molded portion 40, which are manufactured by overmolding the respective sections of the signal contacts 12. The first section and the second section of each of the two signal contacts 12 are arranged perpendicular to each other. The overmolded signal contacts 12 are surrounded by a housing 22 having a front portion 22a and a back portion 22b mechanically interconnected to form the housing 22. The housing 22 serves as a shield for the signal contacts 12 and the outer contacts of the male connector 10. The housing 22 can be made of tin-plated die-cast zinc alloy, for example Zamac 3 or Zamac 5. The signal contacts 12 are held in place relative to the housing 22 by the molded portions 20, 40 that are connected to the housing 22 in a form-fit manner. In particular, the front portion 22a of the housing 22 forms a positioning surface that is in contact with a positioning surface of the molded portion 20 to hold the signal contacts 12 in place. However, the signal contacts 12 are not in direct physical contact with the housing 22.

[0092] Furthermore, the male connector 10 comprises a connection portion 24 that is mechanically connected to the front portion 22a and forms a mechanical fastening structure 24a to mechanically connect the male connector 10 to a multi-GHz female differential pair connector via a snap- lock connection. To ensure that the male connector 10 and the female connector 18 are connected correctly, the connection portion 24 has a passage 26 with a non-circular opening 26a that allows connecting the male connector 10 to the female connector 18 only at one specific angle of alignment.

[0093] The front portion 22a of the housing 22 has a tubular section 28 that radially surrounds the elongated prongs 14, as can be most clearly seen in FIG. 3C and FIG. 4B The tubular section 28 is radially surrounded by the connection portion 24.

[0094] As shown in FIG. 4B , the signal contacts 12 have a twisted section 12a. The twisted section 12a extends in the same direction as the elongated prongs 14, i.e. the mating direction 16. The twisted section 12a is covered by the molded portion 20. The manufacturing process for forming the signal contacts 12 with the twisted section 12a is now explained in connection with FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 First, the signal contacts 12 including the elongated prongs 14 are stamped out of a metal sheet. Typically, if the elongated prongs 14 are manufactured by stamping, the side surfaces 14a of the elongated prongs 14 do not ideally contact the corresponding surfaces of the female connector 18. To improve the connectivity, as in FIG. 5As shown in the middle of Figure 1, the signal contact 12 is twisted by about 90° so that the bottom surface of the stamped-in elongated pin 14 becomes a side surface 14a' of the elongated pin 14, one of the side surfaces 14a of the elongated pin 14 becomes a top surface, the top surface of the elongated pin 14 becomes one of the side surfaces 14a', and the other one of the side surfaces 14a becomes a bottom surface of the elongated pin 14. FIG. 6 The process of how to manufacture such a twisted section 12a is shown.

[0095] In a first step, a first tool 30, e.g. a twisting tube, is in a form-fitting engagement with the first rectangular portion 32 of the signal contact 12 and a second tool 34, i.e. a tool holding the second rectangular portion 36 of the signal contact 12, is in a form-fitting engagement with said second rectangular portion 36. In a second step, the first tool 30, i.e. the twisting tube, is rotated around its main axis by at least and / or by about 90°, rotating the first rectangular portion 32 of the signal contact 12 by at least and / or by about 90°, while the second tool 34 holds the second rectangular portion 36 in its original position. In a third step, the twisting of the twisted section 12a is completed. In a fourth step, the tools 30, 34 are disengaged from the rectangular portions 32, 36, respectively. As mentioned before, by twisting the signal contact 12, the former top and bottom surfaces of the pin 14 become side surfaces 14a' which better contact the corresponding surfaces of the female connector.

[0096] In FIG. 7 , it is shown more clearly why the connection is improved by twisting the signal contact 12. In FIG. 7 , on the right side, the contact areas between the elongated pin 14 and the signal contact 38 of the female connector are marked with ellipses. These contact areas are located between the inner side surface 38a of the signal contact 38 of the female connector 18 and the outer side surface 14a' of the signal contact 12 of the male connector 10 which has not been damaged by the stamping-in of the elongated pin 14 (see FIG. 5 , left side) if the signal contact 12 of the male connector 10 is twisted. After the formation of the twisted section 12a, the section of the signal contact 12 is overmoulded (see FIG. 5 , right side) to form a moulding 20 in the front section of the signal contact 12 and a moulding 40 in the rear section 12b of the signal contact 12. To do so, the signal contact 12 is placed in a mould (not shown) and then a liquid plastic material is put into the mould to form the mouldings 20 and 40. As shown in the figures, the signal contacts can still be mechanically linked to each other when the signal contact 12 is overmoulded in order to keep their precise relative orientation during the moulding process.

[0097] According to FIG. 8 to FIG. 9DThe second embodiment shown, the signal contacts 12 have stamped and coiled male pins 114. As shown on the left side of FIG. 8 , the components are stamped from a thin flat metal sheet. Next, as shown in the middle of FIG. 8 , the pins 114 are formed by coiling portions of the thin metal sheet to form two semi-circular segments, with the radial end edges abutting each other to form the pins 114 having a circular cross-section. Then, as shown on the right side of FIG. 8 , the signal contacts 12 having the stamped and coiled pins 114 are overmolded, as are the stamped and twisted signal contacts 12 shown in FIG. 5 . In this embodiment, generally, the molding compound can flow into the stamped and coiled pins 114 because they are hollow. However, if the hollow pins 114 are filled with molding compound, the efficiency of the connector is reduced. To avoid the molding compound flowing into the hollow stamped and coiled male pins 114, the proximal portions 114a of the stamped and coiled male pins 114 are formed such that the radial end edges extend into the middle segments of the pins 114 to form barriers 115, thereby preventing the molding compound from flowing into the pins 114.

[0098] According to the third embodiment shown in FIG. 10 , the signal contacts 12 have solid pins 214 that are laser welded to the rest of the signal contacts 12. As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 10 , a holding segment 42 having a semi-circular cross-section is formed by bending a portion of the thin metal sheet of each signal contact 12. Then, one of the solid pins 214 is placed into each of the semi-circular holding segments 42. The holding segments 42 are then further deformed such that each of the holding segments 42 encloses its respective pin 214 more than 180° around the circumference of the pin 214. Next, the radial ends of the holding segments 42 are laser welded to the solid pins 214 to establish a material connection between each holding segment 42 and its respective solid pin 214 by a weld 44. After the welding step, the segments of the signal contacts 12 that form the mechanical connection between the solid pins 214 and the respective holding segments 42 are overmolded, as previously described in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 5 . Thus, the molding portion 20 covers the segments of the signal contacts 12 where the solid pins 214 and the respective holding segments 42 are welded together.

[0099] Figures 11A to 13C depict different embodiments of the female signal contact 512, which is part of a female connector (not fully shown). Figure 11A shows two female signal contacts 512, each having a female signal contact portion 514 manufactured by stamping and rolling a metal sheet to form a cylindrical female signal contact portion 514. The female signal contact portion 514 is arranged at a respective distal end of the female signal contact 512. The two female signal contacts 512 further have a crimp portion 515 configured to crimp the respective female signal contact 512 to a signal wire. In Figure 11B, a further manufacturing stage of the female connector is shown. Here, the female signal contact portion 514 is overmoulded in a section to form a moulding 520. The moulding 520 can have one or more of the properties described with respect to the moulding 20. In particular, the moulding 520 keeps the two female signal contacts 512 precisely positioned relative to each other, e.g. parallel, even under abusive forces. Figure 11C shows how the female signal contact portion 514 with the overmoulded section is connected to a respective male signal contact, e.g. like the male connector 10 of FIG. 1A to FIG. 10 Figure 10.

[0100] FIG. 12A Another embodiment of two female signal contacts 612 is shown. Both female signal contacts 612 have a female signal contact portion 614 manufactured by stamping and twisting. To easily form the twisted section 612a, a non-circular, in particular rectangular, section 632 is formed at a distal end of the twisted section 612a. The twisted section 612a is non-circular. The female signal contact portion 614 comprises a section 614a of a tuning fork-like shape to connect each female signal contact 612 to a corresponding male contact. In other words, the female signal contact portion 614 each forms two substantially longitudinally extending segments 615, a connecting segment 617 connecting the two longitudinally extending segments at respective proximal ends of the two longitudinally extending segments, and a further longitudinally extending segment 619 extending from the connecting segment in a proximal direction. The two substantially longitudinally extending segments 615 are elastically deformable and cantilevered. Further, a distance between the two substantially longitudinally extending segments 615 is smaller in cross-section than a respective thickness of a corresponding male pin, such that the pin can be clamped between the two elastically deformable longitudinally extending segments 615.

[0101] As can be seen from Fig. 12B, in a further production step, the twisted sections 612a of the two female signal contacts 612 are overmolded to form a molded portion 620. The molded portion 620 (like the overmolded portion 520 of Fig. 1 IB) can have one or more of the characteristics described with respect to the molded portion 20. In particular, the molded portion 620 keeps the two female signal contacts 612 precisely positioned relative to each other, e.g. positioned in parallel, even under abusive forces. Fig. 12C shows how the female signal contact portions 614 with the overmolded twisted sections 612a are connected to the respective male signal contacts which also have overmolded sections, e.g. like the male connector of FIG. 1A to FIG. 10 .

[0102] FIG. 13A Another embodiment for two female signal contacts 712 of a female connector (not shown) is described with respect to Fig. 13C. In contrast to the female signal contacts 612 shown in FIG. 12A , the two female signal contacts 712 do not have twisted sections 612a. Instead, the two female signal contacts 712 form planar sections 712a. As can be seen in Fig. 13B, the planar sections 712a are overmolded to form a molded portion 720. FIG. 12A Another difference between the embodiments shown with respect to Figs. 12C and FIG. 13A Fig. 13C is the orientation of the fork-shaped sections 614a and 714a. While the fork-shaped sections 614a form side openings 621 facing towards each other (which results in the fork-shaped sections 614a contacting the respective male pins in the upper and lower regions), the fork-shaped sections 714a form openings 721 facing in the same direction, which results in the fork-shaped sections 714a contacting the respective male pins of the male pins in the side regions of the pins.

Claims

1. A male or female connector for automotive applications, the male or female connector having at least one signal contact, the at least one signal contact having an elongated male pin or an elongated female signal contact portion, the elongated male pin being an embossed pin, the elongated female signal contact portion being an embossed female signal contact portion; wherein a section of the signal contact is covered by a molding made by overmolding the section of the signal contact, and wherein the at least one signal contact comprises a twisted section twisted at least 35° around its longitudinal axis.

2. The male or female connector for automotive applications according to claim 1, wherein, The signal contact has at least one non-circular cross section adjacent to the twisted section.

3. The male or female connector for automotive applications according to claim 2, wherein, The signal contact has two non-circular cross sections, wherein the two non-circular cross sections are arranged on opposite sides of and adjacent to the twisted section.

4. The male or female connector for automotive applications according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising at least two signal contacts arranged parallel to each other, wherein, The molding covers sections of two signal contacts, and the molding is made by overmolding the two signal contacts simultaneously in the sections.

5. The male or female connector for automotive applications according to claim 4, wherein, The at least two signal contacts each comprise a twisted section.

6. The male or female connector for automotive applications according to claim 2, wherein, The twisted section is covered by the molding.

7. The male or female connector for automotive applications according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The at least one signal contact forms a back end region arranged perpendicular to the elongated male pin.

8. The male or female connector for automotive applications according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The elongated female signal contact portion is crimped to a wire.

9. The male or female connector for automotive applications according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein The elongated female signal contact portion has a tuning fork-like shape.

10. The male or female connector for automotive applications according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein The twisted section is twisted 90° around the longitudinal axis, and wherein the elongated male pin or the elongated female signal contact portion is rotated 90° around the longitudinal axis in the process of forming the twisted section.

11. A method for producing a male or female connector for automotive applications, the method comprising the steps of: providing at least one signal contact having an elongated male pin formed by embossing or having an elongated female signal contact portion formed by embossing; and overmolding a section of the at least one signal contact, wherein the signal contact is twisted at least 35° around its longitudinal axis in a section to form a twisted section.

12. The method for producing a male or female connector for automotive applications according to claim 11, wherein, The signal contact is twisted in the section to form the twisted section by a tool engaging at least one non-circular cross section of the signal contact and then rotating around the longitudinal axis of the signal contact.

13. The method for producing a male or female connector for automotive applications according to claim 12, wherein, The twisted section is overmolded.

14. The method for producing a male or female connector for automotive applications according to claim 11, wherein The twisted section is twisted 90° around the longitudinal axis, and wherein the elongated male pin or the elongated female signal contact portion is rotated 90° around the longitudinal axis in the process of forming the twisted section.

Images